davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04

about 1900 words, written, as was
then informed and now understand by
Mr.. L. ". Busbey, at that time private
secretary to the Speaker of the House
i inClOse a copy of certain extracts
from the article. marked Appendix B.
1t contained an utterly unwarranted at
tack on the Secret Service Division o.
the Treasury Department and its chief
The opening paragraph includes. for in
stance statements like the following:
HE the chief Of the division) and his
men are DESTROYS or doing the secret
detective work for tie whole Govern
ment and are not particular about draw
ing the line between the lawmakers and
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04
Accompanying hts message. the Pres
ldent sent the following appendices:
Appendix A.
Anrn % fans

To the Chairman or the Committee on
Appropriations, House of Represent
etives.
Sir; In bill making approximation.
Ior sundTy civil expenses OF the Gov
eminent III r 1920 for the fiscal wear
endlng June 80. 1903, and fer other ntIr-
poses md on page g, line Is. as a mart
OF the section making the ROproDrfatfons
lot Suppressing counteffefting and
other crimes the following language.
No person employed in the Secret Ser
vice division OF the Treasury Denarr-
ment CT under the approximation for
suppressing counteTfeiting and otbsr
crimes who Is detailed. furlouRhed
granted leave OF absence, dismissed Or
OtherWise temporarily or finaIIv se1aT-
ated from the service Of such dfvfSfor,
ana Is thereafter employed under am
oJher branch Of tie public service shall
De restored or paid COMPENSATION for
services or expenses in the Sacraf Car-
wee division for two yea4s after fire
termination OF his employment 4fnde7.
sucn other branch OF the Government :,
now call YOUR attention TO Secffor,
IT, OF tho Revised Statutes az the
united States which reads as follows
Zach head Of a department NAV iron,
tlme 10 time alter the distribution smong
lhe various bureaus and offices Of bf-
department OF the clerks allowed bv Ian,
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04
Says That If He Had Any Proof of Wrongdoing Legs-
lative Branch He Would Not Hesitate to Prosecute
the Matters Through the Courts, and Cites
Cases of Mitchell and Others.

As the result of the clash between
the White House and Congress re-
garding that part of the Presidents
annual message, referring to the
work of the Secret Service, PreSi-
dent Roosevelt today sent the fol-
lowing message to Congress:
To the House of Representatives:
/ have received the resolution of the
House of Representatives of December
3. 1905 running as follows
Whereas there was contained in the
sundry civil appropriation bill, which
passed Congress at its last session and
became a law, a provision i'm reference
10 the employment of the Secret Service
I'm the Treasury Department; and
Whereas in the last annual message
of the President OF the United States
20 the two houses of Congress IL was
stated I'm reference to that provision;
1t is not too much to say that this
amendment has been of benefit only,
and could be of benefit only 10 the
criminal classes and il was further
stated, The chief argument In IaVOr
OF the provision was that the Congress
mon did not themselves wish to be in
vestigated by Secret Service men, and
IL was further stated. But If this is not
considered desirable a special exception
could be made i'm the law, prohibiting
the use of the Secret Service force in
investigating members OF Congress. It
would be far better 20 do this than TO
40 what actually was done, and strive
10 prevent. or at least 10 hamper. ef-
fectiVe action against criminals by the
executive branch of the Government
and
Plain Meaning.
Whereas the plain meaning Of the
above words is that the majority Of the
Congressman were I'm fear of being in
vestigated by Secret Service men, and
that Congress as a whole was actuated
by that motive in enacting the provis-
sion i'm question; and
Whereas your committee appointed
to consider these statements OF the
President and 10 report 10 the House
cannot find in the hearings before com
mittees nor iD the records of the House
or Senate, a1E- Justification or the I'M
parchment Of the honor and integrity
of the Congress- and
whereas your committee would pre-
fer in order TO make an Intelligent ana
comprehensive report, just 10 the Presl-
dent as we'll as 30 the Congress TO have
an the information which the President
NAV have TO communicate; Now there
FORE
BE it resolved. That the President
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04
Charges Tawney and Others on Appropriations Commit
tee With Responsibility for CurtaiIing Functions of
the Detective Branch of the Treasury-Quotes
Reports From Congress-

