The plan, which needs Congressional approval for the money to finance it, would still require a court warrant to conduct wiretaps.

The Justice Department began pressing Congress last month for legislation that would require telephone companies to install equipment making it easier to conduct court-ordered wiretaps.

Under the City Charter, the investigations department has subpoena power but cannot conduct wiretaps.

Some Democrats, however, have introduced legislation that would restrict, or in some cases ban altogether, the government from conducting wiretaps on Americans without a warrant.

This bill would give the FBI the authority to conduct "roving wiretaps" and access to business records.

The FBI conducted wiretaps in contravention of the law, and began to collect a file on Fly.

Other sections expand the government's power to conduct secret searches and wiretaps.

Government officials would have new authority to conduct wiretaps on suspected smugglers of immigrants and bogus-document users.

At issue is the balance between the Government's determination to preserve its ability to conduct lawful wiretaps and the right to privacy cherished by its citizens.

In today's session, legislators also began to consider a bill allowing the Government to conduct wiretaps of suspected members of organized crime rings.