New-York tribune., 1909-01-10
ACTION OF SENATE
NOT DUE TO ANGER
WILL PROBABLY INDORSE
PRESIDENTS STAND.
Erpcct Committee to Advise Super
Uision by Congress of Secret
Service Expenditures.
rrron rhs rrfbune Rar.au.l

pect that the subcommittee OF the Approprta-
tions Committee. which Senator Hale appointed
to-day will be able to establish the fact that
Congress has at all times been LIBERAL in its ap-
propriations for the detection and prosecution
Of violations Of the federal statutes; that thu
extent to which secret agents OF the govern
ment have been used has developed to surPris-
ing proportions. and that closer supervision
should be exercised by Congress over the ex-
pendlture OF such funds. II is believed that tbs
committee will indorse the Presidents sugges-
tion already fully outlined in these dispatches.
that the Secret Service be reOrganized and
transferred from the Treasury Department to
the Department Of Justice
Contrary to a somewhat widesp: ead impress
sion. the sensational reports freely circulated
regarding the attitude and the purpose of this
Senate leaders in providing Cor this investiga-
ton have foundation in fact. There is no
intense antagonism toward the President, no
purpose to effect reDrisals. expectation or
disclosing any seriously improper OF these
funds Because the resolution Confning the In
vestigation to the Appropriations Committee was
adopted Immediately after the receipt Of the
Presidents message and at a time when GER
tain Senators. notably the Democrats, were in
dignant at the Presidents structures, the super
fetal view has been entertained that the Senate
purposed TO get even" with the President, but
nothing has been further from the thoughts OF
"the who do things in the upper house
They do maintain that. despite the restrictions
placed the operations of the Secret Service,
which restrictions the Senate fought in confer
ence as long as practicable. Congress has been
liberal Ia furnishing the sinews Of war to those
charged with compelling the observance OF the
law. but beyond that the Senate Is not even
actuated by motives Of self Justification.
Confronted by a situation which demanded
action, the leaders framed a resolution which
placated the excited Democrats and few in
dignant Republicans. and caused its adoption.
That resolution calls upon the Appropriations
Committee to report what action. IL any,"
should be taken with regard to that portion OF
the Presidents message which deals with tha
Secret Service. but this was inserted on the tn-
sistence OF Senator Culberson. and was tntende !
to muzze debate. but not to promote anything
in the nature OF rebuke Of the President. The
probable result will be an Endorsement OF the,
very policy advocated by the President for thsi
reorganization and the consolidation OF the
Secret Service
COMMITTEE OBJ ABLE MEN
The subcommittee appointed by Chairman
Hale to-day consists OF Senators GalIingsr.
Hemenway and Clay. Mr.. Gallinser, while not
wholly In sympathy with the President, is a con-
servative and careful legislator. not to be In
huenced by hystericaI indignation or political
resentment. Senator Hemenway is especially
qualified for the work by his long experience on
the Appropriations Committee OF the House. OF
which he served chairman. He respon-
sible for the appropriation OF $5O0.OOO for the
use OF the Attorney General in prosecuting viola
tions OF the Sherman law He IS legislator OF
high character, and IS the friendliest terms
with the President. Senator Clay is one o. the
least radical Of the Democrats legislator Of
even temper and reputation for careful meth
ods and quiet effectiveness
1t is true that various reports have reached
the Senate regarding minor extravagances in
the Of the funds appropriated to detect
violations OF the statutes and to prosecute them
These will be investigated, and no favor will be
shown in exposing any instances which may be
found. but even these not regarded
fecting on the President. as II is fully appreei-
ated that no chief executive supervise the
expenditure OF such extensive funds. nor can al
ways escape being imposed upon when a con-
siderable number of assistant attorneys and in
vestigators must be retained
The gravest question which confronts the SEM
ate leaders is how far IT is consistent with the
principles of American government TO employ
secret agents to probe private even auast-4
private business enterprises Many Senator's
believe that the system has been carried far
under the present administration They appre-
ciate that in the main the results have been
a
prevails as a result OF the administration Of
Theodore Roosevelt On the other hand. they
maintain that the system in itself is repugnant
to the American conception of government. and
that IN the hands OF less scrupulous execu-
tive II might be utilized for Interior and even
dangerous ends They believe that under thu
system Of blanket appropriations the system viii
inevitably grow faster than even the Congress
realizes II the interstate commerce law and
other comparatively recent enactments necessi-
tate a more extensive surveillance OF private
and public utility corporations than has hith-
erto been required, II IS deemed by the leaders
at least wise that in far possible. such
necessity should be made a matter OF public
knowledge and that the Congress should know
inglv and with full appreciation OF the cost and
Of it's responsibility provide for such suTveil-
lance in the same manner as it provides for the
other needs Of the government
IMPRESSED BY PRESIDENTS WORDS.
The argument which the President has made
in support OF his contention that greater effect
iveness and economy can be attained by con-
fning the detective work OF the government TO
a single bureau and putting that bureau under
the jurisdiction of the Attorney General. has
appealed strongly to the Senate leaders. even in
advance OF the investigation. especially as such
a policy would involve explicit appropriations
for work of this type. would place all response
bility for the character OF the work done a
single and known head. would make for more
systematic administration and would probably
minimize the Objectionable features of such op-
eratlons.
rhe msn who bear the responsibility os the
work OF the Senate regret exceedingly that uu-
warranted reports should be circulated regard
nd hat hip1-