The Washington times., 1901-10-15
RECORDS OF LAW BREAKERS
National Criminal Identification
Bureau to Be Moved Here.
Board Of Governors Meet Tomorrow
to Arrange Transfer - Contc en-
plated Legislation to Place Insti-
tuition Under Government Control.


to Arrange Transfer Contem-
plated Legislation to Place Insti-
tuition Under Government Control.
The meeting of the board of governors
| of the National Bureau of Criminal Iden-
tification will be held al the Ebbitt House
| beginning tomorrow morning, and the
various chiefs of police that constitute
the board are expected in this city this
| evening Chief of Police Deitsch, the
| President of the board, will not leave
| Cincinnati, however until this afternoon,
| and consequently will not arrive until
the morning Of the meeting. 1t is possi-
| BILE that Chief Devery, of New York. and
| William Pinkerton, of the famous detec-
| tive agency of that name, will also delay
their arrival until Wednesday morning.
| The immediate purpose of the meeting,
| and that which most interests the people
| of this city. is the prearranged determina-
| tion of the board to remove the offices Of
the bureau from Chicago to this city Out
side of police circles the Importance of
this move cannot be appreciated. While
| the local gallery of criminals is complete
| in its way, and contains the records and
/ photographs of all criminals that have
been caught here, it is lacking in the rec
| ords of those who have operated in other
cities.
This has long been a well recognized
| defect, and it has always been the out
of-town men that the detectives have
feared. The securing of the photographs
| and records of any persons that might be
suspected has been attended with delay
that in many ca>ss was vital.
The transfer of the bureau TO this city
means the placing at the immediate dis
posal of its law officers all known in
formation concerning any criminal that
has ever been arrested in any of the cities
that contribute to the support of the bu-
reau, which includes practically every
city of any Importance in the country.
With the bureau located here, it is be-
lieved that this city will prove the most
dangerous city in the country for criml-
mails to operate in.
The zeal with which law-breakers are
pursued by the local authorities, even to
foreign countries as in fne case OF
Hawkes. and Morgan, to bring back whom
Detectives Weldon and Hewlett sail for
London tomorrow, is sufficient to appall
the most experienced professionals, who.
even now, show an irclinatiOn to give
Washington Il wide berth. Another cause
contributing to this is the franking postal
police to send circulars and all communl
cations concerning police business
through the mails without cost. When it
is considered that circulars. describing
criminals wanted, are often sent out by
thousands. and in one instance the dis |
tribution approached the million mark !
before the man was caught, the advan |
tage can be realized, and the saving ap
preciatod
But even this advantage will fall into |
insignificance when compared with the |
presence here of the Bureau of Identif-
cation. Major Sylvester recognized the |
value Of the bureau shortly after it was
organized, and has been striving ever
since to bring it to this city. 1t is due |
almost entirely to his efforts that the |
transfer has beer accomplished. 1t was
not until he brought the argument of |
national assistance 10 bear that he finally |
succeeded in obtaining the promise Of all |
the members OF the board to vote for the |
transfer, and the present meeting was |
called by President Deitsch to fof mally |
consummate the action.
Major Sylvester has contended that the |
work accomplished by the bureau has
been SO enormously successful. and has
50 thoroughly justified the claims of its
friends as to what could be accomplish
ed by means of such an establishment. |
that the members of the board re thor
oughly justified in asking Congress at the
coming session to provide such legisla-
tion as VIII authorize the absorption of
the bureau as a portion Of the Depart |
ment of Justice. A bill to this effect has
been prepared by Major Sylvester, and
will be presented as soon as Congress
meets.
II is contended that despite the excep-
tioaaI results that have been attained by |
the bureau, its sphere must 'urally be
limited so long as il depends IN munlc-
pal subscription for its support. and that
It cannot attain its full measure Of growth
until ii is made. In fact as in name, |
institution. The bill, prepared,
provides for the handling Of all pictures
and records of criminals in small towns
and country villages, as well as In the
great cities, and the furnishing to every |
authorized law officer, upon request, such
as he may require
Since its inception the bureau has been
housed in quarters provided for II by |
the city of Chicago.
In providing similar accommodations Tor
Il the District Commissioners believe that
this duty will Gevolve upon them but for
a short time. as the object lesson pre-
sented will soon insure the desired legis-
ation from Congress.
The proceedings of the board Of govern |
,rs at the meeting at the Ebbitt House
will be secret, but such information con-
,erniug their deliberations as is deemed
.Xpedient TO give out viii De furnished to
The press from time to time 1t IS prob
able that action will also he taken look
ng to the establishment of a branch of
he bureau in some Western city for the
of the Western subscribers.
Ii IS expected that the question Of the
and tracing Of anarchists in
This country will also come up for dis
,ussion but no definite programme has
yet been mapped out in this regard.