Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-12-12
Secret SERVICE.


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 Sc
cret service and no transfer therefrom
1t Is not too much to say that this
| amendment has been Of benefit only,
I and could be Of benefit only, to the
criminal classes. The amendment In
| question was of benefit to no one ex-
! cepting to criminals, and 1t seriously
hampers the government In the detec-
ton OF crime and the securing OF jus
| tice. II prevents the promotion of en-
| ployees In the secret service. and this
| further discourages good effort In its
present form the restriction operates
only to the advantage of the criminal.
II the wrongdoer
The chief argument In favor OF the
provision was that the congressman
did not themselves wish to be investi.
gated by secret service men. Very lit
tie of such investigation has been done
In the past, but II is true that the work
Of the secret service agents was partly
responsible for the indictment and con-
viction OF senator and congressman
for land frauds In Oregon. I do not
believe that It Is In the public interest
10 protect criminals IN any branch Of
the public service. and exactly as We
have again and again during the past
seven years prosecuted and convicted
such criminals who were In the execu-
tive branch OF the government SO in
my belief we should be given ample
means 10 prosecute them IL found in
the Legislative branch. But if this is
not considered desirable a special ex-
oeption could be made In the law pro-
hibiting the use of the secret service
force in investigating members of the
congress. 1t would be FAR better TO do
this than to do what actually was done
and strive TO prevent or at least to
hamper effective action against Grim
lnas by the executive branch of the
government.
Postal Savings Banks.
| again renew my recommendation
for postal savings banks, for deposit
ing savings with the security of the
government behind them. The object
is to encourage thrift and economy in
the wage Garner and person OF mod
crate means Ii is believed that In the
aggregate vast sums OF money would
be brought into circulation through
the instrumentality of the postal saw
ings banks. Postal sings banks are
now in operation in practically all the
great civilized countries with the ex-
ception of the United States.
Parcel Post.
In my last annual message / COM
mended the postmaster generals rec
ommendation for an extension of the
parcel post on the rural routes. The
establishment of a local parcel post
on rural routes would Re to the mu-
tuai benefit of the farmer and the
country storekeeper. and it is desirable
that the routes. serving more than 15,-
100000 people. should be utilized to the
fullest practicable extent.
Latin American Republics.
The commercial and material prog
ress of the twenty Latin American re-
publics is worthy of the careful atten-
ton of the congress. No other section
of the world has shown greater pro-
portionate development of its foreign
trade during the last ten years, and
none other has more special claims on
the interest of the United States.
Panama Canal.
The work on the Panama canal Is be-
ing done with speed, efficiency and
entire devotion to duty which make It
a model for all work Of the kind No
task Of such magnitude has ever before
been undertaken by any nation, and no
task OF the kind has ever been better
performed. The men on the isthmus,
from Colonel Goethals and his fellow
commissioners through the entire list
of employees who are faithfully doing
their duty, have won their right to the
ungrudging respect and gratitude or
the American people
Ocean Mail Lines.
I again recommend the extension Of
the ocean mail act of 1891 so that sat
lsfactory American ocean mail lines to
South America. Asia, the Philippines
and Australasia may be established.
The creation OF such steamship lines
should be the material corollary Of the
voyage of the battle feet. 1t should,
precede the opening of the Panama
canal.
Census.
l strongly urge that the request OF
the director Of the census in conncc-
ton with the decennial work so soon
to be begun be complied with and that
the appointments to the census force
be placed under the civil service law,
waving the geographical requirements
as requested By the direcSr of the
census. The supervisors and enumer-
ators should not be appointed under
the civil service law for the reasons
given by the director
Statehood.
1 advocate the immediate admission
of New Mexico and Arizona as states.