The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04
Declares No One Has Higher Regard for Legislature
Than Himself DepreCates Words and Actions of
All DetractorS-Woud Not ASSail or
Defend as a Class.

/ a King or a President as lac is poor
/ counterfeiter or a tramp. The bigger
the subject the greater the game, and
the more intense the excitement.
/ Congress never has had any sympathy
with the Secret Service Bureau. That
bureau IS not the creature of Congress
slonal action. II is only the child Of sd-
mnistrative routine in the Treasury De-
paTtment, The law against counterfeit
ms Is one OF the earliest placed on the
statute books. 1t was passed In the
beginning or the Government, and Con-
gress has ever since made annual ap-
preparations for the suppression Of cOUn-
terfeitinE. Twenty years ago it was
found that the Treasury Department
had created a number OF small bureaus
not known TO the law as a convenient
means OF enforcing the avs apDlEing
10 that department or for the purpose
OF creating places for the friends of the
Secretary. These official bureaus were
Illegal but they were claimed 70 be nee
essaTy. They were utterly repugnant
TO the spirit OF civil service reform. and
TO remedy the evil Congress recognized
them by making specific appropriations
/ Tor them In this way was the Secret
Service Bureau and its chief given an
official status, though never created by
act OF Congress.
To Stop COunterfeiting
The appropriation for the maintenance
OF the bureau is now S165OO a year, and
Congress In addition 10 thls makes an
appropriation Of s125,Ooe a year for the
suppression or counterfeiting. but stipu-
Iates that the appropriation shall be
used for no other purpose whatever.
The stipulation was necessary TO pre-
vent the use Of thc money in shsdowinE
every conceivable crime that can be
suggested by the detective mind, and
for that reason Il is repugnGnt TO MT
I WttkIe and his subOTdinates. and also,
perhaps, to the Secretary of the Treas
uTy aud other Cabinet officers VhO sym
pathlZe with the shddowiuG business.
/ The Treasury Department has appealed
Ia vain TO have Congress drop the liuni-
tation from the appropriation IT is ap-
pealing TO this Congress, but its appeal
win be ignored.
The limitation will remain, because
Congress does not intend TO have
Fouche or any other kind OF minister
Of police to be used by the executive de-
partmeuts against the legislative branch
of the Government. Il has been so
used. and il is suspected that &c has
been so used recently. The Secret Serv-
ice has been very active generally. and
not so active against cOunterfeiters as
IN the old DAYS. when the appropriation
was less than half what IL is now,
The notorious Brockwsy, king OF Coun-
terfeiters, was run down years ago. and
there has not been an important capture
OF suy CounteFfeltInE outfit ia the Ia st
half dozen years. The Secret Service
men have been busy protecting the
President, investigating frauds against
naturalization, hunting down anarchists,
sladOwinE men suspected or stealing
the public lands and other matters.
which may be very important but abso-
lutely out of the line OF duty or the Sc
cret Service Bureau
Postoffice Investigation.
Tine pOstofice investigation has In
zpirad other departments to so into
the same business. and the Secret Serv-
ice Bureau feels that its detective bust
ness is becoming invaded The repUta-
tiou made by Fourth Assistant Post
master General Brist0w az the great
sIeuth OF the times has aroused Chief
wilkes men 10 look 10 their lauFeIs.
They desire to run down All the rascals
in the Government service and SHOW
that they are the real and only thief
csrChels IN the country
They want Wilkie TO be the FOuche
Of the United States and they want
recognition as the national detectives.
licensed 90 shadow every man, whatever
his station, whom they may suspect or
any crime. That Is Just what Congress
will not tolerate, and Congress is the
law-mskinE power which creates ana
abOiishes Offices The legislative branch
OF the Government Will not tolerate the
meddlinE OF detectives. whether they
represent the President. Cabinet officers,
or only themselves.
There will be no Fouche In Washing
ION, because Fouche was used By kdpo-
leon 70 iutimidsIe everybody else IN the
French empire, and grew so powerful
that he iutimidsted the Emperor him
self by reason Of the state secrets he
held.
Wilkie Not the First
CHIEF Vilkie is not the first man at
the head Of the Secret Service who
wanted the power OF a F'oUche. Twenty
years ago the Secret Service became a
scandal In Washington through its pre-
sumption. It's detectives assumed the
right 20 shadow Congressman and hndf
out now an amendment greed 10 iu
conference failed TO appear ia the bin
as n was sent 10 the President
The failure TO Incorporate the amend
meut iu the enrolled bill was auspi ci0us
OF i0bbery. and 10 was investigated by
Congress but Congress resented the
secret interference OF ihe Secret Service
men VINO FOR weeks shadOWed some of
the most respected members OF the
House ana Senate in an effort TO con
vfct them OF having guilty knowledge
8f hOW the amendment failed When