The Washington times., 1901-09-21
TRACKING old CRIMINALS
Transfer Here of Bureau of Identi-
tication an Important Step.
A National Clearing House Iden Ap-
piled to Police WOrk-PrObability
of Its Establishment AS n Govern
ment Department by Congress-


The National Bureau of Criminal Iden-
tification will be removed from Chicago to
this city in the near future and a branch
| of the bureau wtllbe zesta blisheJ in one
of the Western cities. This is probably
the first move that will eventuate in the
establishment of the bureau as &. portion
of the national Department of Justice.
The Importance of the transfer to this
city, it is said, cannot be overestimated,
as the facilities afforded for obtaining the
photographs and records-of all national
criminals will greatly add to the effec-
tiveness of the police department The
change has been accomplished only after
long and strenuous effort on the part OF
Major Sylvester, who recognized the de-
STABILITY of such move even before he
was made Superintendent of the local de-
partment. Since his becoming one of the
board of governors of the bureau, several
years ago he has worked constantly With
this object in view.
The bureau of Identification is practi-
cally a great police clearing house. where
the police of all of the great cities sehd
the photographs. description. and all in
formation concerning crimes and crimi-
nails in their territory, and In return have
access to the records of all other cities
citation. The work accomplished has been
enormous. but it is stated that one of
the reasons of weight with the board of
governors was the desire to dispense~with
the services of George Porteous, the pres
ent chief of the bureau In Chicago. whose
administration of affairs has not met
with the approval of the members OF the
board The matter of the transfer has
long been under discussion. during which
time Major Sylvester has communicated
with all of the board concerning the mat
ter Replies received from all of them
enthusiastically endorse the proposition
and urge the immediate transfer.
Yesterday the last member of the board
to be heard from, William A. Pinkerton,
the Chicago head of the well-known de-
tective agency and member of the board
of governors, called upon Major Sylves-
ter and added his unqualified endorsement
to that of the other members. Col. Philip
Dietsch. the chief of the Cincinnati police
force and president of the board of gov
ernors of the bureau, was communicated
with, and he has announced that he will
call a meeting of the board for the early
part of October in this city, when the
matter will be formally acted upon and
the change made. Immediately following
that the actual transfer of the records
and property of the bureau will be made.
At the present time the bureau is main
tanned by contributions from nearly one
hundred cities which benefit by the ser
vice. The city of Chicago provides two
commodIous rooms in the police head
quarters building for the use of the
bureau At the urgent request of Major
Sylvester the Commissioners of the Dis
t-ict have agreee to furnish similar quar-
tcrs at police Headquarters in this city.
The work of the present bureau is lin
tied in it's scope, and for some time the
project of making 1t a Government en-
terprise has engaged the attention OF
those that are Interested in the project.
Its full benefit can only be secured when
the service extends to every little town
and hamlet in the country but as long
as the bureau is supported by Individual
s,,bscription it Is not thought just that
the service should be extended to others
than those who pay for the service. The
Importance of the work accomplished, the
promoters believe, would Justliy the Gen,
eral Government in taking hold of II and
making II national institution Then
every law officer in the country having
need of 1t could obtain the picture. record
and description of any person that had
ever been convicted in any part of the
country, and thus be able to trace out
their methods and deal with them to the
limit OF tHe law
The bringing of the bureau here will
give congressman and others who may so
desire the opportunity to enquire into
the purposes and workings of the bu-
reau when the bill shall come up for
consideration before Congress. This bill,
it is said, will incorporate many features
looking to the tracing, OF and keeping
track of anarchists and other offenders
against good government and contribute
10 their detection and conviction.
Those posted upon police affairs con-
- fEDtt ttJf.a l...w h..
most important move that has ever been
made looking to the development of the
local police department, and the placing
of its officers in a position where they
Will be able to acquaint themselves with
the noted criminals of the country. and
thereby greatly enhance their value to
the city The District, they say, is to
be congratulated upon the important step
that has been taken.
The Best Prescription for Malaria
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