Evening star., 1921-09-08
BUREAU HEAD WOULD PREVENT
RATHER THAN DETECT CRIME
W. J. Burns, Chief of Justice Department
Investigators, Outlines Big Idea Behind
His Reorganization Program.

Prevention Of crime, rather than de-
lection of the criminal after he has
committed the crime, is the big idea
behind the reorganization of the bu-
reau of investigation Of the Depart
ment Of Justice, which has been
started by William J. Burns. who has
just taken charge OF this bureau.
Protection Of the people in their
constitutional rights. so that they will
not be arrested Unfortunately by
people flashing police badges and
without authority of law and kept in
communicate, is another hope Of Mr..
Burns.
to set up for the protection Of the
people generally, so as to assure Grim
inals being brought promptly to JUS
tice. Mr.. Burns is having established
here in Washington the most complete
"rogues' gallery" in the entire world
Ban ON Gossip Gang.
First of all, Mr.. Burns intends to
make the working force Of his bureau
in Washington function efficiently
workers that their gossip gang Is
to be broken up. Any employs
caught "gossiping and backbiting
must seek another job. he warns;
Already he has discharged thirty
five or forty employees in conformity
with the administrations plan for re-
ducing the pay roll Almost every
man who has thus lost his job has
been exerting his utmost influence to
retain it. This has given Mr.. Burns
an opportunity to express his ADMIN,
istrative policy. Il have never been
In politics. 1 have no friends to re;
ward or enemies to punish" He saio
that if he allowed himself to be IN
f1uenced there could be no reduction
in the bureau. no wedding out in the
program Of economy and efficieneyi ene no
lever in prevention" explained MT
Burns. perhaps that is why l have
been rather unpopular with the gen
eral run of detectives" he commented.
with a smile. "1t is always much
more important to prevent crimes
than it is to catch the criminals. In pre-
venting crimes you are preventing
men and women from becoming Grim
inals.
at is my intention to make this
bureau of investigation not only the
greatest detective agency I'm tne
world, but a very distinct agency 1H
the far more important work of purg-
ing the world from crime. II we
make the prompt detection or the
criminal sure and certain. so tnat ne
will always face the fact that arres'
and punishment are quick and sure
he will hesitate a long time Delore
committing a crime.
international Rogues' Gallery.
First, we are building up here
great international rogues' gallery
where the photographs. finger prints
and Bertillon measurements of ever,
criminal will be kept. This rogues
gallery will be open to all officers II
charge of law enforcement-to catcl
a crook or to trace missing person
Next we will encourage the clos
est cooperation between thel feder'
I bureau and all police officers through
out the country, from the chiefs of po
! lice in the great cities to the sheriff
and constables in communities. al
over the country. They will all hav
a part in the great drive by the mobi
lized forces of law and order to pre-
vent crime as we'll as to detect Grim
and bring the criminals to justice.
Thus, we feel that it will be pos
! sible to reduce to a minimum tn
chances of the escape of any crimina
This certainty of being caught u