Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-04
NO SENSATION IN sLEuTH PROBE
Senator Hale Says 1t Will Be Thorough
But Not Startling.

Washington, Jan. 2.-That the pro-
posed inquiry by the senate committee
on appropriations into the methods
OF the secret service will be very
searching and comprehensive in its
character was definitely and authorita-
lively stated last night
The announcement was made by
Senator Hale, acting chairman of the
committee, and was called out by an
intimation that the inquiry might be
prolonged until after March for the
purpose of permitting the summoning
OF President Roosevelt before the COM
mittee as a private citizen to testify
regarding the operations of the secret
service branch of the government
Prefacing his remarks with the
statement that the investigation would
not be conducted in a sensational way,
but after the fashion of care and de-
liberation that generally characterizes
senate Inquiries the senator said:
THE extent and use and the kind
OF work performed by the secret serv-
ice, under the direction of the heads Of
certain departments. have greatly and
startlingly been amplified during the
hatsoC Low YEARS, anu II us JIlIS
which has attracted the attention of
the senate and is the foundation of It's
investigation. The presidents message
Is only secondary in Importance aus af-
fecting this investigation.
The course to be pursued by the
committee is in no respect an investi-
cation of the president, and is not, by
any means, the result of his message
The work of the committee will not be
In any way limited as an answer to
that message
Nor is there any intention, as has
been stated, of prolorging the investi-
cation until after the 4th of March
Indeed, doubt whether it has ever
entered into the mind Of any Of the
most imaginative of senators to pro-
long the investigation and to call upon
President Roosevelt as a witness when
he becomes a private citizen.
"The subject Is Of that magnitude
that 1t demands a thorough exposition
OF all this comparatively new feature
in our government for the information
of congress and for the public at large.
The very limited secret service of the
government began in small appropria-
tons and a small force. almos. entirely
directed to Investigations into counter
feiting and frauds upon the currency;
but 1t is said and believed by many
that this has been greatly departed
from and that the extension of this
service is alarming and dangerous and
beyond the legitimate functions Of the
general government Whether this is or
is not 50, the investigation ought to
disclose
"There is very little In the senate in
vestigation that has to du with init
nations that members Of congress in
either house have been Swallowed or
spied upon by emissaries in the secret
service. l doubt whether the president
believes that senator's and representa-
tives are unduly sensitive upon this,
and his message, when carefully read,
does not bear out the proposition that
members of congress were improperly
influenced in their votes restricting the
secret service because of any criminal
ity on their part. the exposure Of
which was feared.
whenever the results of the investi-
cation by the committee are laid be-
fore the senate the whole subject will
be for the action Of that body, and