The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-01-09
MESSAGE ON THE
SECRET SERVICE
President Replies to Congress.
slOnaI Resolution.
DAYS HE DID NOT HIT ATHOUSE

lives Will Stand Analysis, Declares
Executive - He Renews His kreu-s
ment For Repeal Of Law Limiting
Activities Of Treasury Assnts--ci.es
Cases In Which They Have Aided
In Punishment Of vielatOrs Of Fod-
eral Laws.
Washington. Jan. Ain special
message TO the house Of representa-
tlves today President Roosevelt says;
To the House OF Representatives.
lbaye received the resolution OF the
"a h OF representatives OF Dee. II,
Ion running as follows:
Whereas. There was contained In the
eulXry civil appropriation bill which
pAfsed congress at It's last session and be-
cAme law a provision IN references 20 tho
employment or the secret service In the
treasury department. and.
Whereas. In the last annual message OF
the president OF the United States 10 the
two houses or congress Il was STATED In
reference 90 that provisioa 1T "a not too
much 20 say that this amendment has
bean OF beaert only and could be OF bene-
III only TO the criminal classes, and Il
WAS AWIAArF elAANIs nc ANtHA NENAANNlAf
IA favor OF the provision was that the
congressman did not themselves wish 20
he Investigated by secret service men,
and Il was further stated. But II this IL
not considered desirable a special excep-
ton could be made in the law prohibiting
the use OF the secret service force In in-
vcstigating Fnarubers uf congress" u
would be FAR better 10 do this than 70 do
what actually was done and strive 10
prevent or az least 20 hamper effective
4 acfion against criminals by tho executive
branch OF the government; and.
Whereas. The plain meaning ~ tho
above words As that the majority tho
1congressmen were Ia fear OF being -.s-
gated BIZ secret service men and at
ongress as a whole was actuated by taat
motive in enRcfing the provision In cues
aion: and.
n Whereas. Your committee appointed 10
ronsider these statements OF the presl-
.dent and 70 report 10 the house cannot
Bind IN the hearings before committees
Nor in the records 90 the house or SEN
bite any justification Of this impeach-
Snent Of the honor and integrity OF the
congrczss and.
whereas Your committee would prefer
in order 20 make an intelligent and com
n prehensivo report. just 20 the president
as well as TO the congress. 70 have all
Xthe information which the president may
4 haze 10 communicate; now. therefore,
- Il resolved. That the president be
- ested TO transmit 10 the house any
eNrnce upon which he based his state
nenfs that the rchlcf argument IN favor
OF tho provision was that the congress-
men did not themselves wish 60 be In
vestlgated by secret service men" and
also 10 transmit 10 the house any evil
dence connecting any member Of the
house OF representatives OF the Sixtlcth
congress with corrupt action in his on
cinl capacity and 10 inform the house
whether he has Instituted proceedings for
the punishment OF any such Individual
by the courts OF has reported any such
alleged delinqnencies 90 the house OF rep
4 rescnlatiyes.
~ Cannot Understand Resolution"
am wholly at n loss 90 understand
the concluding portion OF the resolu-
ton have made no charges Of cor
tnption against congress nor against
ANY member OF the present house. III
III had proof Of such corruption affect
ling any member OF the house IN any
fmatter as 10 which the federal gov
Eernmcnt has jurisdiction, action would
az once be brought. as was done In the
leases OF Senators Mitchell and Burton
and Representatives Williamson. Herr
mann and briggs at different times
"A aInce have been president This
would simply be doing my duty IN the
Execution and enforcement OF the laws
without respect 20 persons But 1 do
mot regard Il "a within the province
or tho duties OF the president 70 report
ITO the house "allcged dclinquenclcs'
'of members or the supposed corrupt
acfionv OF member in his Official ca
.pacIty." The membership Of the
house Is by the constitution placed
NNnIn the power Of the house alone.
q prosecution N criminals and the
kcement Of the laws the president
n esort 10 the courts OF the United
Portion of Message Quoted.
he third and fourth clauses OF the
Y - .l,hIe n Is stated that the meaning
Nny ~ords Is that "the majority OF
~ congressman are IN fear OF being
Hestlgatcd by secret service men.
u that congress as whole was ac-
kted hy that motive IN cnacting the
division IN question" and that this
Han impeachment OF the honor and
Il 8errity Of the congress. These state
8nts are not. think. In accordance
HI the facts The portion or my
ssage referred TO runs as follows
Hasf year an amendment was incor'
&atcd n the measure providing for The
\ tlet service which provided that there
- no detail from the secret aerv-
no transfer thercfrOm. "a IA not
much 20 say that this arnendment has
~ OF benefit only and could be u bene-
Ionly 10 the criminal classes. II deilbr
Alcly introduced for the purpose % d.
kinhinx the effectiveness ~ war against
lme Il could not have been better de-
Ia 10 this end Il forbade the prac-
~ that had been followed 20 greater
Hess extent BY the executive heads OF
fous departments FOR twenty years. To
be practices we owe tho securing ~
evidence which enabled VI % drive
lAf lotteries ont % bnalncfE and secure
kuartcr Of a million u dollars "a zines
~ their promoters These practices
Dc enabled us 10 discover some OF the