The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-01-04

| Wllulu tne power OF tne house alone.
In the prosecution of criminals and the
enforcement of the laws the president
must resort to the courts OF the United
States.
In the third and fourth clause of the
preamble It Is stated that the mean
ing of my words is that the majority
of the congressman are in fear of be-
ing investigated by secret service men,
and that congress as a whole was
i actuated BY that motive in enactinG
the provision in question: and that
this is an impeachment of the honor
and integrity of the congress. These
| statements are not / think in accord
ance with the facts. The portion of
my message referred to runs as fol-
lows
Last year an amendment was in
corporatcd In the measure providing
F, for the secret service which provided
that there should be no detail from the
secret service and no transfer there
| from IT is not too mucn to say that
| this amendment has been of benefit
only, and could be OF benefit only. to
the criminal classes. If deliberately
introduced for the purpose of dimin-
ishing the effectiveness of war against
crime 1t could not have been better
devised TO this end. 1t forbade the
practices that had been followed TO a
greater or less extent by the executive
| heads Of various departments for
! twenty years, TO these practices we
owe the securing of the evidence which
enabled us TO drive great lotteries out
of business and secure a quarter of
million dollars In fines from their pro-
moters These practices have enabled
lis to discover some of the most out
rageous frauds In connection with the
theft of government land and govern
| nIent timber by great corporations
and by individuals. These practices
have enabled us to get some of the
evidence Indispensable in order to Sc.
cure the conviction of the wealthiest
and most formidable criminals with
whom the government has to deal, both
those operating in violation OF the anti
trust law and others. The amendment
In question was OF benefit TO no one
excepting to these criminals, and it
seriously hampers the government in
the detection of crime and the securing
of justice. Moreover, 1t not only af-
fects departments outside of the treas
ury. but IL tends TO hamper the secre-
tary of the treasury himself in the
effort to utilize the employees of mis-
department so as TO best meet the re-
quirements of the public service. 1t
forbids him from preventing frauds
upon the customs service, from inyestl-
eating Irregularities in branch mints
and assay Offices, and has seriously
crippled him. 1t prevents the promo
tion OF employees in the secret service
and this feature discourages good ef-
fort. IN its present form the restr1c-
tion operates only to the advantage OF
the criminal. of the wrongdoer.
1.-The chief argument in favor OF the
provision was that the congressman
did not themselves wish to be investi-
gated by secret service men. Very
little Of such investigation has been
done In the past: but II is true that
the work of the secret service agents
was partly responsible for the indict-
ment and conviction Of a senator and
a congressman for land frauds In Ore
gon | do not believe that 1t Is in the
public interest TO protect criminals in
any branch of the public service, and
exactly as we have again and again
during the past seven years prosecuted
and convicted such criminals who were
in the executive branch of the govern
ment, so In my belief we SHOULD be
given ample means to prosecute them
II found In the legislative branch.
But If this is not considered desirable
n special execution could be made In
the law prohibiting the use OF the Sc
cret service force In investigating
members of congress. Ii would be far
IL ttt
tually was done, and strive to prevent
or at least 10 hamper effective action
against criminals by the executive
brancn of the government.
A careful reading OF this message
will show that ! said nothing To war
rant the statement that the majority
OF the congressman were III lear oi
being investigated by the secret SER
vice men," or that congress as
whole was actuated by that motive
did not make any such statement III
this message. Moreover / nave never
made any such statement ABOUT cou'
gress as whole. nor, with ic" III
! evitable exceptions, about the mem
bers OF congress, in any message d,
article or speech. On the contrary
have always not only deprecated ou
| vigorously TeSen1eu lne ia aSe'>S " "
discriminate attack upon congress, anu
indiscriminate condemnation of al
Congressman. wise and unwise, III ane
unfit. good and bad alike. NO on
I, realizes more than the importance o
cooperation between the executive
? ond congress, and no one holds the
!, authority and dignity OF the congress
q OF the United States in higher re
"a spect than do. have not the sligpt
d est sympathy with the practice o
r jndging men, for good or for Ill. NO
g on their several merits. but in a mass
Is as members Of one particular body o
10 one caste To put together all mei
~ holding or who have held a pariici
10 lar office. whether II be the office @
&C President. or Judge. or senator @
IT member OF the house of represent,
$" lives. and 10 class them all, wltbou
pit regard to their individual differences
al as good or bad, seems TO ne utterl
ne lndefensiblc; and II Is equally indctei
ed sible whether the good are confoun'