Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-09

Washington, Jan S.-President
Roosevelt tonight made public the de-
tails of an investigation by postoffice
inspectors and Secret Service agents of
Senator Tilimans connection with an
alleged land grab" in Oregon. AS he
presents the evidence to Senator Hale.
in response to the latter's request to
the heads of the various executive de-
partments for statement upon the OPP
eratiOns of the Secret Service, the
President undertakes to show:
That MIR. Tillman used his influence
as senator to try to force the govern
ment to compel railroad corporation
to reiinquish it's control OF land grants
from the United States SO that he and
his family and his secretary, J. B.
Knight might profit by the purchase
of some of the land.
That the senator used his government
franking privilege in numerous in.
stances for the conduct Of private bus
mess.
Comparatively few senator's were ia
vored with the opportunity of reading
the Presidents report to Senator Hale,
but those who did read the report
took a serious view of it, yet most of
the senators refused to believe that Mr..
Tillman ever did anything in violation
of his oath as q senator.
Senator Til!r,on did 10. permit the
fact that the President was giving out
the charges against him to alter his
determination to make no statement
until Monday. re said that he could
not make his reply as complete as he
WDuld desire fo~ tomOrroW's papers and
that he Wouid therefore withhold what
ever remarks he might have to make
until Monday, when he would make
stat lrlCnt to the Senate. No effort was
made by him to conceal the fact that
when he learned the facts concerning
the railroad grant, he made an effort
to obtain portions of the lan.l IN the
names of himself and members OF his
amily, but he declared that since, at
most, he could have got possession of
only few hundred acres. his efforts
We're after all on behalf of the public
and rot especially in his own interest.
Immediately after conclusion of the
chaplain's prayer Monday. Mr.. Tillman
will 2sk the recognition of the Chair
on question of personal privilege.
Departing from his custom of extern
statement, thus insuring more careful
adherence to what he desires TO say
than he would be able to give in an
off-hand speech.
The communication to Senator Hale
is nearly 1000 words long, and there is
appended to it numerous exhibits, in
Guiding copies Of letters written by
Senator Tilman and his agent, Will
liam Lee, showing that they did make
an effort to obtain several quarter sec
tons of the Oregon land and the re-
ports of the postoffice inspectors who
investigated the transaction OF the
land agents. 1t was owing to this IN
vcstigation that the alleged interest of
Senator Tillman was brought to light
and fatcfully it appears, it was at his
instance that the inquiry was begun.
The Presidents communication to
Senator Hale is as follows:
THE White House, Washington, Jan.
s, 1909.
"My Dear Senator Hale-I have re-
ouested the different departments of
the government, not only those to
whom you sent requests, but those to
whom you did not, to give me all the
attorneys, special agents, inspectors,
etc. in their departments which VIII
enable me to pat before you all the
facts. which, as / understand it, your
committee desire to have. / transmit
those reports herewith. l call especial
attention to the reports of the secre-
tsrx, of state the secretary OF the
treasury and the attorney general.
let ME at the outset most earnest
ly express my cordial agreement with
the view that it is not only right. but
the duty CT Congress to investigate the
WORKINGS OF the Secret Service or de-
tective agencies by which alone the
government can effectually safeguard
itself against wrong doing. punish
crime and bring to justice criminals l
am well aware of the liability to abuse
inherent in any effective detective sys-
TEN or Secret Service system; for the
measure of the efficiency of the system
is also the measure of the seriousness
of the abuses of the system If 1t be APP
piled to wrong purposes or directed IN
an improper manner. 1t is eminentlN
to the public interest that there should
be vigilant inquiry into the working OF
| this agency by the heads of the eXecu-
tive departments and by Congress.
at nevertheless remains true that
this system is absolutely Indispensable
if the popular interest is to be ade-
ouateiy safeguarded and wrong
| doors taught to fear the law. To show
| how indispensable detectives are When
| important work of a confidential char
acter must be done, I refer you to the
experience of the immigration Com
| mission appointed by Congress and
largely composed of senators and rep
resentatives, which has found it abb
soiutely necessary to employ detectives
! in order to achieve the best results. Tn