honesty and for the purpose Of bringing
10 Justice violators Of the Federal laws
wherever they may be found whether
IN public or private life. that the ac-
ton taken by the House last year be
reversed When this action was taken,
the senate Committee, under the lead
OF the late Senator Allison. having be-
fore IL a strongly wOrded protest (Ap-
pendlE ID from Secretary CorteIv0u ike
that he had sent 20 Mr. TaWnev ar-
cepted the Secretary's views: and tie
Senate passed the bill IN the shane pre-
scented by Senator Allison. In t6e con
ference, however. the House confereez
insisted on the retention Of the provision
they had inserted, and the Senate
yielded.
The Chief of the Secret Service il
paid a salary utterly inadequate TO the
Importance or his functions, and TO the
admirable way in which ne has per
formed them / earnestly urge that IL
be increased 20 5000 per anuum I also
urge that the Secret Service be placed
Where II properly belongs. and made a
Dureau IN the Department OF Justice, as
the chief Of the Secret Service has re-
peatcdiY requested; but whether this Is
done or not, il should be explicitly pro
Vided tfst the Secret Service can be
used t. detect and punish crime vvber-
ever IL IS found
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Inc White House. January 4, 1909
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04

methods proved uuavajling 10 prevent
the wrong MeSsrs. TaWnev and Smith,
ana Lhelr elloW-membeT5 on the Appro-
Prlattons committee, paid no heed to
the protests; and as the obnoxious pro-
vision was Incorporated In the sundry
civil Dill II was impossible for me to
consider or discuss il Or its merits. as
/ shouldhave done mad IL oeen fn a seDa-
rate bill Therefore / rave now taken
the only method available that Of dis
cusslnE II in my message TO Congress ;
and as all efforts TO secure what re-
gard as proper treatment Of the sub
ject without recourse to plain speaking
had failed, I have spoken plainly and
directly, and have set forth the facts in
explicit terms
Covers Wide Range.
Since 1907 the Investigations covered
by the Secret Service DivislCu-unde-
the practice which had been for many
years recognized as proper and legiti-
mate, and which had received the sane
ton OF the highest law officers Of the
Goverument-haye covered a wide range
of ohenses against the Federal law. BY
far the most important Of these related
TO the public domain, 40 to which there
was uncovered a far--aLching and
widespread system Of fraudulent trans
actions involving both the illegal &C
QUESTION and the illegal fencing Of
Government land; and, in connection
with botE these offenses, the crimes OF
perjury and subOnatiOu of perjury.
Some Of the persons involved ia these
violations were OF great wealth and OF
wide political and social influence. Both
their corporate associations and their
political affiliations, and the Iawless
character of some of their employees,
made the igatiOus not only diff
cult but dangerous. In Colorado one Of
the Secret Service men was assassinat-
ed. r. Nebraska il vas necessary to
remove a United States attorney and a
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04
PRESIDENT IN SPECIAL MESSAGE ON SECRET SERVICE
DENIES HE INTENDED TO CHARGE CORRUPTION IN HOUSE
What the President Thinks of the Action of
Congress on the Question of Secret SerUce

proof corruption in o
a
this OF a a been in mos
OF b criminals WOId
tSue 10 mos Ge oun
o.
av+ldd
have
0 matter members
have deprecated condemnation Chganen and
Of o
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04

Service are wholly wiuout foundation
in fact
But all Of rhis is OF insignificant i'm
portauce compared with the main. TIE
real issue. This issue IS simply. Does
Congress desire that the Government
shall have at its disposal the most
efficient instrument for the detection
of criminals and the prevention and
punishment Of crime. cor does ir noU2
The action of the House last Nav was
rmphaticallv am action against the in
tcresa of Justice and against the i'm
terCst of law-a1IdiuG people and iE its
effect of benefit only TO IawbreaIers
J am not now dealing with motives.
whichever may have been the motive
tuat induced the action Of which I
speaL this WAS. beyond all question.
the effect OF that action. Is the House
now willing tc remedy the WONG
For Il long time IC0uteulyd myself pfsu
endcdVoTiuG to persuade the House no.
to permit tine wrong. speakiugFiuformaI-
iy ON the subject with those members
who. J believed, knew anything of the
matter. and communicating officially
only iu the ordinary channels as
through the Secretary of the TreasurE
IN letter 20 the Speaker on April 50
protesting against the cutting down of
the appropriation vitality necessary If
the Interstate Commerce Commission
was to carry into effect the twentieth
section Of the Hepburn law, ] added.
Will Work Damage.
1.-THE provision about the employment
OF the Secret Service men viii work
very great damage To the Government
jan IFS eudeavor To prevent and punish
crime. There is 300 moro foolish cutlery
than this against spies; only criminals
need fear our detectives" q iucIose
az FaF An,
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04
Makes No Charqes

