Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-05-06

v "A 7 -. u, L.
wv years, until quite recently, the freight
cars in a small southern railway
terminal had been Systematically and regular
ly robbed. Thousands of dollars worth Of
merchandise were stolen, and seldom did a
week pass without a robbery being re-
ported. The railroad police force seemed alb
solutely unable to handle the situation. 1t
was always following up red hot clues, but
never made an arrest.
This series of robberies, which had lasted
so long that the robbers had come to regard
the freight cars as a source of steady income,
came suddenly to an end few months age
when nineteen members of the yard crew at
the terminal, including yardmasters, conduc-
tors, brakemen, f1remen and engineers, were
placed under arrest.
This arrest was made by police organiza-
ton of the American government, and one Of
which most Americans never heard. 1t is
known as the secret service and police section
of the United States railroad administration.
1t is now the largest police organization in
the world. Its chief is William j. Flynn,
formerly head of the secret service of the
treasury department. that romantic organiza-
ton which protects the president, catches
counterfeiters, and during the war, did it's
share of the spy-hunting.
Not only is this new police organization
almost unknown in this country, but few per-
sons have any conception of the extent and
character of the crimes with which 1t has to
deal Millions of dollars worth of freight
are stolen from railroads every year, thirty
five per cent of it by railroad employees, ac-
cording to Chief Flynn, and the rest by we'll
organized gangs of professional looters. To
stop this tremendous leak the transportation
system is Flynn's new job.
When William G. McAdoo, formerly direc-
or general of the United States railroad ad-
nnistration, took charge of the operation of
the roads he invited Flynn to become chief of
the railroad police. He was given broad
power in organizing his force, which today
IS the largest and best paid police unit in the
world. Scotland Yards, with 1900 men,
was formerly the largest single department
under one head, with New York Citys police
department. of II, 900 men second in size.
chief Flynn has under him 10000 men, most
It whom were employed as police agents by
re various railroads before the roads passed
under government control.
Under the present arrangement, as worked
out by Chief Flynn, the work of all railway
police will be co-ordinated. The police Of
railroad in California will work in co-opera-
ton with those of railroad in New England
in running down freight car thieves, and the
work of all will be brought under the capable
direction of one head. The amalgamation of
the railroad police means team work on the
part of all railroad officers, which under the
old system was conspicuously lacking.
Before Chief Flynn became head of the
secret service department of railroads, the
police units of the various roads were
grouped under thirty ranks and titles. The
classification has now been reduced to five
ranks-namely, chief of police, inspector,
lieutenant, sergeant and patrolman. The
salaries have been made sufficiently attrac-
tive to assure the services of first-class men.
The salaries of chiefs range from $500 to
$4,000 year. There is a chief Of police for
each of the LA roads under the control Of
the railroad administration, and the entire
railroad system, covering 100000 miles Of
trackage, is divided into sixteen districts. In
each district is special representative Of
Chief Flynn, who has complete charge of all
railroad police matters.
Chief Flynn finds freight car thieves the
most crafty and cunning of all criminals.
while we have greatly increased the hazards
of the thieves who make breaking into box
cars their profession" he said, there is still
r-uch to be done in wiping out this evil.
While we are not so foolish as to believe that