The Washington times., 1918-12-07
BIELASKI RESIGNS
JUSTICE DEPT. POST

Private business today has claimed
another high official of the Govern
ment in the person OF A Bruce Biel-
sski, chief OF the Bureau OF Investi-
cation of the Department of Justice,
who has tendered his resignation to
Attorney General Gregory.
Mr.. Bielaski will not leave the de-
partment imediately, but will remain
! at the request of the Attorney GEN
eral to complete certain important
work already undertaken. Though
the date of his retirement is in
definite, Mr.. Bielaski has several Of
fers from private concerns, and will
return to civil life as soon as the
Government can dispense with his
services.
BIeIaSII's Career.
After graduating at the Business
High School in this city some sixteen
years ago, Mr.. Bielaski went into the
Government Printing Office as a Ia
borer. 4 laborer in any OF the de-
partments in Washington is a person
who has not passed a civil service
examination. His salary is low and
his duties are varied. Bruce Bielaski
made headway. attended law lectures
at George Washington University and
played baseball.
He played so well for the printers
that he was transferred. still as a
laborer, to the Department OF Justice
because the ball team OF that depart
ment wanted his services. In course
of time Bielaski took a civil service
examination, passed, and was put to
work as a clerk in the division OF
examiners. The examiners were de-
tectives, with a knowledge of book
keeping.
Heads New Bureau.
During Roosevelts administration 1t
was thought best to divorce the Secret
Service from the Department of
Justice, and build up an investigating
corps for the exclusive service OF
the department. Bielaski was chosen
to head the new bureau.
He went into the field and gained
wide eepxrience in bank and trust
cases, in closing bucket shops and in
trapping persons engaged in the white
slave traffic. From small force,
BielaslIi built up his bureau until
of the country. and special men In
smaller places who are open to call
by the Government
Americas entrapce into the world
war threw an immense burden OF
work on the Bureau of Investigation.
Enemy propaganda must be met and
headed off. Enemy aliens were here
in large numbers and must be dis
posed of.
The multitude of problems threaten
ed to overwheIm the Department of
Justice, and Bielaski threw every
ounce OF his enegry into the fight.
The Bureau of Investigation was ex-
panded fourfold. Operatives were add
ed by the thousands. The work was
done.
Many InYeskiEntiOns. -
Investigations were made OF every
suspect in America. More than 1000
900 enemy aliens were registered and
thousands of aliens proved guilty of
an unfriendly attitude were interned
for the period OF the war. Under the
espionage and sabotage acts OF Con-
gress the bureau of investigation con- |
Quoted inquiries in every State and |
had hundreds OF convictions as a re-
sull VI us inNeslikdliOnS. NJ Up
was overlooked. and many that prov !
ed groundless were run to earth.
While looking out for aliens, Bic |
laski also rendered yeoman service |
in investigating violations of the Sc |
lecuve service act, and evaders Of |
duty. His department at !
present comprises the biggest force |
Of secret Investigators in the Gov
ernmen: service, and its work has |
been highly praised both here and /
broad