New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-05-11
NEEDS SECRET SERVICE
LACK OF TRAINED MEN IN
SUGAR CASE FELT.
Mr. Stimson Ham pered by Act Of
Congress Restricting ActiUities
of UHbie's Men.

According to II. L. Stimson. former United
States Attorney, his efforts to discover all the
persons responsible for the sugar weighing
frauds have been greatly. hampered because he
cannot have the help of Secret Service men
The act of Congress conf1ning the activities of
the Secret Service to the prevention and detec-
tion of counterfeiting and safeguarding the per
of the President of the United States" has
it was said yesterday. handicapped the United
States attorneys throughout the country in the
successful prosecution of persons violating the
customs and other federal laws.
Evidence in the sugar case. for example, was
obtained only with the greatest difficulty Mr.
Stinson. who is a special assistant Attorney
General in the prosecution of the cases, said:
There are many men I'm the Secret Service
with broad experience who would be of in
valuable service to us in the weighing fraud In
vestigations But we cannot them. Here
is one Of the most important cases the govern
ment has prosecuted in years, and we are ham
pered by the lack of investigators. lot of
special Treasury agents have been assigned to
help. and they working hard, and with some
results. but we should have some of the 'tried
men in the old service men who have worked on
similar cases in the past and who know how TO
get at things"
Mr.. Stimson had some OF these old men when
the raid was made in November 1907. but the
act Of Congress taking them away from special
department work went into effect the following
July. and since then new detectives have been
trying TO get the necessary evidence to con-
Wet
1t was learned yesterday that complaints had
been made to the Washington authorities by
nearly every United States Attorneys office. An
especially strong protest made last week.
and some assurance OF q possible change has
planned because Of the new order. Under the act
they cannot leave the service for any other de
partment work until July I. the end OF the fiscal
year. and then they must resign from the Secret
Service Offers have been made at much in
creased salaries to some OF the Secret Service
men by other departments. but these could not
be accepted without loss because OF the Law.
Transfers are impossible.
Reference was made yesterday by federal
official TO ox-President Roosevelt's message Of
December g when he said Of the act 1T seri-
ously hampers the government in the detection
OF crime and the securing Of justice. and, re-
ferring directly TO the enforcement of the law
by the Secretary of the Treasury. 1T forblds
him from preventing frauds upon the customs
service
The Treasury Depart has a bureau Of
special agents. under Stanley ". Finch, a former
chief sxsruinnr. irving c. Sauter is in charge Of
the work here He was formerly Secret Ser
vice man in this city. and left that departrne Mt
70 go into business. He never had charge OF any
branch Of the work. but when the Treasury
agents were engaged he was employed 10 take
charge OF them at this port. II said yes
terday that the Treasury Department would
gladly employ some OF the experienced men In
the old service and this may occur when the
fiscal year expires. unless the law is changed.
There was a report last night that there would
be more indictments OF employees OF the Ameri-
can Sugar Refining Company. The officers Of
the company are still cooperating with Mr..
Stirnson in his investg ations.