Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1909-01-09
SECRET SERVICE REPORT
Special Committee Hands In Its
Final Reply.
CHAIRMAN PERKINS TALKS

the House That the Objectionable
Portion Which Is Not Respectful
Be Laid Upon the Table.
Washington Jan. S.-Having given
consideration to the presidents furth.
er view regarding the secret service
contained in the message to the house
OF representatives last Monday the
special l~tommittee appointed TO deal
wtth|the subject brought in its final
report today.
Accompanying II was a resolution
which declared IL to be the sense OF
the house that It should refuse to con-
slider any communication from any
source which Is not respectful. recon-.
mending that the Objectionable por-
tion OF the presidents annual message
be laid on the table and that similar
action to be taken with respect to the
message Of last Monday because OF its
being unresponsive to the inquiry OF
the house. AS to what the president
meant when he said referring to the
Limitation placed upon the field OF
operations OF the secret service that
the chief argument in favor Of the pro.
vision was that the congressman did
not themselves wish to be investi.
gated"
When Chairman Perkins. Of New
York. OF the special committee. arose
TO make his report he faced an almost
full membership. while the galleries
were packed with interested spectat.
ors. Messrs. Tawney, Smith of Iowa,
Sherley and Fitzgerald were on the
floor and prepared by word OF mouth
10 resent what they deemed 10 be the
insinuation of the president upon them
as members OF the committee on ap.
preparations. Thy were not alone in
their Indignation. Indeed. for some
time past the feelings OF the members
had been giving way to their senti.
ments In language which fully testi.
fed to their wounded pride.
Mr. Perkins addressed the house as
follows:
ITO your committee was referred
certain passages contained in the an
nual message of the president We
were to decide whether in our opin.
ion those portions of the message were
couched in such form that proper
regard for the dignity of a great leg.
islative body should forbid their re.
ception. We are Of the opinion that
the portions OF the message do con
stitute a breach OF the privileges OF
this house and that therefore follow.
Ing the precedent set In similar cases
the house shall decline to consider
them.
With the merits Of the question
with reference to the use of the secret
service men this committee has moth.
ing to do. We fully recognize the right
OF the president to express his dsap.
proval OF legislation adopted by the
congress, to point out its defects and
TO ask that they be remedied. The
question will doubtless be considered
by congress and such action taken as
may seem to be in the public interest
But your committee has TO con.
slider the criticisms made by the presi.
dent upon the motives OF congress In
It's action last session 10 consider HIS
suggestions as to future legislation
and to report whether congress with
proper self respect can receive them
II is stated In the message that the
chief argument In favor of the pro.
vision was that the congressman did
not themselves wish TO be investigated
by secret service men and this Is re.
peated In the additional message. II
this was the chief argument, it must
have been by this argument that the
majority Of the members were led TO
vote In favor of the offending proyis.
ions. Your committee Is unable TO
share In this belief In the arguments
OF the house the gentlemen from Ken
lucky, speaking In favor OF the amend.
ment, asked IL II was intended that IL
a member of congress was guilty OF
unbecoming conduct the department
would be warranted IN investigating
his conduct by secret service men.
And the gentlemen from New York
opposing the amendment stated that
we know as lawyers that we were not
federal officers; that we were com
ponent members of the government
and there was one over us. Then the
gentleman from Kentucky said, not
withstanding views of the gentleman
from New York, the private conduct
of a member of congress had been
once investigated by secret service
men, but the gentleman from New
tary instance and stated the investi.