Evening star., 1922-09-25
bORDERC0ND|T|0NS
LIKE PIRATE DAYS
BootIegging "Industry" and
Drug Smuggling Found
to Be Alarming.
U. S. POLICE MAY UNITE
Labor, Treasury, Agriculture and
Justice Departments Study
ing Cooperation.
U. S. POLICE MAY UNITE

Consolidation Of federal police forces
around the nations rim to check more
efficiently the smuggling of narcotics,
liquor and aliens is under considera-
! tion by the departments concerned
| Labor. Treasury, Agriculture and JUS
tice.
A report, drawn up following a
| thorough investigation by a commit
! tee representing the four departments.
has been presented by Commissioner
General Husband of immigration to
Secretary of Labor Davis and will
later be submitted to the other de-
partmental heads for their considera-
ton.
The situation discovered was under
| stood. according to the Associated
Press. to be alarming" and the COM
mittee was reported as reaching the
| conclusion that there must be closer
| cooperation between all federal gov
ernment forces II the International
| borders are to be properly guarded.
Closer Unity Advocated.
Irregular entry Of alien labor and
other aliens from Mexico, the smug-
Cling Of liquor and shooting affrays
which jeopardize the lives of govern
s,
ed, would seem to indicate that the
proper enforcement of federal laws
necessitates the cooperation of the
various governmental departments"
The committee. in this connection.
pointed out that the Canadian and
by the United States public health.
the customs, the prohibition. enforce
ment and immigration services, the
coast guard and the federal horticul-
tural board. Coordination OF these
federal police forces. Commissioner
of the committee. would seriously
cripple the "bootlegging industry"
and minimize smuggling of drugs and
aliens across the borders. With po-
lice powers alike for customs, prohi-
bition and immigration inspectors and
representatives of the Department of
Agriculture, the border patrols would
constitute, it was said, police ma
chimes as effective as those which
patrol the borders Of all European
countries.
Piracy Days Rivaled.
The bootlegging industry" Mr..
Husband added, had become menace
along both the Canadian and Mexican
borders and riva1ed the days when
piracy was in full swing" In this
connection a report has been received
by Mr.. Husband from United States
immigration Inspector Clark at Mon
treal. Canada. describing the wound
at Alexandria bay by a notorious
bootlegger. and adding that 1T was
unfortunate that immigration inspec-
tors must be called upon to endanger
their lives; but. unless there Is full
CO. cooperation between customs and
federal officers along the northern
border, certain laws are bound to be-
come laughing stock"
I'm great need of all government
services" the committee report con-
cluded. "is the establishment of an
effective patrol along the Mexican
border, particularly between estab-
lishad ports Of entry, to prevent il
legal or clandestine entry. and to
force all traffic through regular ports
propriate authorities: redrafting of
departmental regulations, where ad-
visable. with view to providing for
better cordinated efforts among the
several services; careful survey of
deficiencies in existing law and
united effort to secure desirable mod
ifications."
Cabinet Omcers' Views.
The attitude Of departments other
has not been definitely defined. Sec
retary Mellon, replying to the initial
suggestion of Secretary Davis, said
that 1.-The nature Of the service per-
formed by the different branches Of
the government Is SO varied that I
doubt whether their activities could
be effectively consolidated or super
vised by one administrative officer"
Secretary Wallace has expressed the
belief that work by experts of his de-
partment along the Mexican border
was "a highly technical business and
not only could not be carried on by
nersons who have not had technical
training. but could not be intelligent
ly administered by any one who had
not had such training" Both Secre-
taries Mellon and Wallace. however.
were said to feel that some steps to-