The Washington times., 1911-10-12
TALE OF "SHAKE-UP"
IN DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE DENOUNCED
Evening Paper Scare" Story
Refuted BY Attorney
d; General.
RESEARCH BUREAU
is EFFICIENT, HE SAYS
Prominent Display Of Baseless
Article Receives Prompt And
Emphatic Rebuke.

Emphatic and official denial was made
at the Department Of Justice today OF
the story published in an afternoon
paper here Yesterday to the effect that a
''shake-up is impending in the Bureau
of Investigation" Of the Department
Attorney General Wickersham today
branded the sensational story which
professed to have all the earmarks of
Authenticity, as without any founda-
tton."
Regarding the predicted wholesale
"shake-up," the Attorney General says
that, on the contrary, he is Wei salts
fed with the excellent work being done
by the Bureau of Investigation, that
complaints against the members of the
bureau have been few, and in nearly
every instance unjustified, and that the
general efficiency of the bureau. with
its hundred members, is such as to give
the Attorney General entire confidence
in its management.
The story which has been SO promptly
discounted by the Department CT Jls-
tice was prominently dlsplayeu IN @ tne
afternoon paper in question, ana tne
trusting reader perhaps expected tEe
fireworks to start at the Department OF
Justice today. 1t was stated that thcre
was considerable uneSsiness among
members of the Bureau Of lnVestlGa-
ton. who, It was made to appear, had
heard rumors Of the approaching
''Ehake-up."
The Allegations.
The Attorney General, it was said, in
tended TO find out whether the bureau
members had been devoting themselves
properly to their duties, and in this he
might have the assistance Of Congress
and its third degree committee. The
Attorney General, 1t was further al
legged, had been planning an In 'e3tlSa-
ton" of the Bureau of lnvestiga lou
for some time, and yesterday deter
mined to take the whip hand.
Official Statement.
This is tie official statement issued
from the Attorney Generals office,
&c alarm:
THE statement contained in an ar
ticle in a Washington evening PAPER to
tho effect that "A shake-up" in the
Bureau Of Investigation, Department OF
Justice. had been decided upon by the
Attorney General iS without any foun-
dation. Not only has no such decision
been reached, but the Attorney General
believes the Bureau of Investigation is
doing excellent work, and he has entire
confidence, in its management
In his opinion, :Ee attacks upon the
bureau, which have been made from
time to time, have been Cccasioned by
the efficiency with which ITS investiga-
tions have been conducted, and the con-
NiCtions which have been secured as d
result of the evidanCc secured by the
bureau. About l0) examiners, agents,
and accountants are employed in the
bureau.
Few Complaints Made.
The Attorney General constantly has
endeavored to prevent any injustice be-
ing done 20 any person whose acts are
made the subject of investigation by
the department. The very small num-
her of complaints which have been made
20 the department growing out OF the
acts OF any of the employees of the h"-
reau, have been promptly and thor
oughly investigated and, in almost ev-
cry instance, investigation has shown
that the employe was not at fault
Where the contrary appeared, the Of
fender was promptly disciplined"
The story branded as false bv the de-
Eartment occupied L frOnt-pags posi-
ton in the afternoon Raper mentioned
1t was given a place Of prominence in
the column. which a short time ago.
vas devoted daily 10 scare stories in
forming Washington citizens that Con-
Ircss proposed to abolish the existing
fiscal arrangement between the District
and the Federal Government.