New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-09
SENATE SEEKING LIGHT
PRODS THE DEPARTMENTS
asks about Employment and Pay
of Special agents.
From The Tribune Bureau

Washington Feb S-The Senate to-day
adopted several resolutions which expected
70 develop an exceedingly interesting line Of in
formation, probably considerable highly spiced
debate, and possibly some embarrassment to
The administration. Senator TflIman introduced
3 resolution designed to throw light on prac-
tee which Congress has long deprecated. al
though its existence. to a limited extent at
least appears TO be inseparable from effective
administration Of the executive departments OF
the government. This Is the employment Of
special agents. attorneys. inspectors, ETC.. who
are paid out OF so-caIed lump suns' and
whose positions have not been specifically
authorized by Congress.
The significance Of the TilIman resolution lies
largely in the fact that he assisted in per-
fecting it by some Of the Republican leaders
notably Senators Hale. Aldrich and Warren, and
that it was adopted without dissenting voice
or vote. In the discussion preceding its adop-
ton Senator Culberson declared that the num-
Der of special employees had increased in the
present administration from something more
than seven hundred to three thousand. The
Tillnan resolution calls on the Secretary Of the
Treasury. the Attorney General, the Secretary OF
the Interior the Secretary Of Commerce and
Labor. the Secretary of Agriculture and the
Interstate Commerce Commission Immediately
to report 'the number and names Of all persons
employed by them or under their authority dur
ing the fiscal year ending June so, 1906, who
now employed. special agents. attcr-
neys, inspectors or otherwise employed. where
specific appropriation in detail has been
made TO Congress for such employment: the
amount paid to be paid compensation and
allowances, and q specific statement to the
nature of the employment in each case and
whether such persons are in the classified
vice" The resolution also asks for information
g he WIFI ar
paid
Startling and doubtless exaggerated reports
have recently been in circulation at the Capitol
regarding the performances of special agents Of
various departments of the government who are,
Il Is dAeseu, even more numerous IMAM similar
employees IN Russia. For instance, 1t Is declared
that special agents of one department have sys
tematically 'shadowed' several Senator'S An
other allegation is that Secretary Wilson sent an
agricultural explorer to Guatemala TO discover
anything that might prove interesting, and that
he found the Guatemalan ant devouring boil
weevils At great expense large colonies Of
these ants were imported from Guatemala and
acclmated in Texas, and the explorer re-
oeived increase of $500 a year out of the
lump fund" Then the ungrateful ants posi-
lively refused to eat boil weevils. But Senators
declare that the explorer" still draws his in
creased salary.
The interference with business by special
agents who are alleged to be on the scent Of the
trusts is criticised by Senator'S and they believe
that interesting developments viii follow the
adoption of the Tillman resolution.
The second resolution in this series was offered
calls on the President for the confidential report
OF the Keep commission, which embodies the re-
suits Of the investigation Of the Department Of
the Interior This is Of course, a step in the
feud between Secretary Hitchcock and the SEN
ator from Wyoming. Certain sensational
ports regarding the findings Of the Keep COM
mission In the Interior Department have been
printed from time to time, although never. ap-
parently, verified. But il is asserted that now
they viii all be made public.
The third resolution adopted to-day calls on
the Interstate Commerce Commission for the in
formation gathered and submitted by Charles 8.
Hanks, who recently asserted that freight and
passenger rates could be reduced 10 Pc. cent
without hardship TO the stockholders Of the rail-
roads The statement of the commission that
Mr. Hankss assertion was unwarranted is de-
clared TO be insufficient and unsatisfactory"
Some Senators say the Senate has put a rod
In pickle" for the President but other expert
enced observers fully expect to see the rod"
cause far more trouble for the upper house Of
Congress than for the executive. Friends Of the
administration say that the resolutions adopted
to-day will, like the Brownsville debate only
prove another boomerang.