Evening journal., 1909-01-04
SECRET SERVICE
FORCE DEFENDED
BY PRESIDENT
Points Out That None But
LawbTeakerS Have Fear of
Government Detectives
POINTS TO SOME
NOTABLE CASES

-
hooseNelts expected special message
on the Secret Service was sent to the
House to-day. IL denies the state
ment made In tho House resolution OF
inquiry that he had charged any mem
per OF the present Congress with cor
fuption or that the majority of con.
sressmen were In fear of Investigation
nF detectives. He gives the names OF
former senator's and representatives.
convicted in connection with land
frauds, and reterates the declaration.
made IN his annual message that thu
limitation placed by Congress on the
operations Of the Secret Service could
be OF benefit only to the criminal class.
or the work done by the Secret Ser
vice, the President refers to the land.
naturalization, lottery, silk. opium. ink
and other frauds. lie recommends that
all the government detective services
be consolidated into single burean
to be attached 10 the Department Of
Justice, and that Chief Wnkie's salar,
be increased from $4,000 to $4,000 a
year.
lie denies strenuously the allegation
made in certain quarters that he ever
used the Secret Service I'm purely
private or political matters.
incidentally. he charges the agita
tion against the Secret Service waA
begun with an article written by l..
w. Busbey, private secretary to Speak.
er Cannon, for a Chicago newspaper
Altogether the President presents
strong though calm argument that he
was exactly right IN making the
criticisms that cnlivened his message
at the opening OF the session.
II am wholly at a loss" he says. "to
understand the concluding portion of
the House resolution. have made
no charge of corruption against Con.
gress nor against any member Of the
present House. If I had proof OF
such corruption affecting any member
of tho House i'm any matter as to
which the Federal government has
jurisdiction, action would at once he
bought. as was done I'm the cases OF
Senators Mitchell and Burton. an0
Representatives Williamson. Hermann
and briggs at different times since I
have been President.
a careful reading of my message will
show that 1 said nothing TO warrant
the statement I'm the House resolution
that the majority Of the Angressmer
were I'm fear OF being Investigated by
the Secret Service men, or that Con.
gress as a whole was aotuated by that
motive"
In support Of his statement that tho
chief argument In favor Of the move.
ment to restrict the Secret Service was
alleged fear OF some members that they
might be investigated. the President
refers the House TO the report of the
debate last May on that subject, as
given IN the Congressional. Record. lie
says responsibility for the action taken
10y the House rested on the Committe,
on Appropriations. under the leader.
ship of Chairman Tawney. (Rpn
Mimi Smith. Rpn.. Iowa) Sherley
tDem Ky), and Fitzgerald, (Dem
| n. ND.
The beginning Of this agitation, the
I President says. was 5000 word letter
sent 60 the Chicago Inter- Ocean I'm 100,
by J.. w. Busbey private secretary 10
Speaker Cannon. At the time this
letter assailing the Secret Service was
published. president Roosevelt points
out. these government detectives were
working on the great land frauds IN
the West and aiding IN the beef trust
investigation.
"But all OF this" continues the
/ Presidents message. "is Of insignificant
/ Importance compared with the main
/ the real issue. This issue is simply
/ Does Congress desire that the gov.
/ ernment shall have at its disposal tho
most efficient instrument for the de.
/ lection OF criminals and the preven.
tion and punishment OF crime, or doe.
/ IL not? The action Of the House last
May was emphatically an actor
against the interest of justice anC
against the interest of law-ahdinl
/ people and in its effect OF benefit onl,
20 lawhrealers. Is the House nov
willing TO remedy the wrong?"
The President quotes from a letter n,
sent to Speaker Cannon. April 80. pro
testing against the Interference Will
the Secret Service. IN which he said
"There is no more foolish outcry thar
this against Spies only criminal
need fear our detectives"
The message reviews the operation
OF the Secret Service men since 1901
They uncovered a system FOR tn
fraudulent acquisition and fencing o
public lands. In this work ono OF tn
detectives was assassinated. In Ne
hrasSa 60 men were indicted for Ian,
frauds, and OF 80 so far tried 2S hav
been convicted. The government ha
secured the return of 100000 acres o
grazing land and or 1000 acres Of min
eral land in Colorado. It Is suing 70
10000 additional acres
OF the land frauds, the Presiden
says; "No more striking incident car
be imagined of the desirability OF hav
ing a central corps Of skilled investl
eating agents who can at any time b
assigned II necessary I'm large mum
bers. to investigate some violation O
the Federal statutes in no matter wha
branch OF the public service"
The Secret Service men obtaine
hundreds OF convictions of conspirator
who sold FRAUDULENT naturalization pa
pers. They located in Canada, Gree
and Gaynor. who were implicated &
big government contract frauds. an
arrested them. They secured man
convictions I'm peonage cases and 4
silk and opium custom frauds The
assisted in the beef trust investigation
and located the cotton leak in IN
Agricultural Department. Their de
structlon OF lottery company nette
the government $500, 600 in fines. 1
revealing the ink contract fraud In tn
b Bureau of Engraving and Printin
they saved the government 100000
. year. The total expense of the Secre
Service last year was S135, ,000
"Such a body as the Secret Service.
! continues the message, "such a body q
. trained investigating agents, occupy
inc a uerrnpupnt posifion n, fha e,ox