The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-22

departments of the federal government employ experts
for the detection Of specific and though the op
eraons Of the special agents the Post ONCE Depart
ment of the Internal Revenue Bureau and of the In
spectorS Of Customs conducted in secret the official
designation secret service has been narrowed so that
it applied only to that branch bureau of the Treas
ury Department charged primarily with the duty OF
protecting good Americans from bad money.
The Of the work by the secret service Of
the Treasury Department gradually enlarged until, as
by President Roosevelts last annual message 1t
covered every form Of inquiry foot to reach
pected Wrongdoers. Soon after its organization as
secret service operatives nrusted with the
duty Of protecting the Of the President They
have been Of in exposing land frauds In securing
evidence to abolish lotteries in preventing smuggling,
in detecting Illicit distng In exposing the cotton report
leak in the Department Of Agriculture in investgat
ing naval officers, and If Dame Rumor be not lying
jade in watching Congressman the present. at
least the obnoxious provision which prohibits detailing
from the secret service restricts the work Of the bu
the apprehension Of counterfeters and the
lection Of the chief executive.
The headquarters Of the secret service in the
Treasury building in Washington. Here the private
Offices of the chief of the DIVISION John e. Wilke and
his assistant William Herman Moran. Mr.. Wilkie Is an
Illinois In February, $685. he appointed chief
Of the secret service by Lyman Gage Almost mmedi
atey he organized special emergency force Of men to
checkmate Spanish spies during the Spansh-Amercan
Through his efforts Spanish emissaries were driven
this country and Of their spies arrested.
The Of the secret service must for obvious
be unknown to the public The United States is
divided into twentyeght secret service districts each
in charge Of operative who has assistants In addi
ton to the thus detailed to indicated geographical
divisions there number of trained detectives who
operate the central Office Washington and who
may be sent to any place at any time Others sta
toned in foreign countries The chief guides and d.
reefs the work. but the Solicitor Of the Treasury must
approve his acts to make them valid From each oper
alive daily report covering his work for twentyfour
hours is required These reports coming from all parts
Of the country keep the chief informed to the acvi
ties not only Of his but Of those Of the under
world Every large city has branch Office of the secret
service but important movement Of the work must
be submitted to Mr. Wilkie To his office in Washington
are sent the exhaustive daily reports which give him
view Of the country whole and all articles taken
by agents Of the bureau such counerfeters out
fits, spurious coins, DISCUSSES.
the course of the years large collection of pho
tographs has developed into complete rogues gallery
which, used in connection with the measurements OBJ
tanned through the Bertllon system, smplfes denti
cation of the foolhardy criminals who continue their
practices after first arrest.