New-York tribune., 1909-01-10
THE HOUSE STILL DODGES.

1t is TO be regretted that Fridays debate in
the House of Representatives should have been
confined so-argefy TO glittering generalities The
House with great enthusiasm testified TO Its
confidence in itself and repelled alleged insnua-
tions as TO its motives imputed TO the Pres-
dent but repudiated by him. With much virtu-
Gus indignation a resolution was adopted laying
on the table the comments of the President on
the restriction imposed by last years sundry civil
appropriation bin the activities of the Secret
Service Bureau of the Treasury Department
But the public will look in vain in yesterdays
reports of the debate for any satisfactory ex
PLANTATION Of the necessity or wisdom of that re
striction In other words, the House devoted
all its attention to the manner of the Presi-
dents criticism which incidental, and tg
nored entirely the matter of his recommenda-
ton which was essential and practically i'm
pOrtant
Mr. Tawney. the chairman Of the Appropra-
tons Committee whose policy the House ac-
cepted last year, talked feelingly about the re-
spect which one branch of the government
should show another, and deplored what he con-
sidered the slur cast on the House by the Presi-
dent Yet he had nothing definite to say in de-
fence of the action which called out the Presi-
dents message 1t seems TO us that he would
have greatly strengthened the Houses case il
he had shown that the restriction of the func-
tions of the Secret Service was justified on
grounds of public policy. He is reported as say
ing that for thirty years the law had speclhcaly
confined the duties of the Secret Service Bureau
TO the Treasury Department, and that IN tnat
respect it "had only beef strengthened. But
such a statement is thoroughly misleading
Under the law it stood and was interpreted
by the governments law officers the uses OF the
Secret Service had been extended. Transfers
otbc dnflGr rtm the
Treasury were allowed, and each branch of the
executive could avail itself of the talents OF
trained detectives. Mr.. Tawney intended TO
change the law, and to weaken it rather than
strengthen it. when he added the provision for
bidding details and transfers. The Secretary OF
the Treasury and the President had urged him
10 let the law stand, and pointed out TO him that
the restriction was impolitic and would be
harmful The public has still to learn from
him the supposed advantages of the restriction
We Judge from another vague allusion in Mr.
TaNvney's speech, as reported, that he does not
really hold that the Secret Service needs re
striction He cited the appropriations made for
the maintenance of forces of special agents in
the various departments TO enforce the land
laws and other laws. He denied that the admin
istration was obliged to depend entirely on the
Treasury Secret Service Bureau, and said that
it constituted ''Only a small part of the Secret
Service in the various departments. But the
iInportant distinction is that the Treasury Sc
cret Service is a trained. permanent body,
naturally more efficient IN ferreting out crime
than the temporary forces of special agents
recruited for special tasks. Why was it adj
visable TO forbid this bureau TO do general
work for the government? Unless the House
can produce better reasons than it has pro
duced for last years restriction, it will only CON
vince the country that it is trying to dodge the
main issue between itself and the President
and avoid the necessity of undoing legislative
blunder