Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-05

of the Treasury and l had both written
prior to the enactment of the obnoxious
provision, and what ] have since written
in my message to the Congress, state the
facts exactly as they are The obnoxious
provision is of benefit only to the criminal
class and can be of benefit only to the
criminal class If it had been embodied in
the law at the time when l became Presi-
dent all the prosecutions above mentioned
and many others of the same general
type, would either not have been UNI
dertaken or would have been undertaken
with the Government at a great disadvan-
tage: and many, and probably most Of
the chief offenders would have gone scot
free instead of being punished for their
crimes.
Such a body as the Secret Service, such
a body of trained investigating agents,
occupying Il permanent position III Inc
Government service, and separate from
local investigating forces in different De-
partments. is an absolute necessity II the
best work is to be done against CRIMINALS.
1t is by far the most efficient instrument
possible to use against crime. Or course
the more efficient an instrument is, the
more dangerous it is if miSused. To the
argument that a force like this can be
misused it is only necessary to answer
that the condition as to its usefulness II
handled properly is that it shall be SO ell
ficient as to be dangerous II hahdied
Any instance OF abuse by the
Secret Service or other investigating force
in the Departments should be unspafing-
ly punished; and Congress should hole
itself ready at any and all times to IN
vestigate the executive department
whenever there is reason to believe tina,
any such instance of abuse has occurred.
I wish to emphasize my more than cordlh
acuuiescence in the view that this is no
only the right of Congress. but emphatic
ally it's duty. To use the Secret Servito
in the investigation of purely private q
political matters would be a gross abus
But there has been no single instance Of
such abuse during my term as President,
In conclusion, i most earnestly ask, ir
the name of good government and decent
administration. in the name of honesty
and for the purpose of bringing to justice
yiolators of the federal laws wherever
they may be found. whether in pubic or
private life, that the action taken by the
House last year be reversed. When TINS
under the lead of the late Senator Alli-
son. having before it a strOngly-worded
protest (Appendix ID from Secretary
Cortelyou like that he had sent to Mr.
Twaney, accepted the Secretarys views;
and the Senate passed the bill in the
shape presented by Senator Allison. In
the conference, however, the House con-
ferees insisted on the retention of the
provision they had inserted, and the
Senate yielded.
The Chief of the Secret Service is paid
Il salary utterly inadequate to the impor
tance of his functions and to the admir-
able way in which he has performed
them. I earnestly mrge that it be increas
ed to $4,000 per annum. 7 also urge that
the Secret Service be placed where it
belongs, and made a bureau in
the Department of Justice, as the Chief
of the Secret Service has repeatedly re-
quested; but whether this is done or not,
it SHOULD be explicitly provided that the
Secret Service can be used to detect and
punish crime wherever it is found
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House, January 4. 1909.
Washington, Jan. 4.-Cnusual at
teEtion was paid in the House to-
lay to the reading OF a message from
the President replying to a resolution
IF that body calling upon him for an
EXPLANATION of the intimation In his
annual message that members of Co:l-
sress We're afraid to be investigated
by the secret service. The galleries
were packed to the doors. The mes
sage was read as soon as the lillian
relief measure was put through The
Presidents specific references to cel
lain speeches by Towney, Mimi, Smith,
Ohio, Sherlcy. Ky, and Fitzgerald, ~
Y, when the provision for the restric-
ion of the operations of the secret
service was up for discussion and al
so to Mr., Busby. the Speaker private
secretary, created a general laughter
The Spe akcr several times vigorously
raped for order.
In commenting the Presidents ref
renee to him in the message Mr.. BUS
by said.
Il will say that the article quoted
rom the Chicago Inter-Ocean in the
Presidents message was prepared in
The regular course of work as II news
paper correspondent when / was the
representative Of the Inter Ocean. II
vas written in 1909. subject to tho
EDITORS discretion as to when it should
be published. 1t was published five
years ago. No member of Congress
inspired it. nor was any member OF
'ongiess consulted about it,"
As the reading proceeded many Of
the members chuckled ana Others
aughed outright. When the reading
mad been concluded Perkins. n. Y.
chairman of the committee which orig
naly considered the matter. moved
nat the message be referred; 10 that
committee. rs an amendment I'm or
Ter t" that motion?" inquired Grrggs.
Ia
'Then" said Griggs, II move that
his message be returned to the Pres
dent
"Oh no. Oh no" shouted severa, of
irlggs' Democratic colleagues.
Perkins insisted that the messag go
should go to the special committee
and in the meantime the Griggs with
drew his motion
The message was referred.
Members Of the House who are mem
Toned IN the message declined to mako