The sun., 1909-02-04
SECRET SERVICE ACTIVITIES
NOT HiMPERED ny LINTTA.
TIONS PLACED ON 1T.
Chlef wilkle Diners From the President
He Says the Action OF Congress Has
Not Resulted In the Abandonment OF
a single Inquiry Into Cases OF Fraud.

W.
WASHINGTON, Feb 3.--That the United
States secret service was not hampered
In any way by the limitation placed upon
it's activities by Congress, 30 which such
strenuous objection was made by Presi-
dent Roosevelt, resulting in n bitter oon-
troversy between the executive and the
legislative branches Of the Government,
il the substance OF a statement made
before the House Committee on Appro-
priations by Chief John f.. Wilkie.
Chief Wilkes testimony further tended
10 show that the action OF Congress IN
reducing the appropriations OF the secret
service and circumscribing its activities
had not resulted in the abandonment OF a
single inquiry into cases Of fraud against
the Government. Further. not one secret
service agent was dropped from the
Government payroll following the enact
ment OF the legislation so severely criti-
cised 10y the President.
These facts became known to-day
through the testimony given before
the committee by Mr.. Wilkie In
connection with the sundry civil bill,
which carried the annual appropria-
ton for the maintenance OF the secret
service. Nine men dropped from the
Treasury branch of the secret service,
Mr.. Wilkie told the committee, were trans.
ferred to the like branch in the Depart
ment Of Justice They could be ordered
back to the Treasury in case OF emergency.
The secret service bureau OF the De-
partment of Justice had force Of thirty
four men.
Chief Wilkie denied emphatically that
secret service agents had been employed
to keep members Of Congress under sur
veillance.
Il wish to record the fact. he said that
no member of the secret service or any
ne'acting for the secret service has ever
shadowed Congressman or Senator
1t was brought out by the committee
that during the past summer eight secret
service agents were detailed for duty
at Oyster Bay, the summer home of Presi-
dent Roosevelt Eight men were needed
at Sycamore Hill in order that protec>.
ton might be afforded the President
during all the hours Of the day. Two
men are now stationed at the White House
and two were detailed to accompany
President Taft 70 Panama. While
there was no authority in law for the
last detail Chief Wilkie declared that
limo measure OF protection were taken
in the case OF the President-eleot and
anything happened 10 him the secret
service would be held responsible. IL
was developed that the secret service
has been diligent in protecting the per>
son of the President since the assassina>
ton Of President Mckinley at Buffalo,
Secret service agents were also sent
to Gray Gables when President Cleve>
land spent his summers there, Secret
service agents were first stationed at
the White House during the Spanish
war.
Chief Wilkie asked the COMMITTEES
to increase the appropriations for the
secret service from Sll5UO to sl35.000
The increase was necessary, he said,
owing 10 the activity OF the counter
feiters. who began to get busy at the
beginning of the business depression
q year ago. The present force Of thirty
six men was inadequate to protect the
currency. He said that passers Of coun>
terfeit money were more active in the
New York district than elsewhere, On
this point he said;
aThe New York district includes Brook
lyn, all Of eastern New York and northern
New York, up to and as far west as Bing>
hamton. Hoboken, Jersey City and the
State Of New Jersey II Is the largest
district. of course, that we have, and
there is more activity there. more reports
of trouble. They have their elevated
roads. their s,ibways and more methods
OF getting rid of the stun than in any
other place as a matter of fact, in passing
coin they nearly always seek the large
cities"
An important recommendation made
by Chief Wilkie was that the Government
should establish central secret service
IN the Department Of Justice. That
was the proper department for such a
bureau he said. In reply TO questions
Mr.. Wilkie said that he would Lot es>
tablish such a bureau along the lines
of those conducted by France and other
foreign Governments. An American GEN.
trail service should make Investigations
of alleged unlawful acts outside OF general
supervisory authority only upon cons
plaint. Mr.. Wilkie would not give any
Government detective rowing commis>
sion except in the matter OF counter
feiting and like crimes that in many
circumstances could not he detected