The Washington herald., 1909-01-05
President and Secret Service

President and Secret Service.
The Presidents response to the House
resolution asking for certain explana-
tons OF the Secret Service passage in his
annual message is hardly calculated 10
contribute to good feeling among mem
bers of Congress. though its tone IS
temperate and defensive Mr. Roosevelt
disClaims. as was expected. any purpose
OF indIcting the legislative branch whole
sale. OF Of accusing any OF its individual
members OF corruption Yet he insists
his belief that the motive actuatine
the House in limiting the activity OF the
Secret Service was self-proiective IS
correct. citing in proof the debates in
the House and his own conversations
with members. So far as the debates 90
no one can read the Congressional
Record without gaining an impression
that a strong feeling was aroused by the
supposed use Of the Secret Service 10
sfa6ow members and that prevention OF
such detective work was one OF the Oh
jects sought in restricting the duties OF
Chief Wilkes men. The belief in Con
gress that the Secret Service operatives
were being improperly employed, Mr..
Roosevelt shows, dates back 10 1874,
when the extensive land frauds in the
West were under investigation. In this
connection. the President introduces a
newspaper attack on the Secret Service.
emanating from a source near the
Speaker. the references TO which in the
message viii undoubtedly have all the
effect OF an insinuation that Mr.. Cannon
inspired the move 10 cripple the Secret
Service. There are some unpleasant inti-
nations here which might vel have
been omitted, unless accompanied with
better proof than fugitive newspaper
correspondence and inferences drawn
therefrom-
Nr. Roosevelt IS on more solid ground
when he declares that the real Issue Is
whether the government shall have al its
disposal the most encient Instruments
for the detection Of crime. and whether
Congress IS willing to provide these facH-
tiles. The Secret Service. in the opinion
Of the President and Of the Secretary Of
the Treasury. has not been unwisely OF
unlawfully employed in the past. and the
question OF It's future usefulness should
not be determined by considerations Of
personal feeling. but by considerations OF
the public safety Il would be We'll II
Congress should take in hand the whole
subject Of the detection Of crime against
the government, with view 10 harmon
izing the various agencies now engaged
in that work, OF preventing duplication
OF labor, and Of securing euective CO.
operation with the Department OF jus
tice- To this matter. and the further
question whether the Secret Service has
been properly. employed, the Senate in
quiry VIII doubtless be directed. Mr..
Roosevelt brushes away ali stories or
shadowing Congressman as unworthy Of
credence, but in view Of the many extra
ordinary rumors that have been afoat.
il IS advisable 10 have them set al rest
by omciaI investigation. # a Russian
spy system has been established in this
capital, the facts concerning 1t should be
discovered and published to a gaping
world.
II may be doubted If the RULED dignity
Of the House viii be materially assuaged
by this message. with its very plain as
sertion that the popular branch has gone
wrong. for reasons Of its own that are
none too good. and should quickly re-
trace its steps. But the damage done
the honor and reputation Of that BODY
probably appears less now than It did
two weeks ago. and the Presidents dis
claimer Of any imputation Of corrupt
motives reduces the difference between
the Executive and the House practically
10 one Of judgment as TO what is best for
the public service Out OF this situation
il VIII be difficult for the House 10 con-
struct a case warranting censure Of the
President.