Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-11-15
SOME HISTORIC
OLD MESSAGES
Constitution Requires President
To Advise Congress From
Time to Time.
AT FIRST DELIVERED ORALLY
Roosevelt Surpassed M Predecessor.
For Length and Number of
Messages.

Under the Constitution the president
Of the United states r. required to
give % Congress from time to time In
formation OF the state or the Union ana
recommend 10 their consideration such
measures a. he shall judge necessary
and cxpedient This executive func-
ton is discharged by the messages
which the president addresses to Con-
gress. The most important ~ which Is
that sent az tho beginning OF each scs-
sion. Washington and Adams delivered
their annual messages orally Ike the
English king. driving to the hall Of
Congress In a coach and six and open
ing each session with state jefferson
changed the custom ana established
precedent for later presidents By send
ing his FIRST message to Congress Ia
writing. His friends said II was a more
busnessliko method, more republican
and simple than the oral delivery His
enemies declared that he changed the
original method because, though a good
writer. he was vary poor public
speaker. At any rate. later presi-
dents and notably among them the
present incumbent 81 the Office, would
hardly find IL practicable to deliver the
messages orally.
President Roosevelt has unquestion-
ably surpassed all his predecessors both
90 the length and number OF his mes
sages. Even he would find IL weari-
some 10 read aloud $1,000 words cover
ing almost every conceivable subject
as did his last annual message. II re-
quires several clerks 10 read these long
annual messages. and the attention
which they command IS not always Of
the closest.
The inattention is sometimes as
sumed. President Roosevelt prolix as
his messages have often been. usually
manages to insert In the midst OF his
somewhat platitudinous remarks, some
thing that makes even indifferent con-
gressmen sit up and take notice The
controversy precipitated by his remarks
concerning congressional motives In
limiting the secret service has been the
most stirring political happening Of the
winter session.
One OF the most singular subjects Sc
lected by a president for n message 10
Congress was embodied IN communi-
cation sent BY John Quincy Adams 10
the nations legislative body His son,
John Adams. who served him as secrc-
tary. seems to have had a rather ex-
allied Idea OF his position. He was not
always as careful In his remarks as a
discreet secretary should be- and at
one OF the White House receptions he
made some comment about an editor
named Jarvis Mr. Jarvis. who over
heard, WIS OF a bellicosc nature Shortly
after, meeting young Mr. Adams in the
rounda Of the capitol. Mr.. Jarvis pro-
cceded 10 pun the presidential secre-
taryS nose. IL Is also set forih IN for
mai fashion that he slapped his face.
The president thereupon. sent q mes
sage 20 Congress informing that body
OF the indignty suffered by his son A
committee was appointed TO investigate
the matter. but no punishment was ever
inflicted upon Mr.. Jarvis.
Mr. Roosevelt's recent pietureSquely
dcnunciatory message concerning the
conduct OF other editors than Mr.. Jar
Nis and the punishment that Congress
should administer 70 them hccause OF
their attitude toward the administra-
ton seems fair 10 bear no greater con-
sequence than did President Adams
message.
When the Thirty-ninth Congress met
the December following the assasslna-
ton OF Lincoln and the subsequent ele-
walton OF Andrew johnson TO the high
office. both houses OF Congress were
antaRonistic 20 the new president Be
fore they received any suggestions from
him they at once set about through
members, To outline q reconstruction
policy OF their own. When the message
came Dec. 3, IL was married. by such
moderation OF language and sound con-
servatism that Il surprised even tho
presidents opponents. Frank, dignined,
direct and manly. Il seemed hardly pos
fihle that the tactless and uncultured
johnson could have written &c. one pa
per OF the time commented on the fact
that "a poor tailor had accomplished as
much, N the message could be accept
cd a. the measure OF his achievement In
dlction and logic, as college trained
men. oven al the time some there