The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1909-01-14
THE SECRET SERVICE
Congress Wants to Limit It's
Work.
PRES ROOSEyELT'S POSITION

PRES ROOSEvELT'S POSITION
Sending the Fleet Around the World
A Masterpiece Of Diplomacy-Has
Caused Peaceful Attitude I'm the
Orient-The State Machine Fails
in Effort to Land Adams for Judge
of Eastern District-Hon. I'll. r.
seawell Will Probably be APP
pointed.
Special to The Caucasian.
Washington, d. c., Jan. 12.-Dur-
ing the past week the interest and
the talk of Congress and of Washing
ton has been the friction between the
President and Congress over the Sc
| cret Service matter.
1t will be remembered that the
President, in his message to Congress,
complained at the action of the last
session of Congress in cutting down
the appropriation for the secret SER
Service to the investigation of coun-
terfeiting of money. The President
pointed out that-the most important
criminals who have been indicted,
| tried and convicted in the violation
of national laws were the result of
information gathered by the Secret
| Service.
No one has attempted to question
the Presidents position in this matter
! but the trouble arose from an ad-
ditional sentence in the President s
message wherein he said that the
chief reason given by members of
Congress for limiting the scope of
| the activities of the Secret Service
was that they had Investigated Con-
| gressmen. This language aroused
| the resentment of both houses of
| Congress and caused resolutions to
| be passed calling upon the President
| for an explanation. The President
| has replied with message to both
houses, in which he makes good his
assertion as to the usefulness of the
Secret Service, and also quotes from
the speeches of a number of the mem
bers of the House showing that they
gave the reasons as the President had
charged.
In his reply to the Senate, he shows
generally the necessity for the secret
service to prevent violations of the
law, and shows how incidentally in
investigating the matter it was dis
covered that Senator Tillman was
connected with some land deals.
| These replies have still further
aroused the anger of both houses of
Congress, and just where it will end
| is not yet clear. The general con-
census of opinion is that the Presi-
dent is, of course, right as to mis-
facts, but that he probably was not as
diplomatic in the use of language as
he might have been.
On the other hand, one frequently
hears the expression that it is d
healthy sign to see the legislative
bodies asserting their independence
in this way.
On Monday Senator Tillman made
a vigorous reply to the President s
message referring to him, but he did
not deny any of the material facts
stated by the President. He said the
President was actuated by personal
hatred for him.
The whole matter, however, seems
to be quite unfortunate, though nc
one can tell what good may come
of it.
A Master Stroke of Diplomacy.
An able and experienced diplomat
stated the other day that he consider
ed the action of the President IL
sending the feet of battleship!
around the world as master-strokt
of craftsmanship and diplomacy.
He pointed out the peaceful atti
tude that has been assumed in tn.
Orient following this move, and tina
instead of further talks of war, tha
new agreement between this gov
ernment and Japan, which tended tt
, the peace of the world, had been con
summated
Commenting further, he said tha
: the result of the Russian war lef
Manchuria an international bone o
contention that seemed sure to bree,
trouble, but that the United State
had stepped in and solved the prob
lem.
A naval officer, commenting on tn
same situation. remarked that tn
, Navy Department was preparing fc
any occasion that might arise in tn
future, and that the battleship fee
might go around the world again i
the interest of peace; that steps wer
; already being taken to establish
. chain OF wireless telegraph station
. around the world, so that hereafte
D our fleet in making such trip woul
never at any hour be without tele
graphic connection with Washington
The Eastern Judgeship Still Not
v Settled.
r The State machine has been mai
: ing desperate efforts to land Spence
: B. Adams for Judge of the Easter
!, District. To-day Judge Pritchar
t and National Committeeman Dunca
r called at the White House to make
a last appeal for Adams. But the Pres
+ ident informed them that he woul
e not appoint Adams, and that
e would make his selection from or
e of the best lawyers OF the Easter
n District. Judge Pritchard and M