811.751/a
The Secretary of State to the Governor of New York (Whitman)
My Dear Governor: I understand that there is before you at the present time a certain bill, or bills making it a criminal offense for anyone to use without authorization a telephone wire in the State to obtain information.
While I would not presume to advise you in this matter I hope that you will give very careful consideration to the effect which such legislation would have on the investigations and collection of information by federal agents at the present time when national safety requires extraordinary measures, which would not be justified or tolerated under normal conditions. Of course the supreme purpose of all federal and state authority at this critical period should be to increase, rather than to obstruct the exercise of governmental powers.
I realize that it is superfluous to write you thus, as I know the bills before you will be given careful consideration by you before they are approved, but I thought in view of the mass of measures which you are required to pass upon at this time I would direct your attention to proposed laws which materially affect the activities of our federal agents.
With very warm regards [etc.]