New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-07
Centralized Bureau
For Hunting Out Spice
Opposed by Officials

Washington, July 6.-Blame for the
fact that German owned and controlled
insurance companies, as has been point
ed out in The Tribune, have free access
to information with regard 20 ship sail.
ings, cargoes, destinations, speeds and
other details which presumably might
be of great value TO German subma.
rines was laid to-day by high officials
of the Administration at the door Il
the Treasury Department.
Secretary Of the Navy Daniels, whom
asked II ne was taking any steps 10
prevent this gathering Of informatitss
replied that his department had noth.
ing TO do with insurance. Other offs
cials pointed out that this was entirely
under the jurisdiction OF the Treasury
Department.
1t was also pointed out that the con-
dition on Ellis Island, where ex-ofiicers
of German liners have been permitted
to watch the sailings Of ships and then
converse uRhampered with German yis-
itors, is entirely within the jurisdic-
tion of the immigration Bureau Of tho
Department Of Labor. The views OK
officials of he immigration Bureau
have been printed in The Tribune.
They think it impossible to check ths
spread of such information. End that
the only hope lies in keeping II from
being sent to Germany.
Cooperative Plan Sighted
While the coordination Of tie secret
services Of the Administration-virt-
ually every department has its own
has been urged as one means 70 combat
the German spy system, so far as could
be learned to-day, it has made little
headway, and department heads are in
clined TO think that il would not work
well.
Each department chief thinks his own
secret service is thing apart, which
has its own particular function. All OF
the services are supposed 70 report
! their findings regarding international
affairs TO Counsellor Polk G. the State
Department.
The need for censorship upon out1
going cables and also censorship on
mails has been urged on the Adminis-
tration, but, so far as car be learned
tonight, the only definite step which is
looked upon favorably is the holding
up of all outgoing cables. The idea il
that if all cables, no matter how inno-
cent in appearance, were delayed for
several days !: would be impossible 20
transmit information quickly enough 10
be Of much value 10 Germany. This
step is regarded with Eestancy, how
ever, in view of the delay it would
cause TO legitimate business.
The censorship of the outgoing cables
is considered comparatively simple, and
George Creel, in charge Of the Pub
licity Bureau conducted by the COM
mittee on Public Information, is now in
New York to confer with officers Of the
cable companies concerning the best
methods Of censoring incoming as we'll
as outgoing cablegrsms.
The cable censorship can be carried
10 any point desired without Congress
sional authorization. The lines are
foreign-owned. and by entering into an
agreement with Britain and France re-
specting their use and restriction no
ratifying action on the part of the Sem
ate is necessary.
Communication TO Spain probably
will be investigated by this govern
ment, as messages sent there via Cubt
do not in any way come under British
surveillance The government knows
that there are many wireless plans In