The Washington times., 1923-09-25
WANT A MILLION
FOR NEWU s.
POLICE
Strong Interests VIII Press
Congress for Big Fund to
Start Central Bureaus
BIZ GEoRGE FRANKLIN.

=
Passage Of bill authorizing the
formation Of a Federal Department
of Police will be urged on Congress
when the latter convenes in Decem-
Der. The plan includes the organiza-
ton of central police unit under
federal direction, connected through
affiliation with all OF the policing
agencies Of the country.
It is proposed to organize the de-
partment independent Of existing de-
partments and bureaus under fed
eral control, such as the Department
of Justice, the secret service Of the
Treasury Department, the federal
police functioning in connection with
federal reservations, including local
parks, postal inspectors and prohibit
ton enforcement agents. Primarily
it il planned to become a central
agency with which each Of these
departments and as well as the
municipal police departments of the
country, bureaus will be affiliated
Want Million Dollar Start.
It is understood that an appropria
ton Of not less than 81 ,OOO, 900 will
be asked to effect its organization.
Policing has become q science as
the result Of changing social condi-
tions in America, it is claimed by
those advocating the measure. To
interference with the local adminis.
tration Of municipal police depart
ments is contemplated, they de-
declared, while urging the value to
each Of the affiliated police agencies
of central police clearing house.
On two demands they are emphatic.
First, it must be kept free from
political domination by giving II
Federal authority to function freely
within the scope indicated by the
provision Of the act creating it.
Second, 1t is insisted that in the
organization of the department, III
the selection of it's director, sub
heads and personnel, the latter be
appointed from among men exper-
fenced in practical police work, bar
ring professional politicians.
Surveys of American policing
systems, advocates of the measure
point out, show that up to the
present they represent but elemen-
tary unit development. The prin-
cipal criticism is of a lack of proper
cooperation due largely to control
posed agency may remedy.
Many Interests Back Bill.
The federal department OF police,
IL is understood, has been planned
by Pennsylvania interests which It
is understood have the assurance of
support from Massachusetts and
Illinois when the bill is introduced
in Congress. It is also understood
to have received the endorsement of
number of police directors and
chiefs of police and to be favored by
other interests.
Included in the department as
planned will be a federal bureau of
such a bureau have been laid several
times. and at present some such or.
ganization is under consideration by
the Attorney Generals office. 1t Is
contended, however, that without the
cooperation of the leading municipal
police departments no such bureau
could function successfully up to
the present time, it is declared, all
such attempts have smacked Of
Interior interests. or were openly
identified with the private interests
OF the sponsors.
OAoAn OUJCCGIOUS M6Gs
Through the organization of a fed
eral department of police by act of
Congress, made independent of out.
side control. having as q chief asset
its bureau Of Identification, such OBJ
jections it is declared, are met.
while the groundwork is laid for the
broadest possible cooperation of
policing agencies, untrammeIed by
local or personal jealousy.
In connection with the bREeau of
Identification it is proposed to pro.
vide a course OF instruction for nner
undertaking Identification work in
city police departments. Through
the adoption of standard reports and
records, Identification work, it is de.
clared, will be greatly lightened and
made more efficient.
Through the federal department Of
police all municipal police depart.
ments, as well as other recognizes
policing agencies. will be invited to
cooperate.