Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1909-01-07
MESSAGE ON the
SECRET SERVICE
President Replies to Congress.
SiOna| Resolution.
SAYS He OIO NOT HIT At HOUSE

Language In Annual Communication
Called Objectionable by Representa-
tives Will Stand Analysis. Declare.
Executive - He Renews His Arsu-
ment For Repeal Of Law Limiting
Activities Of Treasury Asents-ctes
Cases In Which They Have Aided
In Punishment Of Vioiators Of Fed.
eral Laws.
Washington. Jan. 4.-In il special
message to the house OF representa-
tives today President Roosevelt says
TO the House Of Representatives:
have received the resolution VI the
house of representatives of De-. H.
1905. running as follows:
Whereas There was contained in The
SundrN civil appropriation bill which
passed congress at its last session and he.
came n law "A provision in reference to TIE
employment of the secret service in tie
treasury department.: and.
Whereas. In the last annual message oi
the president of the t-rited States to tho
two houses Of congress it was stated il
reference to that provision. 1T is not too
much to say that this ameliment has
been of benefit only and could be of hcne-
tit only to the criminal classes" and il
was further stated The chief argument
In favor of the provision was that the
congressman did not themselves wish tC
be investigated by secret service men.
and it was further stated. But if this is
not considered desirable a special eXcep-
tion could be made in the law prohibiting
the use OF the secret service force in in
vestigating members of congress" il
would be far better to do this than to dc
what actually was done and strive to
prevent or at least to hamper effective
action against criminals by the eXecutv.
branch of the government: and,
Whereas. The plain meaning of the
above words is that the ma ajority OF the
congressman were in fear of being inves-
tGated by secret service men and that
congress whole was actuated by that
motive in cMucting the provision in queS
tion: and
Whereas. Your committee appointed tc
consider those statements of the presi-
dent and to report to the house cannot
find In the hearings before committees
nor in the records of the house sen
ate any justification of this impeach-
ment Of the honor and integrity OF the
congress- and.
Whereas, Your committee would prefer
in order to make an intelligent and COM
prehensive report just to the president
as well to the congress. to have all
the information which the president may
have to cors municate: now, therefore.
BE it resolved. That the president he
requested to transmit to the house any
evidence upon which he based his state
ments that the "chief argument in favor
OF the provision was that the congress.
men did not themselves wish to be in.
vestigated by secret service men and
also to transmit to the house any evil
dence connecting any member of the
house of representatives of the Sixtieth
congress with corrupt action In his Off
cial capacity and to inform the house
whether he has instituted proceedings fol
the punishment of any such individua
by the courts or has reported any such
alleged delnQuencies to the house of rep
resentatives.
n Cannot Understand Resolution"
am wholly at Il loss to understand
the concluding portion "f the reSoln
tion. l have made no charges OF cor
ruption against congress nor against
any member of the present house. II
l had proof Of such corruption affect
Ing any member Of the house in any
matter as to which the federal GOV
ernment has jurisdiction. action would
at once he brought. as was done in ti'
eases of Senators Mitchell and Burton
and Representatives Williamson. Herr
mann and briggs ut different times
since | have been president. This
would simply be doing my duty in the
execution and enforcement of tn" laws
without respect to persons. But dt
not regard it as within the province
or the duties of the president to report
to the house alleged dclinquencies'
OF members or the supposed corrupt
action" Of IL member ''in his official ca
pacity." The membership of tho
house is by the constitution placcc
within the power of the house alone
I'm the prosecution Of criminals and the
enforcement of the laws the president
must resort To the courts of the United
States.
Portion of Message Quoted.
In the third ard fourth clauses Of the
preamble ii is stated that the meaning
Of my words is that ''thc majority OF
the tonGrrSSnlcil are III lPar ol hcln-
investigated by secret service men,
and that congress as Il whole was ac
tnntcd by lhat motive in cnactlng III,
provision in question" and that this
is an Impeachment If the honor ant
integrity of the congress. These state
nentS are not. | think. in accordance
with the facts. The portion of my
message referred 10 runs rs follows
Last Notr an amendment was ncor
porated in the measure providing for the
secret serN ice which provided that there
should hc no detail from the secret Serv
ice and no transfer therefrom. 1t is moi
too lauch t. say that this amendment has
been of houelt "nlY and could be of bone
1T only to tire criminal classes. If dellb
cratel. !.ttoduccl for !i:- ll:pose of di