The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04

/ forbids him from preventing frauds
upon the customs service, from iHvesti-
eating irregularities in branch miuts
and assay Offices, and has seriously
crippled him. 1t prevents the promotion
Of employees in the Secret Service, and
this further disCOuTaEes good effort. In
us present form the restriction operates
only To the advantage of the criminal,
OF the wrongdoer.
Chief Argument
The chief argument In favor of the
provision was that the Cungressmen
aid not themselves wish TO be investi-
gated by Secret Service men. Very
little of such investigation has been
done IN the past; out it 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 i'm
oregon. l DO not believe that it is in
the public interest 10 protect Crimi-
Hals an any branch OF the public seTV-
Ice and exactly as We nave again and
again during the past seven years prose
cuted and convicted such criminals who
were IN the executive branch of the
Government, so in my belief we should
be given ample means to prosecute them
II found IN the legislative branch. But
IT this is not considered desirable, a
special exception could be made in the
law prohibiting the use of the Secret
service force in Investigating members
or the Congress 1t would be far bet
ter 10 do this than TO do what actually
was done, and strive TO prevent or, a.
least, to hamper effective action against
CRIMINALS by the executive branch OF the
Government
Wrong Inference.
A careful reading OF this MESSAGE will
show that I said nothing to warrant
the statement that "the majority of the
Congressman were in fear Of being in
vestigated by the Secret Service men"
or mat Congress as a whole was actu-
ated by that motive" I did not make
any Sucn statement in this MESSAGE
Moreover I have never made any srICh
statement about Congress as q who'll.
nor. with a few inevitable executions
about the members of Congress- i'm ann,
message or article or speech. on the
contrary, ] have always not ONLY deDre-
tated' but vigorously resented the prac-
nee or lndIscrlminats condemnation of
an congressman, wise and uuwise At
anu unit good ana bad alike
Importance of Cooperation.
No one realizes more than the i'm
porlance Of cooperation between the
Executive and Congress, and no one
holds the authority and dignity of the
Congress of the United States i'm higher
slightest sympathy with the practice Of
Judging men, for good or for iIl not on
their several merits. but in a mass. as
members Of one particular body or one
caste. To put together all men holding
or who have held a particular Office.
whether it be the office OF President. or
judge, or Senator, or member of the
House of Representatives. and 10 class
ineu ali, without regard 10 their iudi-
Aldaa4 GlHeTeuCeS, as good or bad.
seems TO me utterly iudefensibfe. and fT
Is equally ludefensible whether the good
are CoufOundeu with the bad in a heated
and uuWarranted championship of all or
lu heated and uuwaTranted assault upon
an. 1 would neither attack nor defend all
executive officers ia a mass whether
Presidents, governors, Cabinet officers.
or officials or lower rank, nor would [
attack or defend all legislative officers
in a mass The safety of free gov
eminent rests very largely I'm the ability
or she plain, everyday citizen 10 dis
crlminate between those public servants
Who serve him well and those public
servants who serve him III. lie can nor
Thus discriminate if hs IS persuaded to-
pass Judgment upon a man, nor with
reference 20 whether he is a M or unfit
public servant, but with reference TO
whether he is an executive or legislative
officer, whether he belongs to one
branch or the otiEr ~ the Govern
meHr-
This allegation ga the resolution.
therefore, must certainly be due 80 an
entire failure 70 understand my mes
sa &c.
The resolution continues. THAT the
President be requested 10 transmit to
the House any evidence upon which Ie
based nis statements that the chief
argument iu favor Of the provision was
that the CouFressmcH did not Them
selves 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.
Debate Referred To.
If you viii turn t. the Congressional
Record for May ! last pages 5553 to $500.
inclusive. YOU rEiIl find the debate on this
subject Mr.. Tawuey Of Minnesota. ATr.