The Washington times., 1906-07-29
New Scheme of Identified
ton viii Be Tried on
Recruits Only.
REGULARS RESENT LAM
Secretary of War Favors the Policy
Army Gets Idea From Mark
Twain.

AS 4 Ies~lL OF protests numerous anu
strong, by the enlisted men OF the army,
against the adoption OF the finger print
identification system, which is being
put into practice at the different army
posts throughout the country and the
Philippines. this means of identification
will likely now be confined only TO re-
cruits.
The finger print system, which has
been under consideration for some time,
has been strongly advocated by the Sec
rotary OF War. under whose direction II
will be inaugurated.
Following an idea advanced by Mark
Twain in his famous Character. ''Pud-
din Head Wilson" the army will COM
pei each man entering the service TO
leave he impression OF his right fore
finger as & means Of identification IN
case of death or desertion.
Better Than Bertillon.
Although this system is meeting with
greater favor among the officers and
enlisted men than The Bertillon system,
which was experimental with for a
number Of years without great success,
there is wide and universal complaint
that Il smacka Of putting each man un-
DER the suspicion that he may become a
deserter and his finger print will be
used 10 bring him back into the hands
Of the army officers.
Nominally, the system IL being intro
duced in order 10 do away with the
unknown" graves of soldiers in the
future. Tn. thousands and thousands OF
unknown" in the different military
cemeteries OF the country, as result
OF the civil war. showed ConClusiyely
the need OF a reliable means Of identi-
fcation.
For years, officials OF the War Depart
ment and army officers have had un-
der consideration different schemes 10
assure the identity Of every man who
dies IN battle. or deserts from the serv-
Ice. The original plan. as recently de-
cided upon. was 20 have every man now
In the service make his impression upon
plate. bUj as a result OF the protest
Of these mer and their friends. the new
system. at the beginning. at least, will
be applied only to recruits. or soldiers
re-enlisting.
Plates in Thousands.
Already these plates are being pre-
pared In lots OF thousands, by the
Eastman Kodak Company. and nearly
all the army posts have been supplied
with them. From now on. however,
they will be supplied only 10 the ofti-
GERS OF recruiting stations. The plate is
about three inches square, made Of thin
glass. with a gelatine-like film on one
side where The impression Is 20 be
made.
on this, each recruit will be compelled
10 place his thu NIB and right forehnger.
and a slip on watch is printed his name,
place OF residence. next of kin. date Of
enlistment. etc. will be pasted on the
back.
Another important object 70 be accom-
pllshed by means OF the finger print
system is TO prevent defraudins Of the
Government by widows or other mem
bers OF families Of men, who claim that
they died in the service. having enlisted
under an assumed name. No matter
what name is given " the recruit, and
no matter how his appearance may be-
come changed. Il IS claimed BY army
officers who have studied the system.
that his identity can be clearly estab-
Hshed by comparison OF the finger
prints.