The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-01-04
he HeDe1''1iies
Statement
Made III The
!. Resolution
ne Giues Names Of
Men Who Haue
Gone " rong

ii,rASHINGTON, D. G., jan. 4.-Pres.
ssSident Roosevelt to-day sent message
10 the House Of Representatives In an
a swer to the charge that he had offered
Il an insult to the members of Congress
inlhis reference To the Secret Service
!; slof the government. The message Is
3 as follows:
the Hoiise OF Representatives:
slaSe. lrecelved the resolution OF
the HUuEe OF Representatives. Of De.
8:cehber817, 1908, running rs follows:
Whereas there was contained in
1.-The asnn1ry civil Appropriation bill
(which passed Congress at It's last ses,
A45!slan and became a law. n provision in
i preference 10 the employment of the
IN Secret Service in the Treasury De.
sparrtment ;san,l
4 ""yYhereas, LIN the last annual mes.
siSsage 4 OF tles president Of the United
States To- thcttwq Houses OF Congress
5sit iwassstatel in reference to that pro.
islan: SlsYnot to much to say that
this amendment has been of benefit
ttopl y and could be OF benefit only. to
stheS criminal classes, and it was fur
sT::iher stated THE chief argument in ia.
Il Sss iyorSo Sof the provision was that the Con.
\ fsgressnlen did not themselves wish TO
d be investigated by secret, service men,
!. .Sanl 1t was further stated: but II
5sthisjis not considered desirable spe.
4 'cial exception could be made in the
tRlaw. prohibiting the use Of the secret
service force III investigating members
Of Congress. 1t would be fur better
ito do this than to do what actually
was done, and, strive TO prevent or ut
G.s5least to bumper effective action
\ against criminals by the executive
branch OF the government; and
u l"fWhereas, the plain meaning Of the
above words is TINT the majority Of
4 tjthe congressman were in fear OF heln:;
Sinvesugated by secret service men and
s8that Congress as n whole was actuat-
led by that motive In enacting the pro
vision in question; and
Whereas, your committee appoint.
4, ed to consider these statements OF the
I President and to report to the House
can not ind In the hearing before
u committees nor In the records of the
d House or Senate, any Justification of
Il this Impeachment OF the honor and
integrity Of the Congress; and
Whereas. your committee would
prefer in order to make an intelligent
and comprehensive report. Just to the
! President as well as to the Congress,
to have all the Information which the
Il President. may have to communicate:
w Now, therefore.
BE 1t resolved, That the President
Il besre1ueste,l to transmit to the House
i any evidence upon which he based his
Statements that the chief argument
A IN favor Of the provision was that the
a congressman did not themselves wish
4 Stot be investigated by secret service
men, and also to transmit to the
= House any evidence connecting any
o member OF the House Of Representa-.
u tiyes Of the Sixtteth Congress with
corrupt action in his official capacity,
and to inform the House whether he
has Instituted proceedings for the
punishment OF any such individual by
the courts or has reported any such
y 5salleged delinquenctes 10 the House of
Representatives"
;S5S / am wholly at a loss TO understand
4 the concluding portion Of the resoll.
ton. 81 have made no charges OF cor.
ruption against congress nor against
Y any member Of the present House. II
istI had proof OF such corruption affect.
s ing any member OF the. House in any
matter as to which the federal govern
\ ment has Jurisdiction. action would at
once be brought, as was done In the
cases Of Senators Mitchell and Burton,
5aS33nnd Representatives Williamson, Herr
5sunan, and Drs;gs. at different times
SiSRine i have been President. This
would simply be doing my duty in the
y Sexecution and enforcement of the laws
without respect to persons. But !
II do not regard It rs within ule@province
4 or the duties OF the President to re-
x port: os.the House "alleged delin.
S3quences" Of members, or the supposed
Corrupt action" OF member "ln his
y official capacity The membership OF
II the 4 House is by the Constitution plac.
ED within the power of the House