The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-19
Work Confined to Finding
COunterfeiterS and in
Guarding President.
GIVES SPECIAL FUND
FOR LAND FRAUDS
One Million Dollars For Detection
of Crime on Public Domain.
New Building in Capital.

Despite the recommendation Of PreSi-
dent Roosevelt in his last annual mes
sage to Congress and his earnest urg-
ing in a special message later, the sun
dry civil appropriation bill, which was
reported from committee TO the House
today, contained the same clause limit
ing the activities of the Secret Service
20 the investigation OF counterfeiting
and the protection Of the person OF the
President.
This is the limitation that brought
forth criticism from President Roose-
welt, aud almost caused a breach be-
tween the executive and legislative
branches of the Government early in the
present session Of Congress. The pres
ence of the limitation in the bill is
taken 10 mean that Congress has jus
titled Its action through the testimony
Of the executive officers Of the Govern
ment, who testified that the investiga-
ton of fraud was not hampeTed by the
Limitation of the Secret Service.
Money to Prevent Fraud.
The bill, however, contains a clause,
granting 70 the Secretary of the In
terror, S1.OO0,O0O for the detection and
prevention of fraud on the public do
main. The appropriation last year was
q half million, and the year before a
quarter million. Secretary Garfield
urged that il be increased to a mil
lion this year, in order that the great
mass of land fraud cases now on hand
can be prosecuted to their conclusion.
This work is TO be done by agents un-
der the direction Of the Secretary Of the
Interior.
One clause of the bill authorizes the
President, with the consent Of the Re
public Of Cuba, to invite proposals for
the removal Of the battleship Maine
from Havana harbor, and to communi-
cate 10 Congress as soon as may be
practicable the estimates based upon
proposals received. Congress then can
decide whether the battleship is 70 be
removed and the cause Of the eXplo-
giOn determined.
Two and a half million dollars is ap-
propriated for the construction Of a
building in Washington TO house the
General Land Office, the Geological
Survey the Indian Office and the
Reclamation Service.
Money to Build Canal
The largest item in the bill provides
Tor S33, ,638, 600 10 continue work upon the
Panama canal This is 100000 more
,
with this, there will be a deficiency in
canal work this year Of 100000.
For the continuance of work OF rivers
and harbors that has already been au-
ihOrized by law, S19,574,5l4 is appropriate
ed This is the second largest item in
the bill For the construction Of public
buildings, $lS,6l8,G45 is appropriated and
$4,000 is set aside for the mainten-
Bnce OF public buildings already erected
OF $3.50 90 carried for printing and
binding. 800, 900 is to cover the expense
OF the holidays granted to the 400 en-
ployes OF the Government Printing Of
flee and like amount TO cover the halt
holidays each week during July, August
and September. and 1925 60 10 cover The
annual vacation Of the employees.
This years I'LL abanGDns the perYna-
rent appropriation Of the Department
Of Commerce and Labor, including the
head tax collected from immigrants
and substitutes a specific appropriation
There was a dchCit under the old
scheme OF 10000. To carry out the
provision Of the Hepburn act author
5zinR the examination Of railroad ac-
counts, $4,000 is appropriated the
same as last years appropriation
The bin carries a total Of $l57, ,022, ,010