am wholly at a loss to understand
the concluding portion of the resolution.
have made no charges of corruption
against Congress nor against any mem
Der Of the present House. If ] had
proof OF such corruption affecting any
member of the House in any matter as
10 which the Federal Government has
Jurisdiction, action would at once be
hrought as was done Iu the cases or
Senators Mitchell and Burton, and Rep
reSeutatiVes Williamson, Hermann, and
briggs, AT different times since 1 have
been President This would simply be
doing my duty in the execution and en-
forcement or the laws without respect
10 persons. But ] do not regard iU as
the President 20 report 10 the House
alleged deiiquencies' OF members, OF
HE supposed corrupt action OF
member --iu his official capacity The
membership of the House Is by the
Constitution placed within the power
of the House alone Ira the prosecution
uf criminals and the enforcement or
the laws the President must resort 10
tHe courts Of the United States.
Ia the third and fourth clauses OF the
preamble So iF stated that the meaning
~ ms words Is that 'tHc ma fOrity OF
the Congressman are i'm fear Of being
iuvestiEa hV Secret Service men
and that Congress as whole was
artua-ed nE that motive ina eUaCtiug
the provision I'm question. " and that
this iE an Impeachment or the honor
and integrity Of the Congress These
statements are not L think iu accord
my message referred 90 runs as fol-
Fnu-cr
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04
WHAT is WANTED.

Does Congress desire that the Gov
eminent shall have at its disposal
the most efficient instrument for the
detection of criminals, or does it not?
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04

he requested to transmit to the House
any evidence upon which he based his
statements that the chief argument in
favor of the provision was that the Con
greesmen did not themselves wish 10 be
Investigated by Secret Service men. ana
also 10 transmit - the House any eEl-
dpnce connecting any member Of the
House OF Representatives OF she Six
rieth Congress with corrupt action ia
official capacity and 10 inform the
House whether he has Instituted pro
ceedings for the punishment OF any sueh
individual bv the courts OF has reported
any such alleged deliuuueucles 10 the
IInuea Of RrnIeEenIarINe
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04

Messrs. Parsons BeHnet, and DriscoII
were the leaders OF those vino opposed
the adoption Of the amendment and
upheld the right of the Government TO
use the most efficient means possible
90 order 10 detect criminals and to pre-
vent and punish crime The amend
meut was carried in the Committee Of
the Whole where no votes of the in
diyidusI members are recorded. So am
una BILE 10 discriminate by mentioning
the members who voted for and the
mem beTs who voted against the Drovi-
sion. but its passage, the Journal re-
cords, was greeted with applause. am
well aware. however that i'm any case
Of tiNs kind many members who have
no particular knowledge Of the point at
issue are content simply 10 follow the
lead of the committee which had con-
siderCd the matter, and have no doubt
that MANY members OF the House sim
ply followed the lead Of Nessrs. Tawncv
and smith without having had the
opportunity 10 know very much .as 70
the rights and wrongs Of the Ques-
ton.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04

United States marshal before satisfac-
tory progress could be made in the
prosecution Of the offenders
The evidence in all these cases was
chiefly secured by men trained in the
Secret Service and detailed TO the De
partment Of Justice at the request of
that department and the Department
Of the Interior. in the State of Ne
braska alone, sixty defendants were in
diCteds and Of the thiTty-twO cases thus
far brought 70 trial. twenty eight have
resulted I'm conviction. two Of the Urin-
CIpalsr MessrS ComstOcC and Richards.
men Of wealth and wide influence. be-
ing sentenced TO twelve months in fail
and fined $500 each. The following
Secret Service memorandum made fn
thc course Of q pending case illustrates
the TdmlrCatiOus of interest with which
the Government has to deal
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04
IS BEST INSTRUMENT.

