Evening star., 1932-04-17
Too Many Investigators.

When one speaks of an "investiga-
ton" undertaken by Federal agents, "
does one mean that the investigation is
being done by the agents of the Bureau
of Investigation, Department of Justice,
or by the agents of the Prohibition Bu-
reau, or by the agents of the Secret
Service, or by the agents of the Gus
toms Service, or by the agents of the
Intelligence Unit of the Bureau of In
ternal Revenue. or by the agents of the
Narcotics Division Of the Treasury. or
by the agents of the postal inspector,
or by the agents of the Army Intelli-
gence, or by the agents of the Naval
Intelligence, or by the agents of the
Investigation Division of the Shipping
Board, or by the special agents of the
State Department, or by the field ex-
aminers of the Veterans Bureau, or by
the trade Investigators of the Federal
Trade Commission, or by the agents Of
the Interstate Commerce Commission, or
by the immigration investigators of the
Department of Labor, or by the inves-
tigators of the Civil Service Commis-
sion?
1t all depends, one might answer, on
the nature of the violation of law, or
suspected violation of law, that is being
investigated. But that is not altogether
the case. There are sixteen tnvesti-
eating agencies in twelve departments,
and half dozen of these agencies could
conceivably be put ON the trail of the
same criminal. The Lindbergh kidnap-
ing case has brought at least three
possibly more-separate investigations
from as many investigating agencies in
the Federal Government.
Such a condition naturally leads, at
times, to tremendous running around
by Federal officers, who, if they do
nothing else, trip over each others
heels. 1t is possible that a citizen of
the United States could be questioned
by a customs agent, revenue agent, a
postal inspector, an immigration agent,
a Department of Justice operative and
none of these men would be interested or
concerned with what the others found,
Such condition is somewhat ridicu-
lous. in the first place. But, what is
more, it is expensive. There Is no rea-
son why the majority of these special
agents could not be more efficiently
haOdIad 11ndar axaa diraatiyau faroa and
and more intelligently handled, and
more economically handled. One dis
advantage, sure to be emphasized be-
yond its Importance, is that the differ
ent investigation services represent diff
ferent groups of specialists. The postal
service, for instance, is composed of
specialists. whose skill and ability have
won well deserved recognition. Yet the
Postmaster General, in 1921, included
in his report a Recommendation for
reallocation of the inspection service
that was made by a special commission
within the department. The recon-
mendation generally was that the work
of criminal investigation be transferred
TO the Bureau of Investigation, De-
partment Of Justice. Nothing came of it.
Albert Langeluttig, a lawyer, has
made study of the duplication of
work by investigating agencies of the
Government and in an article for the
American Academy of Political and So
cial Science concludes that a unified
Federal police" preferably under the
Bureau Of Investigation of the Depart
ment OF Justice, would not only save
money, but would provide opportunity
Tor proper training school in police
work. Furthermore, he believes that
unified police force is the only organ
ization that can properly cooperate
with State police. The opposition to
the principle Of such unifcation comes,
he believes, from intrenched bureau
cracy where every investigating force
Is somebody's particular pet, and from
the fanatical proponents Of enforce
ment Of some special law.
The House Economy Committee could
look into this situation and correct it
and put substantial amount down to
the credit of the taxpayers And it
would make real contribution, thereby,
to efficiency in Government.