The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-01-22
President Taft Wants Gov
eminent Police Under
Only One Bureau.
W1LKIE GIVEN A TASK
He Has Been Detailed to Or
3 ganize New Corps of
Z Customs Police.
~ JONATHAN WINFIELD.

Washington. Jan. 2i.-Within a
vPar the long famous "secret service
nrcau of the government" the great
eWeserime detecting force In the coun-
Try will probably be wiped out of OK
tstance. Not that Uncle Sam means
- discontinue his crusade against
Dunterfeiters and other violators of
Me federal law, but for the sake Of
economy this bureau Will be absorbed
~ another department. There has
Aecn constantly increasing demand
for more secret agents for the depart,
.Oent Of justice. An investigation
showed that In nearly every govern.
snent department "A number of special
Agents were detailed for duty.
~ Often the work of one department
.4verlaps that OF another. and the con,
~)usion was reached that there should
yE one central agency to which all
Aatters of detective nature should
" referred. For this and number
~ minor reasons. Il has been decided
~ President Taft. secretary of the
6easury Macveagh and other men,
eers Of the cabinet that great econ.
(my can be effected II these agencies
re combined into one bureau.
"a A job for Wiikie.
- Accordingly Chief John f. Wilkie.
"a the secret service. has been detail
to organize bureau OF special Gus
Rms agents OF the treasury depart.
cent. After this branch OF the serv.
&c 10 thoroughly equipped for field
06sy, II Ia expected that what Is now
tho secret service will be placed un.
der the direction OF Stanley Il. Finch
Of the department Of Justice. Later
Il IL the intention. II IL said. OF COM
bining all OF the detectives or special
agents into one bureau.
The special agents department OF
which Chief Wilkie Is now the head
will deal exclusively with customs
matters. He IL now hard at work get.
- the force into shape and Is going
e rounds OF the leading cities and
Arts where customs agents or ,spe-
~ agents ara employed. with a' tiew
cffecting a number of reforms.
hen he gets through overhauling the
rec there will be a more vigorous
I obing into the administration OF the
Z stoms laws Mt the different ports
Tan ever before. sse
&rhe agitation for a special force OF
estoms agents started about year
30. when there was talk of general
1sestigation Into the administration
customs laws. The scheme has
Ever been carried out. The New
ySrk port has been vigorously invests.
q ted and number OF detectives are
~ engaged In finding out whether
q pre- Ia anything wrong at Boston.
Louis aISl San Francisco. Exam.
ltions Of accounts have also taken
q bee nj NIL ports. but special investi-
q lions have been conducted ut only a
&
+ The New system.
tAll orders to the customs agents
vpl pass through Chief Wilkes hands
- he IL 10 be primarily responsible
~ everything. Heretofore. orders
h1ec gone through various ofIicials be.
foe rcachinG the agents and respon.
4lHllity for error has never been salts.
f41torily liked. Hereafter. there will
81 mo chance for evasion. The agents
VII be responsible to Wilkie and the
ngDn will have no opportunity to oh.
sect to work assigned them. because
u IN In conflict with an order some one
else has given. 49,
Contrary to the old order OF things