Weekly journal-miner., 1909-01-06
Teddy Feels He is Much Misunderstood Man and Also Fails to Solve Meaning of Resolution Passed
 By Both Houses.
By Associated Press.

WASHINGTON. Jan. {. President Roosevelt today sent to congress his answer to the resolutions recently passed by that body, relative 10 the secret service clause in the executives annual message. The document read; To the House of Representatives:
 I have received the resolution of the House of Representatives of December Y, 1908, running as follows:
 "Wbereas there was contained in the sundry civil appropriation bill whicn passed Congress at its last session and became a law, a provi- sion in reference to the employment of the Seere, Service in the Treas. ury Department; and
 "Whereas in the last annual mes
 sage of the President of the United States to the two Houses of Congress it was stated in reference 10 that provision: "It is not too much to say that this amendment has been of benefit only, and could be of ben eft only. to the criminal classes, and it was further stated, "The chief argument in favor of the pro vision wns that the Congressmen did not themselves wish to be invest. igated by secret service men, and it was further stated: "But if this is not considered desirable a special exception could be made in the law, prohibiting the use of the secret ser. vice force in investigating Members of Congress. Ii would he far better to do this than to do what actually was done, and strive to prevent or at least to hamper effective action against criminals by the executive branch of the Government; and
 "wnereas the plain meaning of the above words is that the majority of the Congressmcn were in fear Of being investigated by secret service
 men and that Congress as whole
 was actuatcd by that motive in en- acting the provision in question; and "Whereas your committee ap- pointed to consider these statements of the President and to report to the House can not find in tue hear.
 ings before committees nor in the records of the House or Senate, any justification of this impeachment of
 the honor and integrity of the Con gross; and
 "Whereas your committee would 1 prefer in order to make an intelli' gent and comprehensive report, just to the President as well as to the Congress, to have all the informa | ton which the President may have
 to communicate; Now, therefore.
 "Be IL Resolved. That the Presi-
 dent be requested to transmit to ! the House any evidence upon which 1 he based his statements that the 'chief argument in favor of the pro. l vision was that the Congressmen
 did not themselves wish to he in
 vestigated by secret service men,
 and also to transmit to the House
 any evidence connecting any Mem
 Der of the House of Representatives
 of the Sixtieth Congress with cor
 rupt action in his official capacity,
 and to inform the House whether he
 has instituted proceedings for the punishment of any such individual
 by the courts or has reported any
 such alleged delinquencies 10 the
 House of Representatives.
 am wholly st a loss to understan' the concluding portion of the resolu ton. l have made no charges of cor ruption against Congress nor aRains any Member of the present House l mad proof of such corruption affect ing any Member of the House in an matter as to which the Federal Gov ernment has jurisdiction, action woul at once he brought, as was done in th cases of Senators Mitchell and Burton and Representatives Hermann, an Driggs, at different times since l hay been President. This would simply b doing my duty in the execution an enforcement of the laws without r' ! spect to persons. But l do not regar it as within the province of the dutie of the President to report to tne Hous "alleped delinouencies of Member or the supposed "eorrupt action' of Member lin his official capacity. | The membership of the House is D the Constitution placed within th power of the House alone. In th prosecution of criminals and the er forcement of the laws the Presidsn l must resort to he courts of the uni , ed States.
 In the third and fourth clause c the preamble it IS stated that th meaning of my words is that "ihe mi ) iority of the CongressmeB are m flea of being investigated by secret servic men" and that "Congress as a whol was actuated by that motive in ei T acting the provision in question: m , that this K an impeachment of th
 honor and integrity of the Congres These statements are not l think ' accordance with the facts. The DO | ton of my message referred to rul l as follows;
 "I.ast year an amendment was in
 corporated in the measure providing for the Secret Service, which provid D cd that there should be no deiai < from tho Secret Service and nc
 transfer lherefrom. It is not to'
 much to say that this amendment
 has been of benefit only, and eoult