Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1909-01-08
Message to Lower Branch
on Secret Service.
BIG STICK FALLS ON FOUR
Champions Of Provision to Limit Scope
Of investigators Are Raked Over
the Goals by RooseVelt-Federai
SIeuths Defended by Executive.

Representatives Tawney of Minnesota, |
Smith of Iowa. Sherley of Kentucky. and |
Fitzgerald of New York. when the execu-
tive sent a special message to the house |
of representatives. berating those solons |
for being champions of the successful
move to place limitations upon the scope |
of the secret service.
The president also declared that the
Interpretation of the house of the secret
service clause in his last message was
misunderstood. and had there been any
evidence which would point to the neces-
sity of an Investigation of members.
such evidence would long ago have been
turned over to the proper authorities
The message was in answer to the res
olution transmitted from the house In
which the representatives asked for evil
dence upon which Mr.. Roosevelt based
his statements that the chief argument
in favor of the provision was that the
congressman did not themselves wish to
be investigated by secret service men"
For the Ananias Club.
The message in part:
II am wholly at a loss to understand
the concluding portion of the resolution
] have made no charges of corruption
against congress nor against any member
of the present house. II I had PROOF OF
such corruption affecting any member OF
the house in any matter as to which the
federal government has Jurisdiction, ac-
done in the cases of Senators Mitchell
| and Burton, and Representatives Will
| hanson, Herman and briggs, at differ
| emit times since I have been president.
| This would simply be doing my duty in
| the execution and enforcement of the
! laws without respect to persons. But !
| do not regard ii as within the province
or the duties of the president to report
to the house alleged dellnquencies' of
members, or the supposed corrupt ac-
4 ton of a member in his official capac-
| ity.' The membership OF the house is
4 by the constitution placed within the
| power Of the house alone. In the prose-
| cution of criminals and the enforcement
of the laws the president must resort to
the courts of the United States.
''In the third and fourth clauses OF the
| preamble 1t is stated that the meaning of
nv words is that the majority of the
| congressman are in fear of being inves-
| tigated by secret service men and that
Congress as whole was actuated by
that motive in enacting the provision IN
question and that this is an impeach-
nent of the honor and integrity OF the
congress. These statements are not !
think, in accordance with the facts"
Misunderstood, He Says.
'aThis allegation in the resolution, there
fore. must certainly be due to an entire
failure to understand my message.
1.-THE resolution continues: That the
house any evidence upon which he based
his statements that the chief argument
in favor Of the provision was that the
congressman did not themselves wish tc
be Investigated by secret service men
This statement, which was an attack
upon no one. still less upon the congress
is sustained by the facts.
'sIf you will turn to the Concessions
Record for May last. pages 555s to 556o
inclusive. you will find the debate on this
subject Mr. Tawney of Minnesota, Mr.
Smith of Iowa Mr.. Sherley of Kentucky
and Mr. fitzgerald of New York appear
: in this debate as the special champion
of the provision referred to. Messrs. Par
sons. Bennett and Driscoil were the lead
ers of those who opposed the Adoption
of the amendment and upheld the right o
the government to use the most efhcien
means possible in order to detect Grim
inais and to prevent and punish crime
{ | The amendment was carried in the com
) mittee Of the whole. where no votes 0
. the individual members are recorded.
| am unable to discriminate by mention
\ ing the members who voted for ana IN
: members who voted against the provision
!. but its passage, the journal records. wa
greeted with applause. I am well aware
I. however. that In any case OF this KIN
I many members who have no parucula
s knowledge of the point at issue are cor
: tent simply to follow the lead OF III
e committee which had considered the ma
| ter and have no doubt that many men
bers of the house simply followed Il
lead of Messrs. Tawney and Smith,
Secret Service is Defended.
After soundIy demonstrating with Rel
q resentatives Tawney, Smith, Sherley ar
FITZGERALD for their stand at the la
Z session in favor of placing Limitation
s upon the duties of secret service operi
r. tives the president set about TO defeI
: the operations of that branch of u
= federal government and declared that q
1t scope of the department should be e
" tremely wide In order that all crtmina
Ill might be brought 30 justice and IN
IF there might be no unjust discrimination
q He also pointed out numerous instanc
u where the powers Of the department hi
a. brought justice upon the heads of erin
e. nails and cited cases within the memo
" of the present administration. Mr.. Roos
N. welt also declared that none Of the mel
hers of the house had ever been iuves
gated as set forth in various allegation
the gist of which was appended to I
message.
III Asks Reversal OF Action.
tn Concluding, the president said:
a. ssIn conclusion most arnestly ask,
~ the name of good government and dece
re administration. in the name of homes
be and for the purpose of bringing to just
nj vIolators of the federal laws whereN
~ they NAV be found. whether in public
in house last year be reversed When u
he action was taken. the senate commit
o. under the lead OF the late Senator A
= SON having before 1t a strongly wOrd
NJ protest from Secretary Cortelyou II
that he had sent TO Mr.. Tawney. accept
the secfetary's views: and the sem
3e- passed the bill in the shape presented
Senator Allison. In the conference. he
ever, the house conferees insisted on
.eS retention OF the provision they had
las serted. and the senate yielded.
'sFhe chief of the secret service is p
ne a salary utterly Inadequate to the imp
Sc lance OF his functions and to the adm
ith | able way in which he has perform
them. I earnestly urge that ii may
IN Increased to $500 per annum. l also u
ln- that the secret service be placed VIII
re- 1t properly belongs, and made bur-
en-. in the department of justice. as the CT
an. of the secret service has repeatedly
- | ouested: but whether this is aone or
u. .ne II should be explicitly provided that
ne secret service can be used to detect
] punish crime wherever IL is found