Marble Hill press. (Marbel [sic] Hill, Mo.) 1881-1923, 1909-01-07
Chief SAYS HOUSE
81
Misunderstood
Message to Lower Branch
on Secret Service.
BIG STICK FALLS ON FOUR
Champions Of Provision TO Limit Scope
Of Investigators Are Raked Over
the Goals by Roosevelt--Federai
sIeuths Defended by Executive.

Washington. --President Roosevelt's big
stick crashed down upon the heads OF
Representatives Tawney OF Minnesota,
Smith Of Iowa. sherley OF Kentucky, and
Fitzgerald of New York, when the eKecti-
tive sent a special message to the house
of representatives. berating those snlons
for being champions of the successful
move TO place limitations upon the scope
OF the secret service
The president also declared that the
Interpretation Of the house OF the secret
service clause in his last message was
misunderstood, and had there been any
evidence which would point TO the neces.
sity OF an Investigation OF members.
such evidence would long ago have been
turned over to the proper authorities.
The message was In answer TO the res
olution transmitted from the house in
which the representatives asked for evil
dence upon which Mr. Roosevelt based
his statements that the chief argument
in favor Of the provision was that the
congressman did not themselves wish to
be investigated by secret service men"
For the Ananias Club.
The message in part:
81 am wholly at loss to understand
the concluding portion OF the resolution.
against congress nor against any member
OF the present house, If ! had proof of
such corruption affecting any member OF
the house In any matter as 10 which the
federal government has jurisdiction, &C.
ton would at once be brought, as was
done in the cases Of Senators Mitchell
and Burton. and Representatives Will
hanson, Herman and briggs, al diTer-
ent times since I have been president.
This would simply be doing my duty in
the execution and enforcement OF the
laws without respect TO persons, But I
do not regard II as within the provinces
or the duties OF the president to report
to the house alleged delinquencies' ~
mem bers or the supposed corrupt ac-
ton OF a member In his official capac-
fly The membership OF the house Is
by the constitution placed within the
power OF the house alone, In the prose-
cutlon Of criminals and the enforcement
OF the laws the president must resort 10
the courts Of the United States.
I'm the third and fourth clauses ~ the
preamble II Is stated that the meaning ~
my words is that the majority 81 the
congressman are in fear OF being inves-
tigated by secret service men and that
congress as a whole was actuated by
that motive in enacting the provision in
question and that this is an impeach-
ment Of the honor and integrity OF the
congress These statements are not ]
think. in accordance with the facts"
Misunderstood, He Says.
'"Thts allegation in the resolution, there
fore. must certainly be due 70 an entire
failure to understand my message.
The resolution continues That the
president BE- requested 10 transmit 10 the
house any evidence upon which he based
his statements that the chief argument
IN favor OF the provision was that the
congressman did not themselves wish 10
he Investigated by secret service men
This statement, which was an attack
upon no one still less upon the congress,
IL sustained by the facts
IF you will turn to the Congressional
Record for May last. pages 1858 70 $500.
inclusive, YOU will find the debate on this
subject Mr.. Tawnev of Minnesota, Mr..
Smith OF Iowa, Mr.. Sherley Of Kentucky,
and Mr. Fitzgerald Of New York appear
in this debate as the special champions
of the provision referred TO. Messrs. Par
sons, Bennett and Driscoll were the Lead
ers Of those who opposed the adoption
OF the amendment and upheld the right Of
the government 10 use the most efficient
means possible in order 10 detect Grim
inals and 10 prevent and punish crime
1
mttee OF the whole where no votes OF
the Individual members are recorded, 30
] am unable TO discriminate by mention
Srg the members who voted for and the
members who voted against the provision,
but Its passage the journal records, was
greeted with applause. ! am well aware.
however that in any case OF this Kind
many members who have no particular
knowledge Of the point at issue are con-
tent simply 10 follow the lead OF the
committee which had considered the mat
ter, and have no doubt that many mem
bers of the house simply followed the
lead OF Messrs Tawney and Smith
Secret Service Is Defended.
After soundly demonstrating with Rep
resentatives Tavney, smith Sherley and
Fitzgerald for their stand at the last
session in favor OF placing limitations
upon the duties Of secret service opera
tives. the president set about TO defend
the operations II that branch of the
federal government and declared that the
scope Of the department should be eX
trenely wide in order that all criminals
might he brought to justice and that
there might be no unjust determinations,
He also pointed out numerous instances
where the powers of the department had
brought justice upon the heads OF cr!vli-
mails and cited cases WITHIN the memory
OF the present administration. Mr.. Roose-
welt also declared that none Of the mem
beers Of the house had ever been invest-
gated as set forth In various allegations,
the gist Of which was appended TO the
message.
Asks Reversal Of Action
Concluding the president said.
''In conclusion. ! most arnestly ask, In
- sryot1 AYy NJ