Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-01-04
CANNOT AGREE With THEM
Made No Charges Of Corruption
Against Congress or Any Men,
Der Of Present House.
In Name Of Good Government and Dc
cent Government Asks That Houses
Action OF Last Year be Reversed.

daulhblONs Jan. d~A hpctAal iihs-
sage from the president in response to
the houses request for Information on
which he based his structures on Con-
gress relative TO the use Of the secret
service force. was received By tho
house to day
10 the House Of Representatives;
/ have received the resolution Of the
house Of representatives OF Dec a. 1905,
running as follows.
Whereas there was contained In the
sundry civil appropriation bill whsch
passed Congress at its last session and
became law, a provision IN reference
60 the employment OF the secret service
in the treasury department. and,
Whereas in the last annual message
Of the president Of the United states
10 the two houses OF Congress Il was
stated I'm reference 10 that provision,
II Is not too much 10 say that this
amendment has been Of benent only.
and could be of benefit only TO the
criminal classes. and it was further
stated. The chief argument I'm favor
OF the provision WAS that the congress
men did not themselves wish TO be I'M
Nestigated by secret service men,, 10
was further stated: But If this Is not
considered desirable a special eXcep-
ton could be made In the law. prohibit
ing the use of the secret service force in
investigating members Of Congress. lt
would be- far better 70 do this than t.
DO what actually was done, ana strive
to prevent or at least 10 hamper eftec-
tive action against criminals by the
executive branch ct the government,
and
Whereas the plain meaning OF the
above words is that the majority OF
the congressman were ia fear OF being
investigated by secret service men and
that Congress as a whole was actuated
by that motive in enacting the pro-
vision in question; and
Whereas your committee appointed
70 consider these statements Of the
president and 10 report to the house
can not hnd IA the hearings before
committees nor in the records Of the
house or senate. any justification OF this
Impeachment of the honor and integ-
rity OF the Congress; and
Whereas your committee would pre-
Ter in order TO make an intelligent and
comprehensive report. Just 10 the pres
ident as well as 20 the Congress, to
have all the information which the
president may have to communicate;
Now, therefore,
BE 1t resolved. That the president
be requested TO transmit to the house
any evidence upon which he based his
hiuAtintAAH Ahdl Alit tuiei Ut AittfAl III
favor Of the provision was that the
Congressman did not themselves wish
to be investigated by secret service
men, and also to transmit 10
the house any evidence connecting
any member OF the house of representa-
tives of the Slxtieth Congress with cor
rupt action IN his official capacity, and
20 inform the house whether he has IN
stituted proceedings for the punishment
has reported any such alleged delin-
quencies TO the house OF representa-
tives'
PRESIDENT CAN'T UNDERSTAND.
/ am wholly at loss to understand
tho concluding portion of the resolu-
ton. / have made no charges Of cor
ruption against Congress nor against
any member OF the present house. IL
] had proof OF such corruption affect
ing any member Of the house ia any
matter as 10 whieh the federal govern
ment has jurisdiction action would at
once be brought as was done IN the
cases OF Senators Mitchell and Bur
ton. and Representatives Williamson,
Hermann. ana briggs, at different
times since j 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 Il as within the
province or the duties OF the president
10 report 70 the house alleged delin-
quencies" OF members, or the sup
posed corrupt action Of a member
Sin his official capacity" The mem
bership Of the house Is By the COnstitu-
ton placed within the power OF the
house alone Ia the prosecution Of
criminals and The enforcement Of the
laws the president must resort 10 the
courts OF the United states.
Ina the third and fourth clauses OF The
preamble Il is stated that the mean
Ing OF my words Is that the ma
iority OF the Congressman are In fear
Of being Investigated by secret service
men" and that Congress as "a whole
was actuated By that motive ia enact
Ing the provision iu question" and that
This is an impeachment Of the honor
and integrity OF the Congress. These
statements are not. ] think, IN ac-
aordanco with the facts. Tho portion
lf my message referred TO runs as fol-
lows;
QUOTES OFFENDING PASSAGE.
Last year an amendment was i'm
2orporated ia the measure providing
FOR the secret service. which provided
hat there should be no detail from
.Nt secret aNANlNN aAiN no hAhNHlHi
horefrom. M o. not too much 10 say
that this amendment has been OF bene-
it only. and could be- of benefit only,
10 the criminal classes lf deliberate
y introduced for the purpose OF dI-
the enectIreness Of war
against crime. % could not have been
better devised to this end II foI-
ltde the practise mat had been fal-
owed 90 "a greater os less extent by
he executive heads OF various depart
nents FOR twenty years, To Thesis
lructiaea we owe the securing OF ihr
violence Which enabled ua to drive
great lotteries out 40 business and se
'ure a quarter of % million III dolla
81 zines from thcir promoters. TheHr
HuetIaes have enabled us a..
discover SOME OF the most 0ui
agoouE uuuuf boo connection
.ih the thoft of government land
.ud government timber by great col-
..fatlons and hy individuals Thaae
.rfoIiscf have enabled us No get some
500 evidence Indispensable Boo order
H saonro tIe conviction of ths neaifhI-