Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1908-12-11

such survfvals. was decaying slowl,
In its later stages. IL seems clear tina
Its extinction had better be made dna
now, so that The ground can be cleared
for larger constructive work on behal
OF the Indians preparatory to their In
duction into the full measure Of re
sponsible citizenship. On Nov. only
eighteen agencies were left on tho
roster With two exceptions, where
some legal questions seemed 10 stand
( Temporarily IN the way. these have
been changed TO superinfendencies and
their heads brought into the classified
civil service.
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.
II is not too much 10 say that this
amendment has been OF benefit only,
and could be- Of benefit only 10 the
criminal classes. III deliberately in
troduced for the purpose Of diminish
Ing fhe effectiveness Of war against
crime il could not have been better de-
yised 10 this end. II forbade the prac-
tices that had been followed to
greater or less extent by the executive
heads Of various departments for TWEEN
~ years. To these practices we owe
the securing Of the evidence which en-
abled Us 10 drive great lotteries out OF
business and secure quarter OF a
million Of dollars IN fines from their
promoters. These practices have en-
ahlel ms 10 discover some Of the most [
frauds IN connection with !
the theft ~ government land and .
government timber by great corpora.
lions ana by individuals. These prac
Tees have enabled MS 10 get some OF
ne evidence Indispensable IN order 10
'ecure the conviction OF the wcalthiest
md most formidable criminals with
slom the government has to deal.
10Th those operating IN violation Of
he antitrust law ana others. The
u. endment in question was Of benefit
o 70 one excepting to these criminals,
ND II seriously hampers the govern
lrnt In the detection Of crime and the
ecurl.g OF justice. Moreover, II not
My affects departments outside OF
he treasury, but il tends to hamper
he secretary Of the treasury himself
/ the effort TO utilize the employees
his department so as to best meet
ie requirements OF the public service.
forbids him from preventing frauds
pom the customs service, from inves-
eating Irregularities in branch minis !,
nd assay offices. and has seriously |,
'ippled him. II prevents the promo :
on OF employees In the secret service, =
nd this further discourages good eff -,
rt. In its present form the restric- !,
IN operates only to the advantage of 9
G criminal, of the wrongdoer. !,
The chief argument in favor of the !,
4 not themselves wish TO be investi- :,
ted by secret service men. Very .
tie Of such investigation has been =,
ne In the past but II Is true that the -
lrk OF the secret service agents was !,
rtly responsible for the Indictment ,,
d conviction of senator and con -,
assman for land frauds In Oregon. -
10 not believe that Il is in the public >,
crest TO protect criminals in any
nnch Of the public service. and OK o.
.ly as we have again and again dur n.
; the past seven years prosecuted h,
convicted such criminals who ~
re IN the executive branch eff the 90
rcrnment so IN my belief we should err
given ample means to prosecute 81
m If found In the legislative branch. 20
{ II this Is not considered desirable th
special exception could be made in
law prohibiting the use OF the
ret service force In investigating
mhers Of the congress. 1t would be 'h'
better 10 do this than to do what WI
nally WIS done aud strive to pre- pei
/ or at least TO hamper effective ac- az
! against criminals 10y the executive p'a
nch Of the government. wa