Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-13
TEN DEAD IN PANAMA WHY SECRET
BY DYNAMITE BLAST USE WAS RES
Premature Explosion Also In House ConSiderat
jures Fifty Workmen. ter at Last Year
TWO AMERICANS KILLED DEBATE OF A
Passenger Train Passes Bas Obispo Hearing in Commit
When Accident Occurs. Assistant Chief Nor
ESCAPES WITHOUT MIsHAP TAwNEYS SPEECH
Majority of Victims Are Spanards Punishment Which
Odd Explanation Of fcer-Congressman
Accident owed-Troube 25
House Consideration of Mat
ter at Last Years Session,
DEBATE OF A YEAR AGO
Hearing in Committee, at Which
Assistant Chief Moran Testified.
TAWNEY'S SPEECH ON FLOOR
Punishment Which Net a Naval OF.
ficer-Congressman Once Shad-
owed-Trouble 25 Years Ago.

The House document room and the
House appropriations committee were
swamped yesterday by demands tor copies
OF the hearings on the sundry civil ap-
preparation bill of last session. contain
Ing the testimony of Assistant Chief
Moran of the secret service with reference
to the provision later enacted into law
limiting the activities Of this branch OF
the government service.
The House document room was cleaned
out early in the day. The committee
room followed suit later And after
that there was big demand for copies
or the Congressional Record of Friday
May |. containing the debate on the floor
or the House with respect to this pro-
vision. Andy Smith,. who has charge Of
the Records at the Capitol, had antici-
pated the demand and had a big bunch OF
Records on hand
There was no wonder that these doc,i-
ments were desired in great numbers for
discussion Of the secret service crisis be-
tween the executive and legislative branch
eS OF the government continued all OF
yesterday.
Committee Meets Monday.
Contrary to general expectation the
special committee. of which Representa-
tive Perkins of New York is chairman,
appointed by the Speaker upon the unan-
imously adopted resolution of Friday. to
frame dignif1ed rebulxe to the Presi-
dent held no meeting yesterday Monday,
however the committee will get together
ana 80 to work. But 1t is probable that
the report of recommendation for action
by the House may be delayed for several
days, In order to give the more hot-head-
ed among the members who consider
themselves personally aggrieved - and
there are many In this class-a chance
to cool off.
1t is desired by the House leaders to
make the adoption of the report and
recommendations Of the special commit.
tee as dignified 4 proceeding as was the
unanimous passage OF the Perkins reso-
luton Friday.
AS result Of the contemplated action
by Congress In rebuxing the President
Tor that portion OF his annual message
or 1908 relating to the secret service
there has been, as Is indicated by the
demand of yesterday, renewed interest in
the hearings and debate of last year.
when the provision SO Objectionable to
president Roosevelt was adopted.
Moran Is Quizzed.
When Assistant Chief Moran Of tho
secret service was before the sundry civil
subcommittee of the House appropriations
committee last year Chairman Tawney.
with the provision Of Limitation in mind,
went right after him to discover how
many men the secret service was loaning
or transferring to other departments. Mr.
Moran admitted that between July, 1907.
and January, 1908. forty-eight secret serv-
Ice men had been detailed for service in
connection with the Department OF Jus
tice alone. their compensation being paid
out OF the contingent appropriation for
that department.
Mr.. Moran further admitted that these
men we're not detailed-as they could not
be detailed lawfully-and that neither d d
they resign their positions as secret serv-
Ice men. The men, Mr.. Moran expla ned.
were separated entirely from the secret
service. Later. however, he admitted they
did not take new oath of office and con-
tinued to report to the chief of the secret
service.
$50. under the present practice sug-
gested Chairman Tawney. lit would be
possible for each department of the gov
ernment to secure and maintain a secret
service force. provided they had the af-
preparation out of which they could pay
the compensation and per diem which
these people demand?"
Yes replied Mr.. Moran. If we had
the proper number available
Mr. Moran admitted that II the waiting
list was long enough they could supply
the entire demand. whatever 1t might be.
did you not. as a matter Of fact. know
that the restrictions of the law in this
appropriation act arc intended to prevent
that very practice?' asked Mr.. Tawner.
NO" replied MI. Moran, lit was never
put to us in that way
In reply to questions by Chairman Taw-
ney Mr.. Moran stated that the practice
of loaning or assigning secret service
I,aI t>oa
on for years, but that prior to six or
seven years ago men from the secret
service had been requested by other de-
partments comparatively infrequently.
He admitted. under pressing questioning.
that when secret service man was
loaned to another department he did not
take a new oath OF office. Judge Smith
pointed out that this was against tho
law. Chairman Tawney pointed out that
the statute expressly prohibits compensa-
ton until the oath Of office had been
taken. Mr.. Moran had testified previously
that secret service men loaned to other
departments were separated from inc
service before they took up their new de-
tails.
Mr.. Moran also testified concerning the
shadoWing by secret service men OF a
naval officer on leave and their report on
family scandal, which resulted I'm the
naval officer In question peihS Iorceo
from the service.
Proceeo1ngS on FlooT.
When the provision limiting the activi-
ties of the secret service came up on the
floor last year Chairman Tawney OF the
appropriation committee called the atten-
ton of hfs colleagues to the fact that, ac-
cording to the testimony of Assistant
Chief Moran, the secret service had no
objection to the provision.
"The testimony Of the assistant chief Of
the secret service said Mr. Tawney.
.'shows that they are maintaining and
have for some time maintained on their
rolls a force of twenty more men than
was necessary for the secret service work
authorized under this appropriation.
THAT necessity grows out Of the fact,
as he informed US. that they are con.
stantly called upon by other departments
of the government to furnish men for
service. When this matter was first
brought to the attention of the committee
the committee felt that 1t was its duty
to investigate II.
Congress was from year to year aD-
propriating $125OO0 for this specific puf-
Az fhn in