New-York tribune., 1909-02-04
NEEDS SECRET SERVICE
GOVERNMENT MUST HAVE
1T, PRESIDENT SAYS.
Issues Statement Saying Legislation
Has Seriously impaired Useftit-
ness Of the Body.

Washington. Feb 3-Declaring that az the
government is TO act with full efficiency against
criminals it must have some force Of secret
service agents who can act against criminals
anywhere" President Roosevelt. in, statement
made public at the White House tonight en-
phatically reiterated his opposition to restrict
ing the field of usefulness of the Secret Service
The position of the administration is SAID
the President, that It is against sound policy
to discriminate in favor of criminals by dis
eliminating against the Of the Secret Sevlcs
to detect and punish them"
The statement was called forth by "mislead-
ing statements appearing in some OF the after-
noon papers to the effect that the work OF ths
Secret Service had not been hampered, and that
the investigation of cases. aside from the detec-
ton Of counterfeiters and the protection OF the
President had not been circumscrlDed py re-
strictive legislation at the last session OF Con-
gress. The complete text of the statement Is as
follows:
At no time has the President any admins
trate officer claimed that the restrictive legis-
ation Of the last session affected the secret
Service division of the Treasury Department IN
the matter Of suppressing counterfeitng or pro-
tecting the President As a matter Of fact, the
limitation did not apply in the slightest degree
to the normal functions of that service. and the
claim that the Secret Service was not harnpered
in locking after COunterfeiters is admitted, but
the assertion that the restriction was harmless
the governments interests is not correct.
The effect Of the limitation was materially 10
circurnscribe the field OF usefulness in which the
trained agents of the Secret Service had hlther-
to been advantageously employed. Under the
limitation it became impossible to these in
VestigatOrs in the class of cases in which tney
have been conspicuously successful Tor many
years The phraseoogy Of the restrictive legis-
lation is such that any person who was EN-
pIoyed in or under the Secret Service division
during 1909 for even so short a period as an
hour became disqualified for promotion or en-
ployment in any branch of the government ser
vice where either his compensation or expenses
would be payable from any appropriation n ne
sundry civil act.
Of the Treasury and made it impossible Cor him
to continue the employment Of these men IN
any cases OF irregularities or wrOngdoing IN
those branches of the Treasury Department de-
voted to the issuing. redemption and handling Of
the obligations, securities and coins OF the gov
ernment
It IS the contention of the executive branch of
the government that it should be permitted TO
use the best means OF investigating criminal
cases; and when legislation is enacted that de-
prives the executive branch Of particularly
desirable and effective Investigating force. the
governments interests. which are the interests
of the people, are injured, and the only gamers
are the evildoers who may thereby escape de-
lection and punishment.
The question is. is it right or wise or proper
specifically to discriminate against one particular
division of the governments Investigating forces
and prevent its employment where II might be
used to great advantage? 1t is an evasion Of
the question to answer that In one particular and
circumscribed f1eld-suppressing counterfeiting
and protecting the President-its activities are
not affected by the limitation.
II the government is to act with full efficiency
against criminals It must have some force Of
Secret Service agents. by preference under the
Department Of Justice, who can act against
criminals anywhere; and the position of the ad-
ministration is that it is against sound public
policy to discriminate In favor OF criminals by
discriminating against the use of the Secret Ser
vice TO detect and punish them.