The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-01-07

heads OF Representatives Tawney OF
Minnesota, Smith OF Iowa. sheriey Of
Kentucky. and Fitzgerald 81 New York
when the executive sent a special message
20 the house OF representatives.. berating
those solons Tor being champions % the
successful move TO place limitations upon
the scope 81 the secret service.
The president also declared that the
interpretai on 81 the house % tn secret
service clause IN his last message was
misunderstood. and had there been any
evidence which would point Co the neces-
sity 81 an Investigation Of members. such
evidence would long ago have been turned
over 10 the proper authorities
The message was In answer 60 the res
oiutiun transmitted from the house In
which tho representatives asked Tor evi-
dcnce upon witch Mr. Roosevelt based
his statements that the chief argument
In favor % the provision was that the
congressman did not themselves wish 20
be Investigated by secret service men"
Message OF the President
and Reasons Therefor
The message IN part
ITO the House OF Representatives I
have received the resolution of tho house
~ representatives. Of December ~, 100,
running ne follows;
Whereas. there was contained IN the
sundry civil appropriation bill which
passed congress al It's last session and he-
came a law. a provision In reference g.
The employment % the secret service a.
the treasury department. ard
whereas In the last annua, message
% the president % the Tinted States o.
the two houses OF congress n was stated
In reference 90 that provision: III h. not
too much To say that this amendment has
been 81 bencnt only. and could he OF bcn-
cnt only. % the criminal classes" and Il
was further stated. The chief argument
Ia u hat IL
congressman did not themselves wish O.
BE- Investigated hy secrrt service men,
and n WAS further stated ''But II this Il
not considered desirable a special excep-
ton could be made In the law. prohib-
itinE the nse Of the secret service force
In investigating members % congress n
would be far better 90 DO this Than "a
40 what actually was done, and strive e.
prevent o. AZ least 10 hamper effective
action against criminals by the executive
branch 81 the government" and
Whereas. IN. plain meaning 81 bis
words ~ that the majority 81 the ooa-
Efessmsn were In fear % being inves1-
gated ~ secret service men and that Goa
grcEs ~ whole was actuated by that
motive In enactinE the provision In ques-
ton. Now. therefore.
" BE u Resolved. That the president Ne
requested 20 transmit TO the house any
evidence upon which he based his state
fncnts that the chief argument IN favor
OF the provision was that the congress
men did not themselves wish 90 b. IN
vestigatsd by secret service men. and
also 60 transmit 90 the house any tyi-
deuce connecting any member % he
house % Representatives OF the SixtI,th
congress with corrupt action In his ofiiriai
capacity. and 90 inform the house whesr
er he has Instituted proceedings for thu
punishment % any such Individual By thu
courts or. has reported any such alleged
dclinquencies 90 the house o. represent
ativcs'
Cannot understand Trend Of
the House Resolution
Il am wholly at a loss To understand
the concluding portion OF the resolution 4
I have made no charges OF corruption
against congress nor against any member ]
Of the present house II I had proof 81
such corruption affecting any member of I
The house In any matter as TO which the
federal government has jurisdiction. ae-
lion would at Onre be brought. as was
Zone In the cases ~ Senators Mitchell
and Burton. and Representatives william
son. Hermann and briggs. at direrentl
'timcs since I have been president ThisI
would simply be doing my duty In the
Execution and enforcement OF the laws
without respect 10 persons. Hut DO not
regard II as within the province or the
Duties Of the president 90 report 60 the
house alleged dellnauencics' Of members
OF the supposed corrupt action Of "A
member In his officiai capacity The
membership 81 the house n by the con.
stitution placed within the power 81 the
house alona In the prosecution OF crim-'
Ifnals and the enforcement OF the laws
fhs president must resort 20 the courts
Of the United States.
''1n the third and fourth clauses Of the /
preamble IL is stated that the meaning OF |
|my words is that the majority Of the
'congressmen are In fear, OF being inves-
.figated by secret service men and that |
That motive In enscting the provision IN \
question and that this Is an impeach- /
ment Of the honor and integrity OF thu /
.congress. These statements are not |
think In accordance with the facts.
Declares He Said Nothing i
TO Warrant the Statement.
"a careful reading of this message will
show that said nothing 20 warrant the
statement that the majority OF the con |
.sressmen were In fear Of being investi-
sated by the secret service men, or that
congress as whole was actuated by that
motive ! did not make any such state-
ment In thin message. Moreover I have
never made any such statement about |
congress as whole. nor. with a few In /
evitable exceptions, about the members
OF congress, In any message or article or
speech. On the contrary have always
not only deprecated but vigorously re-
scented the practice OF indiscriminate at
tack upon conrresr. and indiscTimlnaia
condemnation of all congressman, wise
and unwise. NJ and unfit good and bad
alike. No one realizes more than l the
Importance OF cooperation between the
executive and congress and no one holds
the authority and dignity OF the congress
OF the United States In higher respect
than do l have not the slightest sym
pathy with the practice OF judging men. 4
for good or for IN, not on their several
merits, but In mass. ms members OF !
one particular body or one caste To put
together all men holding or who havl
held q particular Office. whether it.IIl
the ONCE OF president, or Judge. or sen
tor, or member OF the house OF repressi
atives, and 10 class them all. without
gard % their individual differences.
good or bad, seems 10 me utterly I'M
feasible; and II Is equally indefens
whether the good are fonfounded With
bad In heated and unwarranted chs
pionship OF all, or In heated and ~
Warranted assault upon all
charge In Resolution Due
10 Density of the Sol