Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-03

control over this service had hitherto
been absolute. But the ma jority rose to
the defense of the secret service, enumer-
ating It's many efficient acts and the re-
cessity for profound secrecy about its
movements, if important results were to
be obtained. especially in times of war.
when secret service operations must be
undertaken to surprise and defeat an
enemy.
The case was clearly stated by Repre-
sentative Mckay. He said that he could
not vote for Mr.. IngersolIs resolution.
Every year a certain sum was placed at
the disposition of the President for the
expenses of foreign Intercourse, and a
part OF 1t could be used for secret service.
A law made at the time OF the formation
of the government authorized settle
ment at the Treasury Department of the
accounts on the certificate of the PreS-
dent. Such resolution. said Mr.. Mckay,
would defeat the object of the law au-
thorizing these expenditures. IT would,
moreover, be precedent to justify SIM
liar proceeding in the future.
During the course of the debate in the
House the administration of Presiden Mt
Tyler came in for a severe scoring at the
hands Of some of the representatives. 1t
was while Webster was Secretary Of
State under Tyler that he was charged
with having used some of the secret serv-
ice funds to control the party press. an
accusation which he refuted in his great
speech before the Senate. Representa-
tives Droomgoole and Bayly both severely
criticised the Tyler administration.
The latter called it a disgrace to the
country and to the then Secretary Of
State, Mr.. Webster. But Mr.. Bayly add
ed that he did not believe the House had
the right to cali upon the President to dis
close what disposition had been made Of
the secret service fund.
Representative Ingersoll interposed at
this point to say that he called only for
information to detect an abuse and neglect
Of duty Mr.. Bayly replied that If this
were the case and Mr.. IngersolI would
modify his resolution so as to refer only
to improper use of the secret service
funds within the United States not con-
temylated by the law creating the fund.
he might change his mind and vote &C
cordingly He said. however, that he
thought the resolution. as 1t stood. too
strong. He pointed out that the activities
OF the secret service must be kept from
the public if they were to be of value to
the country. Some OF the fund was I'M
doubleday used, he said. to employ foreign
subjects and once their identity became
known to their own governments they not
only became useless to the United States
but stood in grave danger Of losing their
heads.
Representative Bayly said that he
doubted the propriety OF a republican gov
erninent, founded upon the virtue of its
citizens and OF which publicity In all its
transactions was a vital characteristic
even at the cost Of conducting foreign re-
MISUNDERSTANDING this secret service
fund. In this remark he struck the key
note Of all the criticism which has been
heaped upon the secret service, past and
present. But the fact having been ac-
complisqled, he continued. 1t would be per-
fd5ous on the part OF the government to
publish to the world the uses which lad
been made OF that fund. He pointed, to
the fact that the law distinctly state:
that the President should not be made &C.
countabIe for the manner in which this
fund was used.
Representative Mckay called attention
to the fact that the first law on this sub
ject was enacted In 1893. and subsequently
re-enacted in 1910. The provisions Of the
law are as follows:
where any sum Of money shall be
drawn from the Treasury under any law
making appropriation for the contingent
expenses OF intercourse between the
United States and foreign nations. the
President shall cause the Same to be duly
settled annually with the accounting
officers OF the Treasury. by causing such
money to be accounted for specially in ali
instances wherein the expenditure there
OF may in his Judgment, be made public:
and by making certificate OF the amount