The Elbert County tribune., 1909-01-07
BIG STICK SNASF1ES:
ROOSEVELT DEFENDS
THE SECRET SERVICE
I'm Message to House President De-
clareS His Statements in Previous
Words to Congress Were Gross
ly misunderstood.

Washington. = President Roosevelt's
big stick crashed down upon the
heads of Representatives Tawney of
Minnesota, Smith of Iowa. Sherley of
when the executive sent special message
TO the house Of Representatives berating
those solons 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 noees-
sty OF an investigation of members. such
evidence would long ago have been turned
over to the proper authorities
!, THE message in answer to the res
NY Non transmitted from the house in
/. In the representatives asked for evil
! asVIe upon which Mr.. Roosevelt based
U AAtatements that the chief argument
en- OF the provision was that the
Congress men did not themselves wish to
be investigated by secret service mem
Message Of the President
and Reasons Therefor.
The message in part:
ITO the House of Representatives:
have received the resolution of the house
d of representatives of December IL, 1908.
running as follows:
Whereas. there was contained in the
sundry civil appropriation bill which
passed congress at its last session and be-
came II ldWs pTONlSlOn III Ttltrtnce 10
the employment of the secret service in
the treasury department.; and
Whereas. in the last annual message
of the president of the United States to
the two houses of congress 1t was stated
in reference to that provision: 1T is not
too much to say that this amendment has
been of benefit only. and could be of ben
eft only, to the criminal classes" and 1t
was further stated: 1.-The chief argument
in favor of the provision was that the
congressman did not themselves wish TO
be Investigated by secret service men,"
and Il further stated: But IL this is
not considered desirable a special excep-
tion could be made in the law. prohib-
iting the of the secret service force
in Investigating members of congress. 1t
would be far better to do this than to
do what actually done. and strive to
prevent OF at least to hamper effective
action against criminals by the executive
branch of the government" and
Whereas, the plain meaning of his
words is that the majority of the con-
gressmen were in fear of being invest-
gated by secret service men and that con-
gress whole was actuated by that
Y llSpotive In enacting the provision in ques-
~. Ion. Now, therefore.
= BE It Resolved, That the president be
requested to transmit to the house any
evidence upon which he based his state
1 ments that the chief argument in favor
of the provision was that the congress-
.rAen did not themselves wish to be in
9,Festigated by secret service men,. and
also to transmit to the house any evil
dence connecting any member OF the
house of representatives of the Sixtieth
congress with corrupt action in his official
capacity. and to inform the house wheth-
er he has instituted proceedings for the
punishment of any such individual by the
courts or has reported any such alleged
delinquencies to the house of represent
atives'
Cannot Understand Trend Of
the House Resolution.
'I am wholly at loss to understand
the concluding portion of the resolution.
have made no charges of corruption
against congress nor against any member
of the present house. II had proof of
such corruption affecting any member of
the house in any matter as to which the
federal government has jurisdiction, ac-
ton would at once be brought. was
done in the cases of Senators Mitchell
and Burton, and Representatives William
son, Hermann and briggs, at different
times since have been president. This
would simply be doing my duty in the
execution and enforcement OF the laws
without respect to persons. But l do not
regard II as within the province or the
duties of the president to report to the
house alleged delinquencies' of members
or the supposed corrupt action of a
member In his official capacity The
membership of the house is by the con-
stitution placed within the power OF the
house alone. In the prosecution OF Grim
inals and the enforcement of the laws
the president must resort to the courts
OF the. United States.
I'm the third and fourth clauses of the
preamble 1t is stated that the meaning of
my words is that the majority OF the
congressman in fear of being inves-
ugated by secret service men and that
Congress 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 I
think in accordance with the facts.
Declares He Said Nothing
to Warrant the Statement.
"a careful reading of this nfissage will
show that ] said nothing to warrant the
statement .at the majority of the con-
gressmen yere In fear of being investi-
:. .{>esd by he secret service men, or that
ftreA Is whole was actuated by that
iGo aid not make any such state
Nthis niessage. Moreover / have
hde any such statement about
as whole. nor. with a few in
n Axceptions, about the members
f&ss, in any message or article or
ION the contrary 1 have always
deprecated but vigorously re-
Ne practice of indscriminate at
" congress. and indscriminate
tiou of all congressman, wise
Use. at and unfit, good and bad
yNo one -realizes more than / the