The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1909-01-07
MESSAGE ON THE
SECRET SERVICE
President Replies TO Congress
SiOnal Resolution.
SAYS He DID NOT HIT At HOUSE


ment For Repeal Of Law Limiting
Activities Of Treasury Agents-cites
Cases In Which They Have Aided
In Punishment Of violators Of Fed
eral Laws.
Washington, Jan. AIN a special
message to the house of representa-
tives today President Roosevelt says:
, TO the House of Representatives:
l have received the resolution of the
house of representatives Of Dec. II.
1908, running as follows
Whereas There was contained in the
sundry civil appropriation bill which
passed congress at It's last session and be-
came a law provision in reference to 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 II was stated In
reference to that provision, 1T Is not too
much TO say that this amendment has
been OF beneflt only and could be OF bene-
At only to the criminal classes" and II
was further stated THE chief argument
In favor Of the provision was that the
congressman did not themselves wish to
be Investigated by secret service men,"
and II was further stated, but IL this Is
not considered desirable a special excep-
ton could be made In the law prohibitin-
the use OF the secret service force In II.
.vestigating members of congress-" II
would be far better 70 do this than to do
what actually was done and strive TO
prevent or at least to hamper effective
action against criminals by the executive
branch OF the government; and,
Whereas. The plain meaning OF the
above words is that the majority of the
congressman were In fear of being inves-
tigated by secret service men and that
congress a whole was actuated by that
motive In enacting the provision In ques-
ton; and.
Whereas Your committee appointed to
consider these statements OF the presi-
dent and TO report to the house cannot
find In the hearings before committees
nor in the records OF the house or SEN
ate any justification OF this impeach-
nent OF the honor and integrity OF the
congress; and.
Whereas, Your committee would prefer
in order TO make an intelligent and com
prehensive report, Just TO the president
as well as 10 the congress- to have all
the information which the president may
have TO communicate; now. therefore,
Be Il resolved, That the president be
requested TO transmit to the house any
evidence upC which he based his state
ments that O "chief argument in favor
OF the provision was that the congress-
men did not themselves wish to be In
vestigated by secret service mem and
also to transmit 10 the house any evil
dence connecting any member of the
house OF representatives, OF The Sixtieth
congress with corr ,'pt aC lien In his OF
cial capacity and TO inform the house
whether ne has instituted proceedings for
the punishment OF any, such individual
fNyYN NhC kog NaA .l,
alleged delnquencies to the house of rep
roBentatives.
n Cannot Understand Resolution"
am wholly at loss TO understand
the concluding portion OF the resolu-
ton. have made no charges of cor
ruption against congress nor against
any member Of the present house. If
j had proof of such corruption affect
ing any member Of the house In any
matter as TO which the federal gov
ernment has jurisdiction, action would
at once be brought, as was done In the
cases Of Senators Mitchell and Burton
and Representative Williamson, Herr
mann and briggs at different times
since l have been president. This
would simply be doing my duty In the
execution and enforcement OF the laws
without respect to persons. But do
not regard II as within the province
or the duties OF the president to report
10 the house alleged delinquencies"
OF members or the supposed corrupt
action" OF a member '1n his official ca
pacity" The membership OF the
house is by the constitution placed
within the power of the house alone.
In the prosecution OF criminals and the
enforcement of the laws the president
must resort to the courts of the United
States.
Portion Of Message Quoted.
In the third and fourth clauses OF the
preamble II is stated that the meaning
of my words is that "the majority Of
the congressman are In fear of being
Investigated by secret service men,"
and that congress as a whole was ac-
tuated by that motive In enacting the
provision In question" and that this
is an impeachment Of the honor and
integrity of the congress. These state
ments are not, | think, I'm accordance
with the facts. The portion OF my
message referred to runs as follows;
Last year an amendment was incor-
porated In the measure providing for the
secret service which provided that there
should be no detail from the secret serv-
ice and no transfer therefrom. II is not
too much to say that this amendment has
been of benefit only and could be of bene-
At only TO the criminal classes. If delib-
erateiy introduced for the purpose of di-
minishing the effectiveness of war against
crime II could not have been better de-
Vised to this end. II forbade the prac-
fices that had been followed to a greater
or less extent by the executive heads of
various departments for twenty years. To
these practices we owe the securing of
the evidence which enabled us to drive
great lotteries out OF business and secure
q quarter OF a million of dollars in fines
from their promoters These practices
have enabled us to discover some OF the
most outrageous frauds in connection
with the theft OF government land and
government timber by great corporations
and by individuals. These practices have
enabled us 10 get some Of the evidence In
dispensable IN order 10 secure the convic-
ton OF the Wealthiest and most formida-