The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1909-01-04
MeSs sage IS Sent
President Roosevelt Replies
to House Resolution and
sayshe Did Not Hit
at House

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. A.,
Much interest was shown today In
both houses of Congress over tn:
prospect of the receipt OF two mess.
ages from the President one in re.
sponse to the Houses request for In.
formation on which the Presi ient
based his structures on. Congress.
relative 10 the use OF the secret ser.
vice force, and the nthsr recommend.
ing aid to surviving earthquake vic.
Tins in Southern Italy.
The nature of the recommendation
of the latter becamel known in ad.
vance and a disposition among The
members OF Congress to make liberal
and prompt response was noticeable
on all hands.
The first message follows:
To the House Of Representatives:
I.have received the resolution OF the
house Of representatives, OF Dec. II,
1908, running as follows:
Whereas. There was contained in the
sundry civil appropriation bill which
passed congress at It's last session and be-
came "A Inv provision in reference 10 the
employment OF the secret service i'm the
treasury department; and.
Whereas, In the last annual message of
the president OF the United States TO the
two houses OF conSresu Il was stated in
reference 10 t;ilt provision. 1T Is not too
much TO ray hhat tiis amendment has
been OF baneht o.ly and could be Of bene-
ft only 10 the cT-irsinal cinSses," and II
was further stated The chief argument
in favor OF the provision woa that the
congressman DID rot thcn,selvcs wish 10
be investigated ly secret service men,
and It was further stated "isut II this Is
not considered desirable u spectzl cScep-
ton could be made In the law prohibiting
the use Of tile cec:e. fc-vice force In In
vestisutinz members OF congress-" X
would he far Lcttcr to do this than to do
what actually was done and strive 10
prevent cr at least TO hamper effective
action against criminals by tie executive
branch of the government: ard.
Whereas, Tho plain meaning OF tho
above words Is TINT tie majority OF the
congressman we're IN fc7r OF being inves.
tigoted by 1cc.et ccryicc :.,ca and that
congress rs n whcle was actuated hS' that
motive In eHacilng tho provision IN nueS-
tion; and,
Wherear. Your committee appointed to
consider these statements Of the presl.
dent and to report TO Tho house cannot
find In the hearings before committees
nor In the records OF the house or sem
ate any justification OF this impcach-
ment OF tie honor and integrity Of tho
congress; and,
Whereas. Your committee would prefer
In order 10 make an Intelligent and COM
prehens.vc report, just TO the president
as Well as 20 the congress. TO have all
tho information which the president may
have 70 communicata; now. therefore.
Be II resolved. That the president be
requested TO transmit to the house any
evidence upon which he based his state
ments that the chief argument In favor
OF the provision was that the congress-
men did not themselves wish to he in
vestigated hr secret service men, and
nlso 10 transmit 10 the house any owl
dence connecting any member Of the
house OF representatives OF the SixtiCth
congress with corrupt action in his OH
cinl capucity and to inform the house
whether he has Instituted proceedings for
the punishment OF any such Individual
ny the courts or has reported any such
ALLEGED dellnqucncics to the house OF rep
resentatiycs.
81 Cannot urderstznd Resolution
l am wholly ut loss 10 understand
the concluding portion cf the resolu.
tion.' ] have made no charges Of cor.
ruption against congress nor against
any member OF tho present house. II
! had proof OF such corruption affect
ing any member OF the house in any
matter as 10 which the federal gov
ernmcnt has jurisdiction. action would
NJ once be brought. as was done In the
cases of senators Mitchell and Burton
and Representatives Williamson. Herr
mann and briggs at different times
since have been president. This
would simply he doing my duty In the
execution and enforcement OF the laws
without respect to persons. But / do
not regard 1t rs within the province
or the duties OF the president to report
to the house alleged. deliDquencIes' :.
Of members or the supposed corrupt
action OF = member "ln his official en-
pacity" The membership Of the
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