The Dolores star., 1909-01-08
CHIEF SAYS HOUSE
/ misunderstood
Message to Lower Branch
on Secret Service.
BIG STICK FALLS ON FOUR
Champions Of Provision to Limit Scope
Of Investigators Are Raked Over
the Goals by RooseveIt-Federal
SIeuths Defended by Executive.

washington.-Presiden Roosevelt's big
stick crashed down upon the heads of
| Representatives Tawney Of Minnesota.
| Smith OF Iowa. Sherley of Kentucky and
| Fitzgerald of New York. when the execu-
/ tive sent a special message to the house
| of representatives. berating those soions
for being champions of the successful
| move to place limitations upon the scope
| of the secret service.
| The president also declared that the
| Interpretation of the house OF the secret
| service clause in his last message was
misunderstood and had there been any
evidence which would point to the neces-
| sity Of an investigation of members.
such evidence would long ago have been
turned over to the proper authorities.
The message was in answer to the res
olution transmitted from the house in
| which the representatives asked for evil
dence upon which Mr.. Roosevelt based
| his statements that the "chief argument
In favor of the provision was that the
congressman did not themselves wish to
be investigated by secret service men,"
For the Ananias Club.
The message in part:
II am wholly at n loss to understand
the concluding portion Of the resolution
! have made no charges of corruption
| against congress nor against any member
| of the present house. II ! had proof of
such corruption affecting any member OF
the house in any matter as to which the
federal government has Jurisdiction. ac-
ton would at once be brought. as was
dGne in the cases of Senators Mitchell
and Burton. and Representatives VIII
hanson. Herman and briggs. at differ
ent times since / have been president.
This would simply be doing my duty In
the execution and enforcement OF the
laws without respect to persons. But
do noe regard 1t as within the province
or th4 duties of the president to report
to the house alleged delnduencies of
members. or the supposed corrupt ac-
ton OF member in his official capac-
ity' The membership OF the house is
by the constitution placed within the
power of the house alone. In the prose-
cution of criminals and the enforcement
of the laws the president must resort to
the courts of the United States.
I'm the third and fourth clauses Of the
preamble It is stated that the meaning of
my words Is that the majority of the
congressman are in fear OF being inves-
tigated by secret service men and that
| congress as whole was actuated by
that motive in enacting the provision I'm
| question: and that this is an impeach-
ment of the honor and integrity of the
congress. These statements are not.
think. in accordance with the facts"
Misunderstood, He Gays.
.This allegation in the resolution. there
| FORE must certainly be due to an entire
| failure to understand my message.
'The resolution continues: That the
| president be requested to transmit TO the
house any evidence upon which he based
| his statements that the ''chlef argument
In favor of the provision was that the
congressman did not themselves wish to
| be Investigated by secret service men,
| This statement. which was an attack
upon no one. still less upon the congress.
Is sustained by the facts.
"If you will turn to the Confessional
| -1r1 fpv oaf NM Oaa
| Inclusive, you will find the debate on this
| subject. Mr.. Tawney of Minnesota, Mr..
Smith of Iowa. Mr.. Sheriey of Kentucky.
| and Mr.. Fitzgerald of New York appear
in this debate as the special champions
of the provision referred to. Messrs. Par
sons. Bennett and Driscoll were the lead
ers of those who opposed the adoption
| of the amendment and upheld the right of
/ the government to use the most eff1cient
means possible In order to detect Grim
inals and to prevent and punish crime.
The amendment was carried In the COM
mittee Of the whole. where no votes of
the individual members are recorded. SO
] am unable to discriminate by mention
ing the members who voted for and the
members who voted against the provision
but its passage. the journal records. was
greeted with applause. / am well. aware.
however, that in any case of this kind
many members who have no particular
knowledge of the point at issue are con-
. tent Simply TO IOllOW Ine icaO OF tHe
committee which had considered the mat
ter, and have no doubt that many mem
bers of the house simply followed the
lead of Messrs. Tawney and Smith,
Secret Service 10 Defended.
i After soundly demonstrating with Rep
resentatives Tawney. Smith, Sherley and
Fitzgerald for their stand at the last
upon the duties of secret service opera
tives the president set about to defend
the operations of that branch of the
l federal government and declared that the
scope of the department should be ex-
! tremely wide in order that all criminals
might be brought to Justice and that
there might be no unjust Determinations.
! He also pointed out numerous instances
where the powers of the department had
brought justice upon the heads of crimi-
of the present administration. Mr.. Roose-
welt also declared that none OF the mem
bers of the house had ever been investi-
gated as set forth in various allegations
the gist of which was appended to the
message.
Asks Reversal Of Action,
. Concluding, the president said:
"In conclusion, I most arnestly ask. II
the name of good government and decen
administration, in the name of honesty
and for the purpose of bringing to justice
violators of the federal laws wherever
tney may De IOunu, WHctneT III puUhC VI
private life. that the action taken by tn,
, house last year be reversed. When thi,
action was taken, the senate committee
under the lead of the late Senator ALI
. . son, having before 1t a strongly-wordet
protest from Secretary Cortelyou lik'
, that he had sent to Mr.. Tawney, accepted
the secretary's views: and the senat'
passed the bill in the shape presented b!
Senator Allison. In the conference, how
ever. the house conferees insisted on tn
retention Of the provision they had in
! serted. and the senate yielded
The chief of the secret service is pai'
!, a salary utterly inadequate to the impor
, tance of his functions and to the admir-
able way in which he has performed
! them. / earnestly urge that It may b.
increased to 5000 per annum. also urg
that the secret service be placed wher
It properly belongs, and made bureau
!. In the denarfment of Justice. as the chic