The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1909-01-05

Il seriously hampers the government IN
the detection OF crime and the securing of
justice Moreover, II not only affects de-
par.nnenss outside Of the treasury, but IL
tends TO hamper the secretary of the
treasury himself In the effort 10 utilize
the employees OF his department 80 as &c
hest meet the requirements Of the public
service Il forbids him from preventing
frauds upon the customs service from In
vestigating irregularities in branch nliats
and assay Offices and has seriously Grip
pied him II prevents the promotion OF
employees ia the secret service, and this
further discourages good effort In its
present form the restriction operates only
TO the advantage of the criminal, Of the
wrongdoer
The chief argument in favor Of the pro-
vision was that the congressman did rot
themselves wish to be investigated by
secret service men. Very little OF such
investigation has been done m the past
But II is true thatsthe work OF the secret
service agents was partly responsible for
the Indictment and conviction Of sen
ator and congressman for land frauds
In Oregon. ! do not believe that il is
In the public interest to protect Grim
mails 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
neHt, 80 in my belief we should be given
ample means to prosecute them II found
in the legislative branch. But IL this is
not considered desirable a special exccp-
ton could be made In the law prohibit
Ing the use Of the secret service force In
investigating members of she congress
II would be far better 10 do this than to
do what actually was done and strive 20
prevent or at least to hamper effective
action against criminals by the executive
branch of the government
Asks Careful Reading of MESSAGE.
careful reading Of this message
VIII show that said nothing 10 war
rant the statement that "the majority
Of the congressman were In fear OF
being investigated by the secret serv-
Ice men" or that congress as a whole
was actuated by that motive" I did
not make any such statement in this
message. Moreover. l have never made
any such statement about congress as
a whole nor, with a few inevitable ex-
centions, about the members Of con
srees in any message or article or
speech. On the contrary, have al
ways not only deprecated, but viQor-
ousiy resented. the practice Of indis-
crininate attack upon congress and
ihdiscriminate condemnation of all
congressman, wise and unwise, fit and
unfit, good and bad alike No one real
izes more than the Importance Ct
cooperation between the executive
nnH congress; and no one holds the au-
iholity ard dignity Of the congress If
the United States in higher respect
than ] do. have not the slightest
sympathy with the practice 81 judging
men fer good or fen III not on their
several merits. but IN mass, as mem
bers Of one particular body or one
caste. To put together all tnen holding
or who have held a particular ofsce,
whether 1t be the Office OF president
or Judge or senator or member Of the
house Of representatives, and to class
them all, without regard TO their in
Cvidual differences, as good or bad
seems TO me utterly indefensible, and
II is equally indefensiblc whether the
coed are COMPOUNDED with the bad IN
n heated and unwarranted champion
ship Of all or In Il heated and unwar-
ranted assault upon all would neil
Their attack nor defend all executive
officers in 4 mass whether presidents,
governors, cabinet officers or officials
of lower rank, nor would attack or
defend all legislative officers IN mass
The safety Of free government rests
very largely in the ability Of the plain.
everyday citizen to discriminate be-
tween those public servants who serve
him well and those public servants
discriminate II he is persuaded 10 pass
judgment upon a man not with refer
ence to whether he is fit or unfit
public servant, but with reference 10
whether he Is an executive or legisla-
tive officer, whether be belongs to one
branch or the other of the government.
Says Message Is Misunderstood.
This allegation in the resolution,
therefore, must certainly be due to an
entire failure 10 understand my mes
sage,
The resolution continues, THAT the
president ne requested 10 lfRhSulL TO
the house any evidence upon which lie
based his statements that the chief
argument III 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,
Il YOU win turn to the Congressional
Record Ter, May last, pages 1858 &c
1909 inclusive. you will find the de
bate on this subject Mr.. Tawney o1
Minnesota, Mir Smith of Iowa. NJ.
Sherley Of Kentucky and Mr. Fit.gey
aid Of New York appear in this debate
US the special champions of the pre-.
vision referred 70 Messrs. Parsons,
Rennet and DriseoIl were the leaders
.of those who opposed the adoption 81
The ansendlgcnt and upheld the right q
tle government to use the moss eff
Gent means possible III order 10 &c
tegt criminals ana to prevent and ptin.
isa erime, The amendment was car,