Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-01-05

President Replies 10 C0ngres.-
sIOnaI Resolution. 4
SAYS ne. llDMOT MT lTR0uSE.

Ia 49, NsNSsscsN 49, 49, ~
y Language Ia Annual Communicated
Called okjsetionab.s By Reprsssnta-
lives viii Stand Analysis, Declares
i Executive - He Rsnsxs His Arsu-
Il mont For Repeal 81 La~ Limiting
Activities Of Trsasury Agents cites
y Cases In Which They Have Aided
Ii Punishment Of vlolaters Of Fed
W sral Laws. s$4$$F ts; Us
Washington. Jan. Ain a special
message to the house Of representa-
tives today President Roosevelt says:
! TO the House Of Representatives: Il
7 have received the resolution Of the
house of representatives Of Dec. u,
1905, running as follows: w..
/ svndry II civil sapproprt alton bill which
nassed congress It tts last session and be-
!; came q law q provision In reference to tho
employment sof the secret service In the
/ treasury department: and. (5s> u, =. J.
Whereas, In the last annual message OF
/ the president Of the United States TO ~
two houses Of congresli II was stated In
references to .that provision. 1T II not too
much to say that, this amendment has
been Of benefit only and could be OF bene-
Il at only TO the criminal classes" and i
\ was further stated, 1.-THE chief argument
Il In favor Of the provision was that the
conxressmen did mot themselves wish 70
80 investigated by secret service men, =
Z and it was further stated, but Il this iis
:. mot considered desirable q special excep-
ton could hs made ins the law Drohibiting
the use Of the secret service force IN IN
&yestigating members sof congress-" It
would be- Tar better to do this than to DO
) prevent or at least to hamper effective
I: action against criminals by the executive
branch o1 tho government: and, 40 fjftss'i
\ Whereas, Tho plain meaning Of the
above words u that the majority Of tho
Z congressman were In fear Of being inves-
A tigated by secret service men ana that
congress % q whole. was actuated by that
motive In enacting the provision In ques-
whereas, Your committee appointed to
consider these statements Of the presi-
], dent and to report to tho house cannot
! and IN the hearings before committees
nor In the records Of the house or sem
4 ate any Justification Of this lmpeach-
ment Of the honor and integrity OF the
/ congress: and, $3$1 f S5$ s;rs ~ = r.,
.'s Whereas Your committee would prefer
4 In order to make IN intelligent and com.
h pfehehSivA report Just to- tie president
X as well AZ to the congress, to have all
X the information which the president may
I. have to communicates: now. therefore,
u requested to transmit to the house any
evidence upon which he based his state
= ments that the "chief argument in favor
i Of the provision was that the congress
men did not themselves wish to be In
ssyestigated by secret service mem ana
u also to transmit 70 the house any eyi-
a dsnce connecting any member OF the
\! house Of representatives Of the 6ixtieth
i congress with corrupt action in his ON
cdal capacity and to inform the house
whether he hassinstituted proceedings for
the punishment OF any such individual
, BY the courts or has reported any such
: alleged delinquencies to the house Of rep
resentatives. 5.53.::, "a sa:+ -; + !,
RI Cannot Understand Resolution"
/; / am wholly at q loss to understand
!, the concluding portion Of the resolu4
ton. have made no charges OF cor
ruption against congress nor against
i any member Of the present house. IS
III HAD proof of such corruption affect
3 ing any member OF the house IN any
matter % to which the federal gov
sSsernment, has jurisdiction, action would
Fat once be brought, - was done IN the
cases OF Senators Mitchell and Burton
q and Representatives Williamson, Herr
Il mann ana briggs It different times
& since have been president. This
would simply be doing NY duty II IL
execution and enforcement of the ~
without respect to petsons But %
1: not regard 1t al within the province
y or the duties Of the president to report
& 10 tie house alleged delinquencies"
$of members or the supposed s1cosrupt
a action OF 4 member Tin his ol4eiAl ca-
Spacity. The membership Of the
\ house To- BY the constitution placed
within the power Of the house alone.
4 IN the prosecutio Of criminals and the
Y enforcement Of the laws the president
4 must resort to the courts Of the: United 2.
Y States.
Portion 81 Message Quoted.
sE II the third and fourth clauses Of the
N preamble It . stated that the meaning
II Of my words . that '.the majority Of
& the congressman are n fear Of being
1. investigated ~ secret service men,
4 and that congress % 4 whole was ac-
4 tuated ~ that motive ~ enactsng the
v provision "a question and that this
4 Is IAN impeachment of the honor and
u integrity 81 the congress. These state
I ments are not. I think u accordance
With the facts. The portion Of my
d message referred to runs ~ follows: