Year: 1878

THIS ERRATIC PARSONAGE NOW DECREEs THE Ex-


TINCrON OF THE SECRET SERVICE SYSTEM.


fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l


WASHINGTON, Dec. 25.-Representative Glover
saws that the Secret Service Division of the Treas
ury Department "must CO." AS usual with the
tribunal over Which Mr.. Glover presides, the sem
ence in the case is pronounced before the trial Is
finished.


In addition to the rowing commission held by Mr..
Glover to investigate everything and everybody
connected with the Treasury Department a resolu-
tion was introduced on the 18th inst by Mr.
Finley, of Ohio, Instructng the Judiciary Com
mittee to inquire whether there is ever
has been any law authorizing the crea-
ton of the Secret Service Division, what
it's functions are and how the sums appropriated by
Congress for its support have been expended. 1t is
well understood that the motive which underlies
the activity of Messrs Finley and Glover at this
time springs from the indiscretiOn which seems to
have been proved on the part of or two attaches
of the Secret Service Division in connection with
the COnover Investigation, which is now drawing
to close The investigation Of the loss of the Hot
Springs clause Of the Sundry Civil bill of
last session was undertaken by the Treas
ury detectives, at the request of Chairman Atkins
of the Appropriations Committee of the House.
The information connecting the name of Senator
ConOver with the matter came first from exGov-
ernor Stearns of Florida who was one of the tinan
cial sufferers by the mshap Governor Stearns also
recommended a certain man TO the Chief Of the de-
tectives proper person to work up the case, as
he was well acquainted with all the persons and
circumstances so far as they were then known.
This man also brought a recommendation from Sem
ator ConOver himself, not for employment i'll this
particular case of course, but Endorsing him as
honest and intelligent. The man was employed and
turned out TO be romancer of the most sensational
sort.


This case was not exactly in the line of the le-
gitimate duties of the Treasury detectives. AID
the officers Of the Secret Service Division seem to
have acted passive part in the matter, although
the highly-colored reports Of the man employed
were toned down before they were passed OH to the
Secretary, and the man himself was twice dis
charged, but reGmplOyed to finish up the matter,
as he seemed to have possession Of all the clcws
No one now believes that Senator COnover had
anything to do with the abstraction of the Hot
Springs clause, and Chief Brooks has expressed
this opinion whenever asked about the matter ever
since it first became known to the public. There
is reason to believe that Mr.. COnovers own words
in regard to the affair first gave currency TO the
rumor and that he was not unwilling TO be cred
tied for having gained point on his political
encmy-eX-GOvemOr Searns-in this way.


The Secret Service Division is not creature of
Congress, ana there Is ncltnef any law authOfZ-
ing nor any fOrbdding its existence 1t was or
ganized under the administration of Secretary
Chase and placed under the nominal control OF the
Solicitor of the Treasury Its legitimate functions
are to investigate frauds of every kind affecting the
revenues of the Government, and one of its most
important branches OF work has been the detection
and breaking up of the operations Of cOunterfeteTs
Its system of accounts has been as exact as in
all other branches of the Treasury service,
and it is claimed that every dollar paid
out has been covered by voucher showing value
received III services which have III the aggregate
effected a great saving to the Government. Con-
gress has appropriated annually from 800, 900 10
$500, 900 for the Secret Service TO he expended
der the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury
and must continue TO make similar provision or
the public revenues will suffer by frauds many
times greater than the amount SO expended.