New-York tribune., 1908-05-06
NEED SECRET SERVICE
President and Catiaet Protest
against Restriction of Use.
IFrcm Ths Tr.la,s Rr-,sn1


Washington. May The action Of the House in
seeki7E by amendment ~ the surdry civil ap-
r-op-stior h3l, u prevent the use OF Secret Ser
v.-e 1-en by any department otle- than the Treas
u~y and BY il only for the purpose Of detec1in..
Colnte-fete-s and fo~ guarding rlle President vas
-re subject OF serious consideration al the Cabinet
meeting to-daE- where Il decla, q by several
members that concurrence ny the Senate in tho
s--o7 ~ the House would seriously cripple the ad-
r---lsJ-ar5oa
-hs Att@raey genera told the President that
nee h's department deprived Of the services OF
te secret service II would ne almost i1possi-
o. 70 obtain the information necessary to prepar re
cases against the viofato-S nf numerous federal
]a7s- me men of that service having in the past
risied inlaieuiaalS valuable service in procuring
evidence IN S1Ppo-t Of federal prosecutions Like
testimony 70 the Importance of the service was
s.Een hy Secretary Garfield. Who said that the Sc
crr service men had rendered highly important as
seTs3t- I'D IN" prosecution Of public land frauds.
ne secretary - the Treasury said that the ser
vices et chief Wilkes men were absolutely essen
--a. in tns prevention and prosecution Of customs
frauds. and almost every member of the Cabinet
asserted the need Of rhese AT given times The
laN FIn1la5'S the employment 10y the government
r private detectives. and without the secret ser
rt-r men frauds % almost infinite variety may pro-
Cee- rrIrolesred and unprospcuted Aside from
rH=.- special Hire cuunterfeitnE The secret ser
F.-r rner are rarely employed detect crime but
t-ar render great service iu getting the evidence
1rh base prosecutions Of frauds already de-
-e--.1 l.y -l@ various officials
TIE -rsl opposition 40 the operations Of The Sc
-e- service in fe opinion OF the adulinistra ion.
comes from those whose szmpathies have been en-
i~--5 rE men prosecuted To- public land and timber
frauds although II j. realized oT course. Ger
tain business and transportation interests could
S-ez-iy augment their profits by wholesale viola
t-ns cf Iaw are al ovsrjoyed At the prospective
.---a5iErsnr II The usefulness of the service.
When rfe subject was under consideration In the
House The President wro5e an earnest letter to
81 -#---
lrle11 q The fund appropriated for The use OF
-e Interstate Commerce Commission for the in
cation Cf railway. accounts and the uuwar-
-arted I5r1a-Ion proposed be placed on the use
<---esS Of Ite Secret Service The letter accom-
7---T.=.l nothing and II even asserted that Nj
cannon las declared that he VIII hide his time,
Hr -at ultimately he wiz severely discipline Rep
sentative Townsend for leading the fight where
-E The appropriation for The Interstate Commerce
Commission was raised from s-aop0 81. e0o. In
-.ar letter The President declared THAI when he
vas Police Commissioner Of New York II his
experience that whenever influential citizen was
detected IN crime there vas always insistent
demand from some one To Fire the COP and
n Warned NJ Cannon against the Influences
v1lcl being c1erred cripple the administra-
-l1r IN the enforcement Of the law,
TIE President has now addressed similar letter
Senator Allison. chairman OF the Appropriations
Committee Of The Senate. with The earnest hope
--a- Ehe Objectionable amendment inserted IN the
HOUSE may De- stricken cut ~ the Senate
When the House leaders attacked ire secret ser
wee -hev charged that the men had been used
shadow uu<al-l-fEl husbands etc OF course. such
charges we're c-ouudless bur they arose out of
single instance where ~ The request Il the See
re-s-v of the Nsvv- secret service de-
tailed trace naval officer who lad n1yseriousy
disappeared VI could be ulartiaIlei.
L vas uC- known that he had nor been uur-
oe-ed c. met with accidental death. but whose
absence causing q block IN promotions and
Other grave inconvenience The officer vas traced
u a Ohio ro@n- and Il Vas discovered that there
g woman in l1e case. Hut that was purely an
s-cideIr o[ ire Investigation.
on This single instance were based the ext-sva
Es-- charges voiced the floor Of the House by
leaders who could easily have ascertained facts
~ inquiry 81 1he Navy Department