New-York tribune., 1917-12-25
One Head for u. S.
Police Agencies
To Avoid Conflict
Flynn's Resignation Paves
the Way for Plan Consid-
cred for Some Time
fStaf Correspondence

WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.-The resig-
nation Of William J. Flynn as chief OF
the United States Secret Service has
reopened the question of placing all the
sleuthing agencies of the government
under one directing head, it developed
here tonight. Friends of Chief Flynn
declare this step would have been taken
long ago had it not been because Ger
tain other investigating agencies feared
that .Flynn might be put in complete
control of the governments actlVines
in crime detection.
Since Americas entrance into the war
there has been some conflict Of author
jty among the various branches Of gov
ernment having to do with the appre-
hcns.on of criminals and the stamping
out Of disloyalty. 1t is known that
Flvrr's success in running down Of
tenders has been source Of consider
able jealousy between certain depart
ments. and the Secret Service and et-
forts, which proved unsuccessful, have
in the past been made 10 confne the
Secret Service operations to the protec-
tion Of the President and the checking
of counterfeiting. With Flynn out OF
the service, it is expected the oppos'-
ton TO his scheme 70 amalgamate all
the various Secret Service bureaus OF
the government under one. head VIII
disappear, and one agency, probably the
Department of Justice, will be given
supreme command TO direct all opera
tions.
Police Work Varied
The secret police work of the govern
ment is centred in no one department
The Postofice Department has a corps
Of insI ec.ors who look after mai
frauds and offences against the poste
service. The Department OF Justice Bu
reau of Investigation is responsible tol
the apprehension Of all persons who
violate Federal laws. The Bureau Of
immigration in the Department u
Labor is charged with passing on the
accepting of aliens and their apprehen
sion should they enter this country
through fraud Customs officials lool
after practically all unlawful practices
at ports and endeavor to minimize
smuggling.
Since the United States entered the
war the army and navy intelligence
bureaus have been active, and the ere
alton OF new war bureaus in the gov
ernment has made necessary addition
al organizations with police powers.
The Secret Service, which is one OF
the oldest police organizations OF the
Federal government, was always, be-
fore Americas entrance into the war
recognized as the governments chief
organization in stamping out any acts
that menaced the country's welfare
BY reason Of this fact, the newer or
CARNATIONS, except in one or two in
stances, have looked 20 the Secret Ser
vice as leaders in crime detection.
Jealousy. Crops Out
The multiplicity Of agencies has re.
suited In duplication Of Investigations
IN many instances and jealousy ha;
cropped out among several as TO which
oTRdnlLhNlou was CHlilltu 10 'CItuiI AVi
the "big plums" captured. At one
time, IL is said. Department of Justice
operatives declared the Secret Service
in its activities in running down spies
has encroached on the duties assigned
20 the departments sleuths. Likewise
il has been declared that Flynn's or
ganization retarded the progress OF
the department in making premature
arrests.
These assertions. friends Of Flynn
recalled tonight, might have been tn,
cause Of his resignation, but non,
would admit that the veteran Secre'
Service chief would quit under fire
All expressed the opinion that the Of
fer Of the post Of Police Commission
er Of New York was the compelling
factor in his decision to leave tn,
I government service