Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-19
CHIEF MORAN is u. S. OBSERVER
AT CONTRIBUTING SESSIONS
Head of Secret Service Will Attend Conference of
Nations in Geneva for Discussion of Plans to
Combat Currency Violators.

| Other countries have not taken the
American view, nor is there any other
government except that of the United
states which maintains separate and
| distinct branch for the safeguarding
OF national MISUNDERSTANDING both
money and bonds. Not everybody
knows that the fundamental function
| OF the United States Secret Service,
ever since its organization a genera.
tlon and half ago, has been to keep
the paper and minted money and pub.
TIC securities or Uncle Sam undefiled
and free OF counterfeiting. In all 9th.
er lands, until quite recently, prosecu-
ton OF counterfeiting has remained a
purely police affair One or two
countries now have special anti-coun-
terfeiting agencies
American interest in international
measures for suppression of counter
feitlng Is mainly due to the fact that
today more United States currency is
In circulation abroad than that of any
other government. This is due to two
major causes. The enormous number
or aliens and citizens of alien extrac.
tion In this country Is responsible for
the sending to relatives and friends
abroad of immense Quantities of
american money. The sum total runs
INTO tens of millions of dollars a wear.
The habit of mailing United States
cash to foreign countries has increased
with the rising value of the dollar
overseas. The result of the widespread
circulation OF our Treasury and bank
notes over there" has been a growing
Hood OF counterfeit American currency.
Much OF it eventually finds it's way to
the United States.
Raise $40 Nofe In Ss00
This writer has just seen some
amazing evidence of the skill with
winch European money-fakers are
tampering with United States money.
They have taken the $40 gold Treas
ury certifcate. bearing the medallion
portrait OF Michael Hillegas. and
raised 1t to $500 note of so anthem
tic an appearance in every detail that
none but a highly-trained American
expert could detect the fraud. Both
ngures and lettering have been sue
cessfully altered. 1t Is regarded doubt.
ful by Washington authorities wheth-
err anybody outside of the United
States could see that the raise had
been made. The average European
railroad or steamship Office, bank, ho-
tel or shop, accustomed to doing bust
ness with American tourists on large
scales, would in all probability take
the faxed $500 Treasury certificate
without hesitation. 1t is only when
the counterfeit money finds its way
back to this country that the counter.
felt is caught.
Most of the countries invited to nut |
their heads together at Geneva have |
expressed themselves in favor of some |
co.ordinated form Of collaboration to |
suppress international traffic IN coun- |
terfeit money. Belgium suggests that |
any system eventually devised ought |
to include schemes for controlling |
frauds in public securities, bills of ex-
change and passports. Italy has been |
a hotbed of counterfeiting, but it Is
one of the crimes with which Mus.
solini has come ruthlessly to grips. In
the Roman dictators sensational |
speech before the Chamber of Depu-
ties on May Is he told in detail of
the successful warfare which the Fas-
cist police are waging upon forgers
and counterfeiters.
Want Uniform System.
What the United States. OF course,
would like to see brought about Is a
uniform system in foreign countries
For the prosecution of criminals who
American money there. At
present 1t Ia a crime only to counter
felt domestic money in those coun.
.ries. Manufacture of crooked foreign
Is punished either not at all.
Or so lightly that there Ia no real
heck upon the practice. Usually for
ign money counterfeited In one coun.
nv abroad Is not circulated In that |
'ountrx but sent across different