Evening journal., 1909-02-11
WILL REBUKE
ROOSEVELT
Congress Never Intended to
Build up a Spy System,
Says Committee
REPORT OF COMMITTEE
WILL SOON BE MADE

BY United Press Leased Special Wire.
WASHINGTON. Feb. l1-President
Roosevelt is TO be rebuked by the SEN
ate committee on appropriations for his
assertions that the restrictions placed
by Congress upon the indiscriminate
use of secret service men has been
"of benefit only to the criminal
cesses.'
a Subcommittee Of the appropria
tions committee has been investigat-
ing the subject for some weeks. and is
now ready to report. Among other
things. it viii say:
"If the amendment to the Sundry
Civil Bill. for the current year 1909 has
operated as a restriction upon the use
of secret service employees. such restric-
ton is so technical and limited in char
acter. that it does not appear sufficient
To warrant the impugning of motives
of Congress in adopting the amend
ment. No Congress in the history Of
the government has so literally sup
ported the executive branch of the gov
ernment by appropriations to aid in
the xecution of law as has the Sixtieth
Congress-"
After quoting from the testimony
given by Attorney General Bonaparte.
Secretary of the Interior Garfield. and
Chief Wilkie. of the secret service, to
show that these officials were of the
opinion that the amendment to the
sundrv civil bill referred to in the
Presidents recent message has in no
wise hampered the work of their de-
partments, the report goes on to say
'It has never been the intention OF
any CONGRESS. to build up a spy sys-
tenn. There have come to the atten-
tion of the committee, alleged cases
of misuse and improper official conduct
OF secret service employees, but the
committee has not had time nor OPP
portunity to verify these as well as
many other reports conveying alleged
information relating TO the subject:
contemplated by the resolution.
The committee. which is composed
Of both Republicans and Democrats
recommends that the investigation b'
continued after the present session
ends. so as to enable it to secure com
plete details Of the character of ser
service men. but all special agents, in
spectors. and others employed in thu
various executive departments. for the
detection and prosecution Of violations
of the law. It is expected that thu
investigation, if continued, will last ;
year.
The report was presented to the Sen
ate late to-day. eSnator Hemenwa,
(Repn.. md. accompanied it with {
statement which set for the salien
features.
''It should be made clear" said Sen
ator Hemenway to the Senate and q
the public that this limitation in N
way affects anv uortion Of the inspec
tion or secret service, so-called in an.
Of the departments Of the government
except the 65 men employed in tn
secret service division Of the Treasur,
Department.
TT had come to the knowledge o
the committee on appropriations tina
men from this limited force. in plac
of devoting their time To the dutie
which Congress intended their tim
should be devoted to. had been trans
ferred to the inspection of land fraud
and other work. The effect of thi
transfer as shown by the testimon
of Secretary Garfield and by the state
ments Of the attorney general, result
ed in an agreement between the secre
tarv of the interior and the attorney
general to dispense with the servic
employees, and use the force they ha
under their own departments for thi
particular purpose. That no harm ia
resulted from this restriction, is show
bv the facts.
"There was appropriated by the las
Congress over S2.OOo,OOO of dollar'
which is available directly or indirectl
for protecting the government agains
frauds and violations of the law.
can hardly he said that the amendmer
to the sundry civil bill which atfecte
the transfer and detail of only sixty
five men was made in an attempt
protect criminals. when the some Cor
gress that made this amendment ar
propriated nearly five million dollar
more than was ever appropriated DC
fore. to strengthen the eXecutiN
branch Of the government in law &C
ministration."