The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-04
A Special Message Regarding
the Secret Service
WAS misunderstood.
Says Wrong Construction Was
Placed on Utterances
On Same Subject Embodied in
His Annual.


house the following message:
To the House of Representatives:
have received the resolution OF
the house of representatives OF
December II. 1908. running as fol-
lows:
''Whereas there was contained in
the sundry civil appropriation bill
which passed congress at its last ses-
sion and became a law. a provision
in reference to the employment of the
secret service in the treasury depart
ment; 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 to that
provision: 1T 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, That chief argu-
ment in favor of the provision was
that the congressman did not them
selves wish to be Investigated by
secret service men, and it was fur
ther stated: But if this is not con-
sidered desirable a special exception
could be made in the law prohibiting
the use of the secret service 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 hamper
effective action against criminals by
the executive branch of the govern
ment; and
whereas the plain meaning of the
above words is that the majority OF
the. congressman were in fear of be-
ing investigated by secret service men
and that congress as a whole was
actuated by that motive in enacting
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 the hearings be-
fore committees nor in the records OF
the house or senate, any Justification
of this impeachment of the honor and
integrity of. the congress-; and
Whereas your committee would
prefer in order to make an intelligent
president as well as to the congress.
to have all the information which the
president may have to communicate;
now, therefore, t,ss
be requested to transmit to the house
any evidence upon which he based
his statements that the chief argu-
ment in favor of the provision was
that the congressman did not them
selves wish to be investigated by
secret service men, and also to trans
NIT to the house any evidence con-
Meeting any member of the house OF
representatives of the Sixtieth con-
gress with corrupt action in his
official capacity. and to inform the
house whether he has instituted pro-
ceedings for the punishment of any
reported any ysuchalleged delinquencies
to the house of representatives"
I am wholly at loss to understand
the concluding portion of the resolu-
ton. have made no charges of cor
ruption against congress nor against
any member of the present house. If
I had proof of such corruption affect
ing any member of the house in any
matter as to which the federal gov
ernment has jurisdiction, action would
at once be brought, as was done in
the cases of Senators Mitchell and
Burton, and Representatives William
son, Hermann, and briggs. at differ
ent times since L have been presi-
dent. This would simply be doing
my duty in the execution and en-
forcement of the laws without respect
to persons. But I do not regard it
as within the province or the duties
of the presiden to report to the house
"alleged delinquencies" of members. or
the supposed corrupt action" of q
member ''in his official capacity
The membership of the house is by
the constitution placed within the
power of the house alone. In the
prosecution of criminals and the en-
forcement of the laws the president
must resort to the courts of the
United States.
Not in Accord With Facts.
In the third and fourth clauses of the
preamble it is stated that the meaning
Of my words is that 1.-The majority OF
the congressman are in fear of being
investigated by secret service men" and
that congress as a whole was actuated
by that motive in enacting the provis-
ion in question" and that this is an
of the honor and integrity
Of the congress. These statements are
not 1 think in accordance with the facts.
The portion of my message referred to
runs as follows:
Last year an amendment was incor-
porated IN the measure providing for
the secret service which provided that
kT,a C1an he dnfa q
cret service and no transfer therefrom-
It is not too much to say that this
amendment has been of benefit only,
and could be of benefit only, to the
criminal classes. If deliberately intro
1uced for the purpose of diminishing
The effectiveness of war against crime
t could not have been devised to this
end. 1t forbade the practices that had
been followed to a greater or less ex-
tent by the executive heads of various
for 20 years. To these
practices we owe the securing of the
evidence which enabled us to drive
great lotteries out of business and se-
cure a quarter of a million of dollars
n fines from their promoters. These
PRACTICES have enabled US to discover
some of the most outrageous frauds in
with the theft of government
and and government timber by great
and by individuals. These
practices have enabled us to get some
# the evidence indispensable in order
@ secure the conviction of the wealth.
est and most formidable criminals with
xhom the government has to deal. both
hose operating in violation of the anti
rust law and others. The amendment