Evening star., 1937-07-10
j. U.S.ENF0RCEMENT s.
MERGER IS URGED
Brookings Institute Asks
Expansion of F. 3. |. to
Include Others.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY,

Expansion Of the Federal Bureau
Of Investigation to include the law.
enforcement functions Of the Secret
Service and the post ONCE inspectors.
and to centraIize certain aspects Of
law enforcement othcer training, is
proposed in report by the Brook
ings Institution to Senator Byrd.
Democrat Of Virginia, chairman Of
the Senate Select Committee on Re-
organization Of Executive Agencies.
This ninth chapter in the Brook
ings survey Is a 70,0o0-word Discus
sion of more than a score of agencies
which have combined personnel Of
more than $1,000, and administrative
expenses amounting to approximately
$50,000,000 annually.
Attention is centered particularly
on the Bureau of Investigation, the
office of Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury in charge of enforcement,
the intelligence and alcoholic tax
units of the Bureau of Internal Rev
enue, the Bureau of Narcotics, the
Secret Service. the Customs Agency
Service, including customs patrol, the
Coast Guard, the immigration Bor-
der Patrol, the immigration and Nat
uralization Service and the Office of
chief inspector of the Post Office De-
partment.
Customs and immigration.
q nj NJ
study of the Bureau of Customs and
the immigration and Naturalization
Service with a view to local consolida.
tions and local interchanges of per.
sonnel and work. Definite steps to
insure greater degree of co-ordina-
ton among enforcement agencies also
is strongly urged.
Establishment Of a co-ordinator Of
law enforcement, under the President,
and possibly in the Budget Bureau, or
the setting up of central and regional
co-ordinating committees of agency
heads Is suggested as a possible alter
native for coordination of enforce
ment agencies and re-examlnation
and definition of executive policy with
regard TO publicity and the giving of
credit in law enforcement.
The fear that a strong Federal
police force might be used as an in
strument of oppression" was taken
cognizance of by the Brookings In.
stitution, and it states this policy Of
the Federal Government: TO con-
tlnue to view crime as national
problem and to coordinate and assist
so far as possible State and local en-
forcement agencies" With this policy
in mind, the report says logic would
seem to dictate centralization in
the Department Of Justice of all gen.
eral law enforcement activities of the
Federal Government. In the face Of
criminal elements division Of leader.
ship or responsibility is not desir.
able"
Jealousy Is Cited.
In justification for the proposals
for coordination among enforcement
agencies and the giving of credit in
law enforcement. the report explains
that among few agencies jealousy
and antagonism exists. Every effort
should be made to establish cordial
feelings, for it is only through mutual
| acquaintance and mutual respect that
cooperation and coordination can
be insured. The unfavorable condi.
tions that exist at present might be,
IN large part, removed if the Presi-
dent we're to instruct the heads of
the law enforcement agencies not only
to refrain from 'sniping' tactics, but
also to get together at least monthly
for an informal discussion Of their
| common problems