The Washington herald., 1908-05-07
AFederaI Police System.

Is there need or q Federal police sys-
TEN? This question was answered in the
negative on the floor of the House the
other day, when an amendment was fas-
tened on the sundry civil bill restricting
the use Of Secret Service men TO the
detection Of counterfeiting and the pro-
lection Of the President Within the last
few years the activity Of the administra-
ton in enforcing certain laws long dor
mant has led to the employment Of Secret
Service men In the collection Of evidence
against Offenders. Sixty-one men were
thus employed during the fiscal year end
ed June so last by the Department of
Justice alone, at an expense Of $50. $50
The State Department used seven men,
the War Department three the Navy De-
paTtment four, and the Department of
Commerce and Labor three. Up to within
year or SO ago the Interior Depart
ment also had details of Secret Service
men. These operatives were paid for out
Of departmental appropriations. and were
temporarily loaned by the Secret Service
division. The practice has been condemn
ed by the House. and forbidden, as we
have just noted. by an addendum to the
sundry civil bill.
According to trustworthy information,
the action Of the House is regarded in
administration circles as tending TO Grip
pie the work Of enforcing the antitrust
and other laws. The President has writ
ten letters Of protest 10 Speaker Cannon.
and to Mr.. Allison, chairman Of the
Senate Appropriations Committee. NIr.
Roosevelt is alleged to have alluded. in
his letter TO the Speaker, TO his expert
ence while police commissioner OF New
York. that whenever an influential citizen
was detected In crime there was always
an insistent demand from some one TO
''hAs the COP" The inference TO be drawn
from this is that the interests affected
by Federal detective work are behind the
move to limit the functions Of the Secret
Service. However this may be, it should
be said, in justice to Mr.. Tawney and
those who stood with him in the Secret
Service matter, that they pointed out that
the amendment which has given ofense
a. the White House would in no way pre-
vent the Department Of Justice from en-
ploying agents on its own account for
the detection of crime and the accumuia-
tion Of evidence. nor would it prevent the
use Of men who are eligible for appoint
ment as operatives in the Secret Service
division. But existing law forbids the de-
tail Of Secret Service men to other de-
partments, and Mr. Tawney thinks IT
ought 70 be obeyed.
Nevertheless, the government is develop
ing a Federal police system Of consider
able dimensions. if We include in that
designation the army of inspectors en-
pleyed In various branches Of the service.
The Meat Inspection Service employs the
largest number, and there are food in
spectors and Interstate Commerce Com
mission inspectors and immigration in
spectors and post-office tnspectors-in all
about 5000. Though not engaged prima-
rily IN the detection OF crime, the duty
Of these men Is to enforce specific laws
or carry out departmental regulations
and, undoubtedly, these laws would soon be
a dead letter without their vigilant super
vision. With the development Of regula-
tive legislation. there is bound to come
an increase in the number Of persons
intrusted with its enforcement and the
detection ot evasions. Whether Mr.. Taw-
ney and his friends have taken the wisesi
step in limiting the growth Of the Secret
Service IS at least an open question. The