The Secret Service is by far the
most efficient instrument TO use
against crime.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04
NOT IN LETTER.

II frhe Secretary OF the Treasury-E
letter. contains no such admission
g Nj. TaHuey'z letter
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04

The chief of the Secret Service ig
paid salary utterly inadequate -
the importance Of his functions.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04
Places Responsibility.

would not ordinarily attempt ia this
way 10 discriminate between members
of the House. but as objection has been
taken TO my language. iu which I sim
ply spoke OF the action Of the House
as q whole, and as apparently there is
q desire that L should thus discriminate,
Will state that J think the rcsDon-
sibllity rested on the Committee on Ap-
propGiatigus. under the lead of the
members whom I have mentioned.
NON as 90 the request OF The Con
aressF that J give the evidence for my
statement that the chief argument I'M
favor. Of the provision was That the
CongiEssucn did not themselves wish 10
be Investigated by secret service men.
The part of the Congressional Record
20 which ! have referred above en-
tlrely supports this statement Two
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04
Amendment Incorporated.

Last year an amendment was In
eorporated i'm the measure providing for
the Secret Service, which provided that
here should be no detail from the
Secret Service and no transfer there
from. IL IS not too Fuch to- say that
this amendment has been Of benefit
only, and could be Of benefit only. 20
the criminal classes. If deliberately in
trodUced for the purpose Of diminishing
the effectiveness Of war against crime
In could not have been better devised
10 this end 1t forbade the practices
That had been followed 10 a greater
or less extent by the executive heads
NJ various departments for twenty
wears. To these practices we owe The
securing of the evidence which en-
5ied as 20 drive great lotteries ont or
business and secure a quarter Of
million Of dollars i'm Hues from their
promoters. These practices have en-
nlad ms 10 discover some Of the most
outrageous frauds in connection with
the theft OF Government land ana Gov
eminent timber DT great corporations
and by individuals. These practices
nave enabled us to get some of the
evidence indispensable ln order to
secure the conviction Of the WeaIthlest
and most formidable criminals with
whom the Government has TO deal, both
those operating iu violation Of the anti
trust law and others, The amendment
10 question was Of benefit 90 no one
excepting 10 these criminals and 1T
seriously hampers the Government 600
the detection OF crime and the securing
of justice. Moreover 10 U1J only af-
fects departments outside Of the Treas
urv. but lt tends 90 hamper the Score
fary Of the Treasury himself ln the
effort 10 utilize the employees OF his de
partmcur 80 as TO best meet the re-
aulremeuts OF the public service II
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04
Newspaper Article.

What appears 200 the record is filed
ont and explained 10y an article which
appeared iu the Chicago InteC- Ocean
Of January 3 1904, under "a Washington
headline. and which marked the begin
ming OF this agitation against the Secret
Service. To was d spscial article or
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04

dent all the prosecutions above men
toned. and many others OF the same
general type. wOuiO either not have
been undertaken or would have been
undertaken with the Government at a
great disadvantage, and many. and
probably most, of the chief offenders
would have gone scot-free instead Of
being punished for their crimes.
Position Is Permanent.
such a body as the Secret Service,
such a body of trained investigating
agents, occupying a permanent position
in the Government service, and separate
from local investigating forces In diff
feTent departments. Is an absolute ne
cessity if the best work IS to be done
against criminals. It Is by far the most
cffiC' mt instrument possible to use
against crime OF course, the more Of-
ncient on instruments is, the more dan
gerous Il is IL misuscd. To the aTEu-
meut that a force like this can be mis-
Used il is only necessary to answer that
the condition of it's usefulness If han
died properly is that it shall be so eff
fiCien. as TO he dangerous If handled inn
properly. Any instance OF abuse bv the
Secret Service or other investigating
force in the departments should be un-
spBringly punished, and Congress should
hold itself ready at any and all times
to investigate the executive depart
ments whenever there is reason to be-
lieye that any such instance Of abuse
has occurred. / wish TO emphasize my
more than cordial aCquiescence in the
view that this is not only the right of
Congress. but emphatiCaI Iy its duty To
use tho Secret Service I'm the investiga-
tiOu Of purely private or political mat
ters would be q gross abuse But there
has been no single instance OF sue.
abuse during my term as President,
Want Action Reversed
In conclusion, 1 most earnestly ask,
ia the name OF good government and
decent administration, In the name OF
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04
Debate Referred To.

