The Washington times., 1909-01-09

turns the searchNEht of publicity on the
relations of Senator Benjamin r. Till,
mau Of South Carolina 10 certain land
transactions in Oregon
The President has made public evi-
dence against Senator Tillmau dug uI
by Postonice Department inspectors
This evidence is a part of the material
that was sent from the White House to
Senator Hale. in response To the Aldrich
resolUJi0n calling for information as To
the employment of secret agents 10y the
various departments. 1t appears i'm the
form of a letter sent To Senator Hale by
President Roosevelt last Tuesday, re
lating TO the employment of special at
torneys, special agents, and other secret
agencies by the Government.
Presidents Charge.
Charging that the evidence shows that
Senator Tnlman used his influence as a
Senator 10 force an Oregon syndicate TO
dispose Of lands in order that he might
The more easily get some OF these lands
himself, the President backs up his
charges with Photographic copies of let
Iers which the PostOffice inspectors dug
up. He also presents photos of one or
more franked envelopes used by Senator
Tiiman 20 conduct his private business
The harshest charge made by the
President Is that Senator Tillman's at
tack ON one DOrr in the Senate last
February 10 was "a wantOn assault
made To cover up Senator Tillman's own
transactions" In proof Of this he sub
mits the copy of a letter of February 3,
four days before the speech by Tillman
i'm the Senate. in which Tillman request
od Reeder g. Watkins, of Marshheld.
ore. to hold in reserve for him and
members OF his family eight quarter
sections Of certain wagon road grant
land. This firm represented applicants
for the land in question This is the
land the title to which Senator TiIlman
was seeking TO get the Department OF
Justice TO attack
Was Unexpected.
President Roosevelt's action in making
the letter to Senator Hale public was
unexpected. Senator Hale was making
efforts 10 keep IL under cover. President
Roosevelt was eager TO turn il loose for
obvious reasons. At the White House
Friday IL was at first determined TO give
the letter out for publication Monday
A clange was then made I'm the pro-
gram, and il was determined 10 make it
public Saturday. The President wanted
the facts barred before Senator TiIIman
had a chance TO take the floor IN the Sen
ate. Moreover. in the opinion of not a
few, it was shrewdiy perceived at the
White House that If the Tillman CORE
spondeuce was aired simultaneously
with the attack on the President by the
House, il would tend 10 duh the edge of
the House assault
Senator TuIman viii take the Senate
floor Monday, speaking TO question of
personal privilege and will answer the
President. lie says he has broken no
law. and that his conscience Is clear.
The letter Of the President 10 Senator
Hale, which is aimed al Senator Till
man is i'm part as follows.
White House.
Washington January 8, 1850.
AIy Dear Senator Hale: 7 have re-
suested The different departments OF the
Government. not only those to whom
YOU sent requests. but those TO whom
yeu did not. 10 give me all the infoT-
nation about the use of special atJOT-
ueys, special agents, inspectors, etc, i'm
their departments which viii enable me
TO put before YOU all the facts which,
az I understand it, your committee de-
sire TO have. ] transmit these reports
herewith. 7 call especial attention 10
the reports of the Secretary OF State,
the Secretary OF the Treasury. and the
Attorney General.
Let me at the outset most earnestly
express nv cordial agreement with the
view that IL is not only right. but the
Guty OF Congress TO Investigate the
workings OF the Secret Service or de-
tective agents by which alone the Gov
eminent can e1ectuaIy safeguard f.
self against WTongdoing. punish crime.
and bring 90 justice criminals. am
well aware or the liability TO abuse in
Eerent iu any effective detective system
or secret service system. for the meas |
ure OF the efficiency Of the system is .
also the measure of the seriousness OF .
me abuses OF the system, II it be applied .
20 wrong purposes OF directed iu an inn /
public Interest that tbere sFouI3 he 10
vigilant inquiry into the working Of fhfs I
agency both hE the heads Of the eNecu-|
i've departments. and hE Congress.
Shadows" Only Rumors.
1t nevertheless remains true that this
system Is absolutely INDISPENSABLE n the
popular interest is to be adequately
safeguarded and wr0ugdoers taught to
FEAR the law. TO show how indIeDang-
able detectives are when iurorfau+
work OF confidential character must
bc done. ] refer you to the exDer.ence
OF the immigration commission an
pointed bT Congress and largely COM
posed OF Senators and Representatives
which has found .r absolutely uarlssarv
- 'LtI.H- t-.-"Lltrs LH order 10 achieve
The best results Iu my egmmunIca- (
zion OF The 9Th instant % fHe lower
house have set forth at length the
reasons why I'm my Judgment. ID is en7-
nently desirable that iu addition fg
ne special detectives or IusuDrfIor SER
ice OF each department. there eHogTf4ha
20 some one department. Urefcra hrv- the
Department OF Justice. a service which
eau be used at need iu amy department
% order 60 achieve the ends have
described. would like To- state here
hat very frequently accusations have
been made 10 me privately Hv mem
leFs or Tie two houses TO the effect
hat the Secret Service has been used
is a police Of morals or no shadow
senator's, tolETessmeut. and other pub
d. oflc'aIs- Hitherto the effort 90 dis
over q .aefS for such allegations has
IWays usen fTuitless. 1 should he
,reatly Obliged ~ amy Information c0uId
20 fuuistel me tending to show amy
Instance where this has been done Iu
lines past
Have Special Work
Certain Of the special agents. iu-
pect0rs. and the like. iu the several de-
.artments have a highly specialized
work TO perform in the Treasury De
the Secret Service is especially
rained 10 deal with couuterfeiters. and q
be special agents with customs frauds
% the Postofdce Department the corps