The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-04
AS An AID TO JUSTICE
Bill TO Establish d Bureau Of Grim
inaI Identification.
To Be National in scope and Charac-
ter. and Located ia This City-T:.e
Movement Strongly Advocated by
the Association Of Chiefs of Police
Would BENEFIT AZ CqinInunities-

At the request Of Major Richard syI-
vesJer, The Superintendent % the DisrrIaz
Police Department. acting il behalf of he
Association of Chiefs af Police. Senator
Vest has introduced a bill providing Tor
the establishment in this city Of Blu
reau Of Criminal Identified ton The idea
is not q new one Major Sylvester having
referred 10 1t in his report for 1889. but
the need Of such az institution. conducJ ed
on a broad and liberal plan. has become
so great. and the police officials il all
parts of the country are 50 actively IN
terested in the support OF the measure.
that 1t is thought that the bill VIII prob
ably become q law at an early date
a bureau of this kind is now maintained
in Chicago II was established several
years ago and has proved TO be Of in
calcuIabIe benefit TO the several roIfce
departments of the municipalities which
have contributed to its support These
are Chicago, Cincinnati St Louis. Bairf-
more. Washington Milwaukee. Detroit.
Braddock. Pa. Toledo Grand RAPIDS.
Hartford. Denver indianapolis. Atlanta
Philadelphia WalyhanI. Chattanooga. Los
Angeles. Wilmington. Del Louisville.
columbus. Buffalo Omaha New Orleans
Boston, Evansville. Pittsburg Toronto
Canada; Dayton, Elmira, Jersey CITY.
Aurora, III, Allegheny, Pa. and Joliet
Ill The annual expense attending The
maintenance Of the present institution 5
about $500, an Insignificant amount when
considered in connection with the excel
lent results obtained through its opera
tions.
The bureau is conducted as a clearing
house its galleries and records being
made up from photographs, descriptions
and Bertillon measurements OF criminals
aDpreheHded by the authorities Identified
with its support. When an unknown
criminal is arrested in any one Of the
cities named, his likeness, description.
and BertiilOn measurements are forward
ed 10 the central bureau, and Il the same
party has ever fallen into the custody
Of the authorities elsewhere his ideuti-
fcation VIII be secured. The establish
ment not being generally supported by
cities and towns throughout the cucntry.
its field OF usefulness is limited. The 20
lice officers Of every city ami town. the
sheriff OF every county, and the warden
Of every penal establishment should II is
claimed add their information concerning
criminals to this bureau and obtain in re-
turn such intelligence concerning un-
known cuIPrits as would enable Justice
to be administered in all cases and a full
and competent knowledge Of all criminals
acquired by the authorities throughout
the land
II is thorough enlightenment in such
matters, Major Sylvester declares. that
affords a ready and efficient means of
protection 70 the thousands of commu-
aities throughout this country. At the
same time it is unfair that the few cit
les which contribute. TO the support Of
the bureau. should Il called upon to sup
port an institution for the use and con
suIJation OF ais Furthermore, when the
officials of one locality secure the con
fnement OF a criminal Of national note
riety. society everywhere is that much
more secure Il is proposed, therefore,
that the General Government establish
in this city national bureau OF criminal
Identification. to be accessible not only