Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-05
WORK OF THE DETECTIVES
Crime Unearthed, Criminals Punished
and Money Saved to Govern
ment Through Their
Efforts.

of representatives the following message In
reply to the resolution adopted by that
body on December II last:
10 the House Of Representatives:
have received the resolution Of the
house of representatives OF December II,
1903, running as follows:
WHEREAS there was contained in the
spndry civil appropriation bill which
PASSED congress at its last session and
became a IawK a provision in reference 10
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: II Is not too
much TO say that this amendment has
been OF benefit only, and could be of
benefit only. to the criminal classes and
It was further stated, TIL chief argu.
ment in favor OF the provision was that
the congressman did not themselves wish
TO be Investigated by secret service men,
and 1t was further stated: But If this is
lot considered desirable a special except
ton could be made by the law, prohibiting
the use OF tho secret force in investigating
members of congress. 1t would be 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
Whereas the plain meaning Of the above
words Is. that the majority of congress-
men were in fear Of being investigated by
secret service men and that congress as n
whole was actuated by that motive In
enacting that provision in question; and
Whereas your committee appointed to
consider these statements of the president
and to report to the house can not find
in the hearings before committees nor in
the records Of the house or senate. any
Qualification of this Impeachment OF the
roncr and integrity of the congress; and
whereas your COMMITTEES 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
nformation which the president may have
to communicate: Now, therefore, be 1t
Resolved, That the president be
requested to transmit to the house any evil
dcnce upon which he based his statement
that the chief argument In favor OF the
provision was that the congressman did
not themselves wish to be investigated by
secret service men, and also to transmit
to the house any evidence connecting any
member OF the house OF representatives OF
the Sixtieth congress with corrupt action
I'm his official capacity, and to inform the
house whether he has instituted proceed
ings for the punishment of any such lpdi-
vidual by the courts or has reported any
such alleged delinquencies to the house
of representatives"
Makes Nc Charges.
l am wholly at a loss to understand the
concluding portions of the resolution.
have made no charges of corruptior
against congress nor against any member
of the present house. If 1 had proof Of
such corruption affecting any member Of
the house in any matter as to which thu
federal government has jurisdiction, actor
would at once be brought. as was done IL
the cases of Senators Mitchell and Bur
ton, and Representatives Williamson
Hermann and briggs. at different time
since l have been president, This would
simply be doing my duty in the execution
and enforcement Of the law with respec
to persons. But / do not regard II a
within the province or the duties of tn
pre- sident to report to the house "allege,
delinquencies' of men bers, or the sup
posed corrupt action" of a member I'll
his official capacity" The membership o
the house is by the constitution within tn
power OF the house alone. In the prosecu
ton of criminals and enforcement OF tn
laws the president must resort to tn
courts Of the United States.
Restates His Position.
In the third and fourth clauses of tn
preamble ii is stated that the meaning O
my words is that the majority OF IN
congressman are in fear OF being invest
gated by secret service men" and tina
congress as a whole was actuated by tina
motive in enacting tho provision in cues
A. - - 49, III
OF the honor and integrity Of congress,
Those statements are not. l think. in &C
cordance with the facts. The portion c
ny message referred to runs as follows
Last year an amendment was inoorpol
ated in the measure providing for the 81
cret service, which provided that ther
should be no detail from the secret servic
and no transfer therefrom. 1t Is not Ia
much to say that this amendment has bee
Of benefit only. and could be OF benef
only, to the criminal classes. II delibel
ately introduced for the purpose OF dimiI
ishing the effectiveness OF war againi
crime 1t could not nave been better d,
vised to this end. II forbade the practic,
that had been followed to a greater {
less extent by the executive heads OF var
Gus departments OF twenty years. I
these practices We owe the securing Of II
evidence which enabled us to drive gre,
lotteries out OF business and secure $780,
in fines from their promoters. These pra,
tices have enabled us to discover som
the most outrageous frauds In ~conneotiC
With the theft of government land an
government timber by great corporation
and by individuals. These practices ha,
enabled US to get some OF the evidence ii
dispensahle in order TO secure the convi
ton OF the wealthiest and most formidab
criminals with whom the government III
to deal, both those operating in Violate
of the antitrust law and others. III
amendmeht in question was OF benefit
no one excepting 20 these criminals, al
II seriously hampers the government in Il
detection Of crime and the securing Of ju
dee. Moreover, It not only effects depar
nents outside OF the treasury, but Il ten
20 hamper the secretary OF the treasu
himself In the effort 20 utilise the employ
of his department so as to best meet Il
r~equlrements OF the public service. It 70