Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-04

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men 1 have above mentioned are re-
sponsible. had then been in effect this
action would have been impossible and
most of the criminals would unques-
tionably have escaped. No more strik-
ing instance can be imagined OF the
desirability Of having central corps
of skilled Investigating agents who can
at any time be assigned. ii necessary
in large numbers, to investigate some
violation of the federal statutes. In no
matter what branch of the public serv-
ice. In this particular case most OF
the men investigated who We're public
servants We're in the executive branch
of the government. But In Oregon.
where an enormous acreage of fraudu-
lently alienated public land was recov-
cred for the government, United
States senator, Mr.. Mitchell, and
member Of the lower house, Mr.. Will
hanson, We're convicted on evidence
obtained by men transferred from the
secret service, and another member or
congress was indicted.
Il Stopped Naturalization Frauds.
From 1901 to 1904 successful inves-
tfgation of naturalization affairs was
made by the secret service. with the
result of obtaining hundreds of convfc-
tions Of conspirators who were convict
, ed of selling fraudulent papers Of nat
. uraliZation Subsequently congress
passed very wise law providing
special service and appropriation for
. the prevention of naturalization frauds,
, but unfortunately at the same time
| that the action against the secret serv-
: ice was taken congress also cut down
, the appropriation for this special serv-
ice, with the result..of gripping the
effort to stop frauds in naturalization)
The fugitives Greene and Gaynor. im-
, plicated in peculiarly big government
, contract fraud, were located and ar
+ rested In Canada by the secret service.
+ and, thanks to this. they have since
, gone to prison for their crimes.
The secret service was used to assist
. In the Investigation Of crimes under
: the peonage laws, and owing partly
thereto numerous convictions were Sc
cured and the Objectionable practice
was practically stamped out, at least
7 In many districts. The most extensive
smuggling of silk and opium In the
q history of the treasury department
I was investigated by agents Of the Sc
q cret service in New York and Seattle
y and successful prosecution of the Of
tenders undertaken. Assistance Of the
z utmost value was rendered to the de-
p partment of justice in the beef trust
: investigation Mt Chicago: prosecutions
h were followed up and fines inflicted
= The cotton leak scandal In the agri
!. cultural department was investigated
v and the responsible parties located
z What was done in connection with
= lottery Investigations is disclosed in q
:. letter Just sent to me by the United
| States attorney for DELAY ware, running
| as follows:
| The destruction of the Honduras Ma
tional Lottery company. successor to the
! Louisiana Lottery company. was entirely
the work OF the secret service.
| This excellent work was accomplished BY
Mr., Wilkie and his subordinates.
thought it might be timely to recall this
: prosecution.
D Lottery Cases and Others.
Three hundred thousand dollars IL
fines were collected by the govern
z ment in the lottery cases. Again. the
ink contract fraud in the bureau OF
engraving and printing "a bureau OF
the treasury Department. was investi
: gated by the secret service and the
i guilty parties brought to justice. Mr.
Tawney stated in the debate that this
) was not investigated by the secret serv
: ice, but by clerk down there" con
:. yeying the impression that the CLERK
{ was not In the secret service. AS 6
matter of fact, he was in the secre,
: service. His name was Moran, anC
he was promoted to assistant CHIEF
+ for the excellence Of his work in thi.
}. case. The total expense for the Office
and field force of the secret service
+ last year was $4,000. and by thi:
) one investigation they saved to tn,
government over 100000 year
Thanks to the restriction imposed b!
I congress, 1t is now very difficult fol
y the secretary OF thestreasury to us,
the secret service freely even In hi,
own Experimentation instance, to us,
y them to repeat what they did so ad
mirably In the case Of this Ink con
tract The government is further Grip
I pied by the law forbidding it to EN-
y ploy detective agencies. OF course tn
/ government can detect the most dan
gerous crimes and punish the wors
criminals only by the use either Of tn
. secret service or Of private detectives
= To hamper it in using the one and for
bid 1t to resort to the other can inur
;, to the benefit Of none save the crimi
j mails.
Secretary Corteiyou Sustained.
The facts above given show beyon,
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