The Detroit times., 1909-02-26
COMPARES SECRET
SERVICE MEN WITH
COMMON LIARS
REP. SMITH, OF IOWA, RESENTS
PRESIDENTS AccUSATION-
REP. COOK BECOMES TOO AsU.
slVE AND Is SEATED.


house OF representatives. by an over
whelming vote and without party dis
tinction. yesterday sustained the COM
mittee on appropriations in again re-
PORTING a provision In the sundry civil
appropriation bill, restricting the
operations OF the secret service detec-
lives OF the treasury department. Rep.
Cook (Rep., Coli, scathingly de-
nounced President Roosevelt while
Rep Smith rep, Iowa.. q member
Of the appropriations committee, and
one OF those named by the president
in his message OF Jan last as beins
responsible for the secret service linn
ination. employed all the inyective at
his command in an attack on that
service.
He compared the secret service de.
tectves with common liars de.
clared them 10 be worthless and
pointed To the assassination OF Pres
ident Mckinley as sample OF the
watchfulness and capacity OF those
linen, one OF whom, he said. stood at
The presidents side when he was Sho.
down and failed to observe the ap-
rroach OF the assassin with his sup
posedly bandaged hand In full view.
The secret service agents. he said.
were not so high and lofty that they
should be the subject of admiration
among free people. Many OF them,
he said. work for So day in hunt
ing down land frauds, when there is
not considerable number OF them
that know legal from an Illegal en-
try"
Respectable men. he said. with
manifest sarcasm. would take places
as postoffice inspectors and special
agents OF the interior department
even though occasionally they might
have To do some detective work. but
he asserted. the idea that some three
or four dollars day man who is Will
ing to be a common detective can ia
miliarize himself with all laws and
therefore become more useful than a
specialist is simply absurd
He illustrated his point by refer
ing TO q case where secret service
men were called OFF. and special
agents allowed to do the work alone.
and said that in consequence land
frauds involving millions of dollars
were unearthed
Secret Service Worthless.
The secret service men, he charg
ed. were worthless and he said No
where except in the yainglorious
boastings of Chief Wilkie and the tes-
timony OF men who didn't know any
thing about II, did | find that II had
done anything except In the watching
OF jurors and the like"
Continuing, Mr. Smith suggested
that IL detectives were necessary 10
hunt down Jurors they should be as
signed by the department OF justice
and not be taken from the force in
the counterfeit section OF the treas
ury department.
Wouldn't that" interjected Mr..
Stanley (kyD, with sarcasm, inter
fere with the mystery, sensationalism
and attractiveness of the secret ser
vice "
Joining in the laughter which fol-
lowed this query. Mr.. Smith, continu-
ing, said that In prior years the abuse
Of the field OF operation OF the secret
service was only incidental but that
now il had become an enormity.
Mr. Cook (Rep., COLI discussed the
provision with much freedom or
speech and In the course OF his re-
marks frequently referred to the
president in most uncomplimentary
uhrase as In the following:
1t is unfortunate not only for
President Roosevelt but for the citi-
zens OF the republic that he has not
legal mind and no equipose OF rea-
son. riding through and around the
arena OF political action on his
broncho OF arrogant, egotistical I'm
pulse, pretending to throw his lariat
of execution at the heels and broad
horns Of capital for the delectation OF
voting labor and ending the scene
with the cunning catch OF a prairie
wolf or a gopher"
Forced to Take Seat.
So denunciatory of the president
was Mr. Cook that he was denied the
privilege OF continuing his remarks
after he had spoken but few min.
utes. In the main he was addressing
himself to the work OF the secret SER
vice agents I'm Colorado In certain
alleged land fraud case. one of whom.
ne stated. was horse thief The
case. he said, had come to the United
states supreme court and was unani-
mously decided in favor OF the de-
PENDANTS.
such keen political speculator
and political and financial strenuos-
ity.". he said. has never been seen
before In this republic and let us fer
yently hope that his like shall never
ne seen again. Look at the para
graphs OF his ratified message. and you
will be startled to see and read the
insinuations and abusive phrases
against the legislative and judicial
departments OF the government" He
declared that the liberty OF the peo-
pie was being gradually and secret
iy stolen by sneaking executive en-
croachments and even judicial ses-
sions where the freedom Of speech and
of the press are denied. is most
outrageous injustice 10 the toiling
multitude" The voice OF the people.
he yehemently asserted, was over and
above all constitutions and congress.
SUPREME COURT.
LANSING. Nigh, Feb. 26.-The. su.
preme court yesterday heard the fol.
lowing cases: Armstrong VS.. Graham;
Nichols vs. Buell.; Hodgins VS.. Bay
CtfV