Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-08
SECRET SERVICE

Last wear an amendment was 1ncorpor-
ated in the measure providing for the Sc
cret service, which provided that there
should be no detail from the secret service
and no transfer therefrom.
It is not too much to say that TINS
amendment has been of benefit only. and
could be of beneflt only, to the criminal
classes.
II deliberately introduced for the pur
pose of diminishing the effectiveness Oh
war against crime 1t could not nave Deen
better devised to this end.
1t forbade the practices that had peer
followed to a greater or less extent ny
the executive heads Of the various depart
ments for twenty years. To these Prac-
tices we owe the securing Of the evidence
which enabled us to drive the great io'-
teries out of existence and secure quar-
ter of a million dollars In fines from tnel'
promoters. a.
These practices have enabled us TO dis
cover some of the most outrageous FRAUDS
in connection with theft of government
land and government timber by great
corporations and by individuals. 1hese
practices have enabled us to get some OF
the evidence indispensable in order to Sc
cure the conviction of the wealthiest ano
most formidable criminals with whom the
government has to deal, both those OPP
Grating in violation Of the antitrust Ia"
and others.
The amendment in question was of ben
eft to no one excepting to these cr1mi-
mails, and 1t seriously hampers the gov
eminent in the detection of crime and the
securing Of justice. Moreover. it not only
affects the departments oufsioe OF me
Treasury but it tends to hamper the
Secretary of the Treasury himself In the
effort to utilize the employees of his oe-
partment so as to best meet the require
ments Of the public service
It forbids him from preventing frauos
upon the customs service, from investi-
eating irregularities In branch minis and
assay Offices and has seriously crippled
him. It prevents the promotion OF EN-
ployes in the secret service, and this Iur-
Their discourages good effort.
In its present form the restriction oper-
ates only to the advantage of the crimi-
nal, of the wrongdoer The chief argu-
ment in favor Of the provision was that
the congressman did not themselves Wish
TO be investigated by secret service men.
Very little of such investigation has been
done in the past; but it is true that the
work Of the secret service agents was
partly responsible for the indictment ana
conviction of a senator and congress
man for land frauds in Oregon.
/ do not believe that 1T Is In the puollc
interest to protect criminals in any
branch of the public service, and exactly
as we have again and again during the
past seven years prosecuted and con
yicted such criminals who were IN the
executive branch of the government, SO
in my belief we should be given ample
means to prosecute them if found in the
legislative branch.
But IL this is not considered desirable
a special exception could be made in the
law prohibiting the use Of the secret serv-
ice 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 ham
ner effective action against criminals by
the executive branch OF the government.