Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-24
By Richard L. Stokes.

May % of this year transferred the I'm
migration and Naturalization Service.
with its vital control of alien entry, from
the Department of Labor to the De-
partment of Justice.
As Assistant Secretary of the Navy I'M
der President Wilson, Mr.. Roosevelt no
doubt remembered the confusion and in
competence that rose from the activities
of score of Government investigating
agencies during the World War, as well
as the bitter rivalry among some of them
for public credit which often led to pre-
mature disclosure of evidence.
y Therefore the Federal Bureau of In
formation was made clearing house
for all data pertinent to civil security
which come into the possession of the
Post ONCE, the intelligence divisions Of
Army and Navy and the six law en-
forcement agencies of the Treasury,
comprising the Secret Service, Coast
Guard, Bureaus of Customs and Mar
cotics and the Intelligence and Alcohol
Tax Units of the Bureau of Internal
Revenue. So long as peace continues
the divisions of Army and Navy Intelli-
gence are to confine themselves to mat
tiers inside the armed forces, and turn
over to the F. B. I. any cases Of civilian
wrongdoing that come to their attention.
States Give Cooperation.
With unity achieved among the inves-
tigative agencies of the Government, the
Department of Justice next set about
extending its sphere, in all matters of
peacetime sabotage, espionage and sub
versive activities, over State, county and
munipal law enforcement agencies
throughout the country. This was &C
complished by means of Federal-State
conference held in Washington on August
States attorneys and police officials rep
resenting As of the 48 Commonwealths,
and was sponsored by the Governors
Conference, the Council of State Gov
ernments, the National Association OF
Attorneys General and the Interstate
Commerce Commission on Crime. The
net result was the recommendation OF
something like Nationwide police sys-
tenn, under the jurisdiction of the Fed
eral Bureau of Investigation, which
would take over from local authorities
all investigations Of evidence, charges
and threats involving civil defense.
Moreover the Federal Bureau of In
vestigation five years ago inaugurated
a National Police Academy, known as
the West Point of Law Enforcement"
Thus far it has scattered about the land
some 500 graduates, who have impaired
its teachings to thousands of associates.
The result is great ring of outposts"
In hundreds Of cities and towns all i'm
bued with the methods and point of
view of the F. B. I.
500 Agents Added.
Under President Roosevelt's direction
the F. B. l. personnel was expanded by
the addition of 500 new agents. To its
regular appropriation of $7300,000 for
1904 Congress appended a supple
mentary appropriation of $1,475,00o, be-
sides a confidential fund" of 100000.
Its number of field divisions was increased
to 50, including new ones in such ship
ping or military areas as the Panama
Canal, Honolulu, Alaska, Puerto Rico.
Albany, Baltimore, Grand Rapids, San
Diego Savannah and Phoenix, Ariz.
Following its recent growth of stature,
the bureau has set up its own division
of general intelligence, with an assist
ant director, eight Supervisors and hun
dreds of agents, for investigation of
espionage, sabotage, subversive activities
and violations of neutrality regulations.
In this division is translation section,
to keep in touch with foreign Language
newspapers, communications and docu-
ments obtained in the course of inquiries;
and q code section for breaking down
codes and code messages. One of its du-
ties is the investigation of persons re-
ported to be active IN any movements,
native or foreign, that are considered
detrimental to national security. Viola
tons data are contained In general in
dex, arranged alphabetically and geo.
graphically. so that in event Of emer.
gency the whereabouts may immedi-