The Washington times., 1909-01-09
Rebuke of Congress
To President Unique

President Roosevelt stands IN the
unique and probably unenviable posi-
ton of being the second President who
has suffered the humiliation of having
portions OF his messages stricken from
the records Of Congress. His criticism
of the House of Representatives for
curtailiug the activities of the Secret
Service OF the Government in bis annual
message eliminated in what was UNI
doubtcdly the most severe and pro
IonEed condemnation that any Presi-
dent has been subjected 10 since the
day when President Andrew jackson
recommended that congress repudiate
"a part of the national debt.
Rad Few Friends.
Tine President had few friends in The
House yesterday. and those who had
the temerity to speak in his behalf were
given little consideration. The House
literally took the bit iu its mouth and
nothing could stop its course OF its de-
termination TO administer a rebuke.
The President is now out OF the way.
SO far as the House Is concerned. and
The offended members are well content
TO let matters stand ss they are. salts
ned that they have effectively cleared
themselves In the eyes or the country.
The same cannot be SAID OF the Secret
Service itself. and Republican leaders
said today that the Presidents recon-
mendation TOR q Secret Service to be
used by all departments of the Govern
menL with chief drawing a salary o.
s.. 600. hasn't one chance In a million
OF being enacted into law
instead 30 Is probable that at an early
daF the House viii vote to make a
searching investigation Of the Secret
Service with view 90 exposing the IL
legal manner Ia which, il Is alleged, u
Us frequently used. Indications are that
TINS matter VIII be pushed as vigorously
and TeleuJless-y as was the proposition
10 rebuke the President, and the stats
tics given I'm the speech Of NTr Smith.
az Iowa. give the members ground for
belief that there have been IuuumerabIe
Violations or the Law, not only in tHa
manner IN which the detectives have
been used but also I'm the matter OF
compensation.
Pleading Futile.
>u or llc pleading for rec5nslaera-
tlur cool action, nostp0uemeut. and
other moves calculated 10 head of the
adoption OF the resolution of the Per
EiuE committee proved unavaUuE Mr.
Rennettl WHO was the first to rise lH
defense of the President made no head
way at all. and Mr. Drisc0u. ~ New
York. was laughed down when le IN
t9Tmed the House that IL should wait
autI st. excitement had subsidized be-
fore taking dnal action. Mr. Townsend
OF Michigan made truly eloquent plea
for fh- President. but ne made no more
impression on the House than did the
other defenders oil thc Chief Executive.
When all else failed Relreseutatiye
Gardner or Massachusetts, sought 90
turn the House aside from its hxCd pun
pose by substituting for the Perkins
resolution one OF his own. which merely
oppressed confidence U the AuprOpria-
lions Commitree and eliminated tho
President alrO-stHrr- only TWENTY hI.zs
memueTS supported Tire amendment.
while 30 shouted ir down ON fhr 0rev-
ton ~ The adoption of the Perkins res
olutIon the President mustered few
NOR -rIer<ef@s tHfrtE-dyc voting against
Sustain President.
They were BenueL o. New York.
Campbell OF Kansas Chapman Of IUi-
nois Cooper of Wisconsin. Cox oF-1u-.
diana, Crumpaeker of Indiana Davis of
Minnesota. Douglass of Ohio. DIisaos
OF New York. F0eIk-r of New York
ta1 as Of California Henry Of C0nuec-
lieut. Rowland of Ohio Jenkins or
A lsc1nsiu. hmkaId of Nebraska. kue-
Iermaun of Wisconsin. Lands Of Inc
ohio, Mclaughlin OF Michigan. Madi-
son OF kansas Nelson of Wisconsin
Norris oJ Nebraska Parsons Of New
oTk, Pollard OF Nebraska. Pray OF
Montana Prince OF Illinois. RecGer o.
kansas. REYNOLDS of peuusvIraufa
~lemp 0f Virginia Townsend of Nichi-
San Na~aburn of Massachusetts, tug
wilson of Illinois
Roosevelt Satisfied
According to present intentions. Pres- !
dent Roosevelt VIII pay mo- public AL
teution 10 the resolution of ccusufe
tdoUted log the House or Representa-
lives.
70 the few members of the House g.4o
called on him today he explained that
ue bore no malice. aud was wllIus 10
leave che question OF who was right or
wrong TO tac eOuutry-at-large
The presideu- has insisted that there
should be uo curtaiImCut OF Tle powers !
of tHe secret Service and other lnve-fs- /
eating organizations Iie.teIIs hi- call
ers that he has proved bis ease ami taat
tas sI lc wanted 10 do.