Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-04

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Washington. Jan. Ain a special
message to the house Of representa-
lives today President Roosevelt says:
To the House Of Representatives:
! i have received the resolution of the
house Of representatives of Dec. IL,
1908, running as follows:
Whereas, There was contained In the
sundry civil appropriation bill which
passed Congress at it's last session and be-
came a law a provision in reference to the
employment OF the secret service in the
treasury department.; and,
. Whereas In the last annual message of
the president of the United States to the
two houses Of congress it was stated in
reference to that provision. 1T Is not too
much to say that this amendment has
been of benefit only and could be of bene-
fit only to the criminal classes" and 1t
was further stated, "The chief argument
in favor of the provision was that the
congressman did not themselves wish to
DE Investigated by secret service men,,
and 1t was further stated. but IL this Is
not considered desirable a special excep-
ton could be made in the law prohibiting
the use Of the secret service force In IN
vestigating members of congress-. 1t
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.
Whereas, The plain meaning of the
above words Is that the majority of the
congressman were In fear of being inves-
tigated by secret service men and that
congress as a whole was actuated by that
motive in epacting the provision In ques-
ton: and,
Whereas. Your committee appointed to
consider these statements of the presi-
dent and to report to the house cannot
find In the hearings before committees
nor In the records of the house or SEN
ate any justification OF this impeach-
ment Of the honor and integrity of the
congress; and.
Whereas, Your committee would prefer
in order to make an intelligent and COM
prehensive report, just to the president
as well as to the congress. to have all
the Information which the president may
have to communicate; now. therefore.
Be II resolved, That the president be
requested to transmit to the house any
evidence upon which he based his state
ments that the chief argument in favor
of the provision was that the congress
men did not themselves wish to be in
vestigated by secret service men" and
also to transmit to the house any evil
dence connecting any member of the
house OF representatives of the Sixtieth
congress with corrupt action in his Off.
cial 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 to the house of rep
resentatives.
II Cannot Understand Resolution"
I am wholly at loss to understand
the concluding portion of the resolu-
ton. 1 have made no charges of cor
ruption against congress nor against
any member of the. present house. If
] had proof of such corruption affect
ing any member of the house in any
matter as to which the federal gov
eminent has Jurisdiction, action would
at once be brought, as was done in the
cases Of Senators Mitchell and Burton
and Representatives Williamson, Herr
mann and briggs at different times
since have been president. This
would simply be doing my duty in the
execution and enforcement of thc laws
without respect to persons. But l do
not regard it as within the province
or the duties Of the president to report
to the house "alleged delinquencies'
OF members or the supposed corrupt
action" of a member Sin his official ca
pacity" The membership Of the
house is by the constitution placed
within the power of the house alone
in the prosecution Of criminals and the
enforcement of the laws the president
must resort to the courts of the United
States.
Portion Of Message Quoted.
In the third and fourth clauses Of the
preamble 1t is stated that the meaning
OF my words is that "the majority o.
the congressman are in fear of being
investigated by secret service men,
and that congress as whole was &C
tuated by that motive in enacting thu
provision IN question" and that thi
ts an impeachment Of the. honor ant