The Washington times., 1902-01-28
T0KEEP TAB
ON CRIMINALS
Police Officials to Urge Pass
age of Bill.
IT is MAJOR SYLVESTER'S IDEA
Measure Provides for Bureau of
Identification as Adjunct of De-
partment of Justice.

the bill prepared by Major Sylvester pro-
yidirg for the establishing of bureau
of criminal Identification as an adjunct
OF the Department OF Justice.
| The measure has met with the unani-
nous approval of all of the members of
the National Association of Chiefs of
| Police of the United States and Canada,
| of which Major Sylvester is the president.
| and from all parts of the country have
come demands for It's passage.
To Deter Criminals.
Many persons versed in the prevention
and detection of crime go so far as to
| say that the measure is the most i'm
portant of it's kind that has ever been
presented for the consideration of Con-
gress. and that its passage will do more
to deter criminals than any other meas
ure that has ever been devised.
| Chief Wilkie. of the Secret Service Bu-
reau, has also made known his intention
OF appearing before the committee en- this
| occasion.
Major Syivester's Brief.
! In addition to the formal argument
! that Major Sylvester will make to the
committee he has prepared the following
brief on the subject. copies of which he
will furnish each member of the COM
| mittee:
For the past several years there has
! been maintained, by subscriptions of the
| police departments of the principal cities
| of the United States, central bureau of
/ criminal identification. In this bureau
measurements, photographs. descriptions,
| and records of such criminals as may
| have come under the observation of the
| police authorities have been carefully
! filed. At any time any one of the sub
/ scribing departments has had access to
/ the measurements. photographs. descrip-
tions. and records of criminals furnished
I the bureau by the co-subscribers. for the
/ purpose of ascertaihing the identity and
/ record of any unknown criminal who may
/ have been apprehended by the officers of
! such subscribing department.
| IF the identity and record of any Grim
| inal was established by consulting the
aggregate of photographs and records
| kept in the bureau the police authorities
! everywhere have had such information
| published to them, and the criminal. his
t or her record. became general knowledge.
Central Informstion Source.
The purpose of the,pending measure is
to place duly authenticated police officer
of every city. village and town in the
United States in touch with central
source OF criminal Information, to which
he shall give either photographers. de-
scriptiOns or Information concerning
criminals or crime.
1T cOntcmplates the establishment. at
small expense, of place where there
shall be a concentration of descriptions
measureme and pictures of criminals
and information concerning them, gath
cred at home and abroad, and for the
proper dissemination of such information
either generally or specially. may be
warranted.
Whenever there is a deserter from the
army or navy of the United States the
police authorities, to a limited number
are furnished with descriptions of such
deserters.
should prisoners escape from any one
of the United States prisons or State pris-
ons. with his photograph printed and sent
out from the bureau to the authorities of
all counties cities and towns, with de-
scriptions accompanying. chances of es-
cape would be reduced to a minimum.
Esc5 ped criminals range widely. and spare
neither life nor property at such times;
professional thieves are constantly NOV
thieves make circuits and become ma
tional characters, travelling and depre-
dating here there and everywhere. Police
records show that the professional burg
lar confidence man. check worker and
hotel thief is always on the move. an
enemy to society generally throughout
the country.
Not Detective ! Isency.
at is not proposed that the bureau
shall be a detective agency, but place
where the chief of police of any city in
the country might send photograph
measurement. or description OF a certain
arrested person, with the request that he
be identified. Should the identical pho
tograph. measurement. or description be
found among the thousands which will
readily be contributed by police authori
ties from all sources. the character is no
longer unknown to this enquirer. and au-
thorities everywhere enjoy the benefits Of
the knowledge thus obtained.
As president of the National Associa
tion of Chiefs OF Police, am prepared to
state that il the bureau is-established
photographs. measurements. descriptions.
and information OF criminals at home and
abroad will afford valuable means OF
protection to Government officials
and institutions. and to persons and prop
erty throughout the country.
Credit to America.
The National Association OF Chiefs of
Police of the United States will have with
them in annual meeting in May next rep
resentative police officials from the prin-
cipal cities of the world, with a view of
establishing a closer relationship. per-
sonally and officially. That there may OBJ |
tain a clearer and more elaborate under |
standing of criminals and criminal CON
ditions. IL is desirable that such recipro-
cal relations be established as will re- |
dound to the benefit of the country in |
many ways. and IT will be unfortunate in |
deed If the United States cannot refer to |
a means whereby secret and valuable in |
formation can be suitably received, ac- !
knowledged and disseminated, and be Eur |
nished reCipTocally. The bureau would |
give to the United States an establishment |
and methods superior TO that of any other !
country, in this that it would not depend |
on photographs and measurements alone,
as do France, Italy, and England, but |
information of special as well as gen
eraI criminal nature concerning persons
here as well elsewhere.
This matter | have gone into more !
fully verbally with your committee and |
the DISTINGUISHED police officials who ac-
company me are prepared to further urge
the proposed measure.
Presidential Succession Amendment