Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-05
CHANGE OF LAW
FOLLOWED LAND
GRAB EXPOSURE
SPEECH ON FLOOR OF HOUSE IN
Dictated THE MEMBERS
OBJECTED
NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
SHOWED THE INTENT
But Roosevelt Asserts the Need Is an
amendment of the Law Rather
Than a Dispute Over What
Has Been Said
[Rx Associated Press |

by Associated Press1
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-Quoting
the Congressional Record to prove
that he had ample warrant for the
declarations he made in his message,
wherein he urged a change Of the law
making possible a wider use of the Sc
rret service in the prosecution of vio-
iators of law, and calling again at
tentlon to what he said to show that
the members of congress had no war
rant for placing on his language the
construction they did place on it when
they framed the resolution demanding
10 know what proof he had for his as
sertions. President Roosevelt TODAY
sent special message to congress in
which he pointed out again the need
OF a change in the lazy governing the
employment of Numbers of the secret
service. He shows that members of
congress misquoted the letter of Sec
rotary of the Treasury Cortelyou, who
opposed the limitation of the use OF
the secret service men, denies that the
law has been violated by the depart
tments, and quotes congressional de-
bates to prove his contention that
members of congress did themselves
object to being liable to being invcs-
3 tlgated by the agents of the admins
trative department, of the govern
ment. The presidents message is as
follows:
10 the house of representatives:
have received the resolution of the
house Of representatives of Dec. II,
1908, running as follows:
he
sundry civil appropriation bill which
passed congress at its last session and
became a law. a provision in reference
TO the employment OF the secret ser
vice in the treasury department: and
Whereas in the last annual message
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 The chief argument in favor
of the provision was that the congress
sfmen did not themselves wish to be
investigated by secret service men,
and 1t was further stated: But il this
Is not considered desirable a special
exception could be made in the law,
prohibiting the use of the secret ser-
vice force in investigating members OF
congress. 1t would be far better to 10
this than to do what actually was
lone, and strive to prevent or at least
10 hamper effective action against
criminals by the executive branch of
the. Government; and
Whereas the plain meaning of the
above words is that the majority OF
The congressman We're in fear of being
investigated by secret service men and
that congress as a whole was actuated
by that motive in enacting the provi-
sion in question:; and
5Whereas your committee appoint
ed to consider these statements of the
president and to report to the house
can not find in the hearings before
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
and comprehensive report, Just to the
president as well as to the congress, to
have all the information, which the
president may have to communicate:
Now, therefore,
"Be is resolved, That the president
be requested to transmit to 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
TO be Investigated by secret service
men, and also to transmit to the
house any evidence connecting any
member of the house Of representa-
lives Of the sixtieth congress with cor.
s1lpt action in his official capacity, and
TO inform the house whether he has
Instituted proceedings for the punish
nlent of any such individual by The
courts or has reported any such alleg-
ed dclinquencies to the house OF re-
representatives."
Has Made no Changes
/ am wholly at a loss to understand
the concluding portion of the resolu-
tion. l have made no charges of cor
ruption against congress nor against
any member of the present house. Ii
had proof of such corruption affect
Ing any member of the house in any
matter as to which the federal govern
nlent has jurisdiction, action would at
once be brought, as was done in the
cases of Senators Mitchell and Bur
ton, and Representatives Williamson.
Hermann and briggs, at different
times since ] have been president. This
would simply be doing my duty in the
executes aR6 enforcement of the laws