The Washington times., 1923-09-15

Identification of Criminals to
Be Made Easier Under Plan
Going to Congress.
RGEORGE FRANKLIN.

Police executives throughout
che country are back of a move
ment to secure through an act of
Congress the establishment of q
Federal Bureau of Identification
here.
Two Bills Introduced.
Two bills were introduced in the
last Congress having this object in
view. One bill was drawn by VIII
liam J. Burns. Director of the Blu.
reau of Investigation. The other
was sponsored by Police Commits
sioner Enriglft, Of New York.
Neither. it has become known. met
with the entire approval of expert
enced police executives Of the colIn-
try, the result being that third
bill will be introduced.
The latter while including the
desirable features of the other two
bills will provide for several fea-
lures not included in either OF
them.
Primarily the bill viii insure the
removal of the proposed identifica-
ton bureau from the realm OF pol
tiles by making IL practically a
division of the District police or
ganization.
One of the added features will
be authority to conduct a school
OF instruction in Identification work.
This school win be open to men
recommended by police executives
of metropolitan departments. and
directors Of State police organiza-
tons.
II is planned through the school
60 secure in the immediate future
q uniformity in the taking of iden-
tification data which will Ell inmate
much of the uncertainty expert
enced at present in comparing
Identification records.
While admit ng that Congress
cannot force cooperation between
municipal and Stale police organi-
Sations with the Federal Bureau Of
Identification, it is understood that
practically all of the larger pol cling
organizations have expressed their
Willingness to work in constructive
harmony with the Federal unit.
Explained by Expert.
1.-The idea lis fundamentally
sound" said Fred Sandberg, finger
print expet, District Police Depart.
plan.
What is required in our work is
uniformity in methods and that
can best be attained through a
fixed course of instruction. AS it
II, finger print men adopting vari-
Gus methods of obtaining finger
prints get corresponding variations
I'm their results. Sometimes these
are sufficiently marked as to make
It extremely difficult to definitely
establish identity.
"Of course, the value to the
country Of having a national clear
Ing house where Identification rec
ords can be kept on file, easy of
access, is apparent enough even to
Aymen. The proposed bureau will
place the United States on the same
plane in this respect already at
tanned by several European coun-
tries"
Sandberg refused to discuss the
possibility of his being selected as
director of the proposed bureau.
1t is known, however, that he has
been strongly endorsed for the po-
sition by police executives in many
sections of the country. and that
since the annual meeting of the
Identification experts in Des Moines
last month something like a boom
has been started for him in many
localities.
Exchanges With Europe.
AS understood the proposed bill
will contain among other things a
provision for an exchange of infor-
nation and records with European
bureaus. 1t will also empower the
diFr-ctor 10 organize the bur- All rec-
ords of identical size within the
bureau and throughout police or.
CARNATIONS of the country.
The bill, it is understood. will
have the backing of the judiciary
and of the leading criminal lawyers
Of the country. The latter, it Is
said, see in its organization a step
toward a unifying of criminal laws
which has already been endorsed by
bench and bar associations in
many States.
Among the possibilities to which
the organization of the Federal Blu
reau Of Identification may lead viii
be a more general and. closer affili
alton of police departments of the
country" said a leading member Of
the District Bar Association.
Eventually the trend of police or
eanization will lead to the formation
OF Federal police operating unde
State supervision, but having it's gen
eral headquarters here. Policing ha
become too vital q question to b