The Detroit times., 1909-01-08
HOUSE DENOUNCES
ROOSEVELT FOR
INSINUATION
CONTINUED from Page OneJ

galleries sat In utter astonishment as
representatives Tawney. OF Mime
sofa; Smith, OF Michigan; Sherley, OF
Kentucky, and Fitzgerald. OF New
York, delivered vitriolic denunciations
of the chief executive.
representatives Perkins, Weeks,
Williams, Lloyd and DENLY, members
of the special committee. spoke III
supnort OF their resolution TO table the
measure.
REPRESENTATIVE Bennett. OF New
York. a friend of the president, spoke
in his support. Mr.. Bennett declared
he believed the president meant no
insult to congress in the first message
and that he thought his second mes
sage was a clear explanation.
The debate followed the report OF
the special house committee appointed
to pass upon that part OF the presi-
dents opening message TO congress IN
which the president declared the APP
pronriations committee had limited the
services OF the secret service or the
government because members OF con-
eress we're themselves afraid OF being
Investigated.
The committee recommended That
that part of the message dealing with
secret service be tabled and expunsed
from the records. and this recon-
mendation was the signal for the ora
torical explosion, the like OF which
has seldom been heard on the moor OF
the house.
Denounces Arbitrary Power.
Mr.. Tawney said In part;
THE arbitrary and unauthorized use
OF the great power OF any one or the
branches Of our government, IL allow
ed TO pass unchallenged. will go fur
Their to undermine the confidence OF
the people in their government than
all other agencies combined. Under
mine the confidence Of the people In
any one OF the three coordinate
branches of their government and you
have done more TO destroy the founda-
ton upon which that government rests
than could be accomplished in any
other way.
when. therefore. the head or the
executive branch of our government
deliberately charged, as was done In
the message OF the president or Dec.
8. 1908. that the legislative branch. In
the exercise OF its constitutional func-
lions. had passed legislation which
has been OF benefit only, and could be
of benefit only, TO the criminal classes,
II Is clearly implied, X the English
language means anything, that the
congress OF the United States intend
ed To benefit and protect from detec-
ton and punishment those guilty OF
committing fraud and other violations
of the public laws.
mo disclaimer now, however siren
uous and vehement, can modify or
change either the meaning OF the Ian
guage used by the president or its In
lterpretation by the people and by the
press OF this country. under which in
terpretation the honor and Integrity
| of congress has been assailed and
stands impeached II is because Of
the Interpretation OF the language used
and It's effect upon their confidence in
! this branch OF their government that
! / deem il important 10 treat the charge
az IL has been accepted and IS under
stood by the people generally.
Violates Privileges.
ITO emphasize the plain meaning OF
the language employed in describing
the effect OF the Legislation criticized,
It is also charged in the message of
the president that the motive for pro-
posing this Legislation was that the
congressman did not themselves wish
10 be investigated by secret service
men. To thus impugn the motives,
for II has been accepted as such!
whether so intended or not of the
members Of the legislative branch Of
our government. violates not only the
constitutional privileges of congress.
but is calculated to arouse popular pre-
JUDGE against all branches OF our gov.
eminent which Is far more Injurious.