II you viii turn u the Congressional
Record for May ! last pages 5553 to $500.
inclusive, you Uill find the debate on this
subject. Mr. Tawuey Of Minnesota. Mr.
Smith or Iowa, Mr.. sherley OF Ken
lucky. and Mr.. Fitzgerald OF New York.
appear ga this debate as the special
champions OF the provision referred to.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04
An Illustration

An Illustration.
Charles r. Stewart ~ Connrf7
Bluffs. was indicted at Omaha for con
spiracy 10 defraud the Government OF
the title 10 public lands I'm Mcpherson
county Neb., also indicted for main
tanning an unlawful Enclosure of the
public Hands, and also under indict-
meut for perjury ia Connection with
final proof submitted by him on lands
fled on by him as a homestead. In
his final proof he swOre that he and
his family had resided on the lands
iu Mcpherson county (Which are
within his unlawful iuCIOsure). when
I'll a matter OF fact his family has 81
lowe. He is Anga ged in the wholesale
grocery business, his store being To-
Gated in Omaha, I'm the wholesale dis
tTlct there, He Is reputPd To he quite
wealthy. Stewards attorneys are
Harl & FINLEY, OF Council Bluffs. Iowa
W no are also the attorneys ar that
place for the Omaha and Council
Bluffs Street Railway Company. i'm
which company Harl holds cousidera-
BILE stock, Stewart being also H-st0CI5-
holder and possibly director Of the
company. He is also represented in
Omaha by w. J. Couneu- ono of the
attorneys there for the same company.
stewart is also represented ia his per
jury case ~ BIZ GuTley, OF Omaha,
Neb.. who al one time was quite close
lv connected I'm political way with
the Union PACING Railroad Company
Stewart is also closely associated
with Z. y. HaZletQn, postmaster at
Council Bluffs. Harl & FINLEY and
aazletOn are all members Of the same
lodge. Another close personal friend
of Stewart IS Ed Hart. alias Water
work Hart, president of the Council
Bluffs Water Company and interested
iu the street railway. Stewards father
was interested in. and practically
owned and controlled. during his life
time, a large ranch along the Union
Pacific Railroad. in Nebraska, and Gid
q great deal OF business with that
road"
states attorney at Omaha states:t
''Thcre are three cases against Stew
art one for fencing, one conspiracy.
one perjury, an good cases and
chances of conviction good
Results Obtained
Tn connection with the Nebraska
prosecution the Government has b. de
cree secured the return to the Gov
eminent Of over 100000 acres Of grazing
!and. iu Colorado of more than 1000
acres Of mineral land. and suits are now
pending involving 10000 acres more.
All these Investigations I'm the land
cases were undertaken in consequence
of Mr.. Hitchcock. the then Secretary
of the Interior becoming convinced that
there were extensive frauds committed
in his department, and the qualifications
of the frauds were so faT-reaChiug that
he was afraid 10 trust his own officials
TO deal i'm thorouEhgoing fashion with
them. One OF the Secret Service men
accordingly resigned and was appoint
cd i'm the Interior Department to carry
on this work. The hrst thing ne dis
covered was that the special agents
division or corps of detectives of the
Land Office OF the Interior Department
was largely under the control of the
land thieves. and iu consequence the
Investigations above referred to had 10
be made by Secret Service men
If the present law, for which Neesrs
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04
TRIES TO PERSUADE.
7 long endeavored to persuade the
House not to permit the wrong

been the law. There was bcth by i'm
plicatiOu and direct statement tie ssser-
ton that ii was the law, and ought 10
be the law that the Secret Service
Should only be used to suppress counter
Ieiting. and that the law should be
made more rigid than ever in this re-
eTgrr
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04
is HOUSE WILLING?

is the House now willing to RENE
dy the wrOuE2
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04
RESORT TO COURTS.

In the prosecution Of criminals the
President must resort to the courts.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04
Want Action Reversed

In conclusion, / most earnestly ask.
in the name OF good government and
decent administration, In the name OF