The Washington times., 1924-05-13
The Growth Of Secret Govern
mental Agencies in a
Democratic Country
By BILL PRICE.

The Senate Committee Appropriations urged to
eray reduce the appropriations for the Bureau Of Inves
cation Of the Department Of Justice from which WILLIAM
=. BURNS has just resigned as the active head.
charged by element Of those who oppose the large
appropriation Of voted by the House for the next
fiscal year that is time to call halt 1.-THE nationwide
governmental spy system built up since the war; partly
iOr ~. the purpose ., keeping N touch with political radcas
are able to work out their political salvation without the
aid interference Of professional Government detectives
Whether there is need for secret to combat radical
ism in this country for Congress to determine In the light
Of facts submitted to committees by the heads Of departments
The claim made that there has been activity radicals
snce the which has resulted in Federal prosecutions
but the Department Of Justice maintains that these activities
still Of character require constant surveillance
The Bureau Of Investigation is Of course engaged in numer
Gus other fields Of law enforcement.
The growth Of governmental investigating agencies
IN this democratic country in the last ten years has been e
tensive however whatever the One result the
accusation that the United States developing police
ces in other years and which still widespread in all
European countries today matter what their form of
government may be-
is quite interesting go back to the days Of President
ROOSEVELT when the secret service Of the Treasury en-
Investigating institutions under the United Government
LIS force was comparatively small In the Post Office Depart
ment there were agents whose duties to make cases
against robberes hes and frauds in the postal service and
there was also small force to the Internal Revenue
Bureau in moonshne stamp and tax collection thefts
and discrepancies These agencies still in existence con-
timing themselves almost solely to the special work Of their
respective departments
TO the Internal Revenue Bureau has been added thousands
Of revenue agents by the adoption the volstead
amendment and the prohibition laws based upon it.
The secret service bureau Of the Treasury freely
BY President Roosevelt openly charged in oncress
TO investigate the private affairs Of and
men who attacking him and his Administration This
was the first time the bureau this accusation
TO curta the activities Of Mr. Roosevelt in this direction
Congress adopted clause in appropriation bill forbddng
the Of money appropriated for the service @
cep in the legitimate work Of breaking up counterfenr
and in furnishing guards for Presidents the United States
Secret service agents still detailed White House to
accompany the President wherever he may 60 and to protect
him and his family In this city. !"
The charge has been freely made in the Senate that agents
OF the presumably connected with the Bureau
Of Investigation Of the Department Of Justice were sent into
the States Of number Of United States Senators to ATTEMPT
to find things prejudicia to them and rejecting upon their
private and political lives This has produced unusual bitter
ness In Congress- and what the effect will upon the Bureau
OF Investigation remains to be seem
One weakness Of secret detective bureaus in the Government
that they be used in work altogether different from
attack in Congress whatever its politics. strongly tempted
who bold make trouble for it, to deve into their
private and political lives for ammunition for
or defensive purposes thereby injurng them
Government money should be spent that wav II WAS
not appropriated for that purpose Yet almost impossible
to legislation that will restrict detective activities
TO the fields intended for them The detectives themselves
political appontees Their positions controlled bv the
political appontees them It is but natural that when
their executive heads under attack they should attempt to
gain favor by going out Of their way get information help
fu to their Chiefs they directed to do 90 In
that way built system that belongs European coun
tries and not to this