The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-01-08

consideration to the presidents fur
ther views regarding the secret SER
vice, contained in his message to the
house of representatives last Mon
day, the special committee appointed
to deal with the subject today brought
in its final report.
Accompanying 1t was a resolution
which declared it to be the sense of
the house that it shall decline to con-
slider any communication from any
source which is not respectful, rec
ommending that the Objectionable
portion of the presidents annual mes
sage be laid on the table and that SIM
ilar action be taken with respect to
the message of last Monday because
of it's being "unresponsive to the in
quiry of the house" as to what the
president meant when he said, refer
ring to the Limitation placed upon the
field of operations of the secret SER
vice that the "chief argument in IA
vor of the provisions was that the
congressman did not themselves wish
to be investigated"
Shoe Pinched
When Chairman Perkins of New
York of the special committee arose
to make his report he faced an al
most full membership while the gal
leries were packed with interested
spectators. Messrs. Tawney, Smith of
Iowa. Sherley and Fitzgerald were on
the floor prepared by word of mouth,
to resent what they deemed to be the
insinuations of the president upon
them as members of the committee on
appropriations. They were not alone
in their indignation. Indeed, for some
time past the feelings of the members
had been growing more and more in
tense and some of them have been
giving way to their sentiments in Ian
guage which fully testified to their
wounded pride.
Mr.. Perkins addressed the house as
follows:
ITO your committee we're referred
certain passages contained in the an
nual message of the president We
were to decide whether, in our opinion
those portions of the message were
couched in such for mthat proper
regard for the dignity of great exec
utive body should forbid their recep-
ton. We are of the opinion that the
portions of the message do consti-
tute a breach of the privileges of this
house and that therefore, following
the precedent set in similar cases, the
house should decline to consider them.
with the merits of the question
with reference to the use of secret
service men, this committee has moth
ing to do. We fully recognize the
right of the president to express his
disapproval of legislation adopted by
congress, to point out it's defects and
to ask that they be remedied. The
question will doubtless be considered
by congress and such action taken
as may seem to he in the public in
terest.
But your committee has to consider
the criticisms made by the president
unon the motives of congress in it's
action last session, to consider his
suggestions as to future legislation
and report whether congress with
proper self respect can receive them.
1t is stated in the message that the
chief argument in favor of the pro-
vision was that the "congressmen did
not themselves wish to be Investigate
ed by secret service men," and this is
repeated in the additional message.
If this was the chief argument, it
must have been by this argument that
the majority of members We're lead
to vote in favor of the offending provi-
sion. Your committee is unable to
share this belief. In the arguments of
the house. the gentleman from Ken
lucky speaking in favor of the amend
ment, asked If it was intended that If
member of congress was guilty of
unbeconling conduct the department
would be warranted in Investigating
his conduct by secret service men.
And the gentleman from New York.