Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 December 1883 — THE SECRET SERVICE. [ARTICLE]

THE SECRET SERVICE.

Abstract of the Report of Chief Brooks. James J. Brooks, Chief of the Secret-Service Division of the Treasury Department, reports that daring the fiscal year ended June 30, 1883, 376 arrests were made by agents of the service. Of this number ninety-one were convicted and sentenced. The total fines assessed amount to (14,979. The counterfeit money captured and secured during the year was as follows: United States treasury notes, >25,486; National bank notes, >1,188; coin, $5,240; nickels, s9l; gold bangles (imitation of the $1 gold coin, representative value). $92; flash notes, representative value, $6,452,381; gold trimmings, representative value, $56? genuine money, $5. The total expenditures for transportation, incidentals and services amounted to $66,415. In referring to the coinage of counterfeit coins, Mr. Brooks says that during the past year only one really dangerous counterfeit coin appeared, that of the standard dollar, which was almost identical with the genuine in weight, ring and appearance, yet having only about 30 per cent, of silver. He also says: “It is a matter for conkratuulation, both with the public and t is office, that for two years past there has not been put in circulation a new coupterfeit note.” Mr. Brooks reports that in answer to his interrogatories recently submitted to the various national banks throughout the country, with a view of ascertaining approximately the amount of counterfeit money in existence, he has received 1,447 replies, showing that if the counterfeit monev reported as tendered within two years was divided by the 1,447 banks, it would be but $5.25 to each. He says that, with a territory of 3,000,000 of square miles to coyer, the present low condition of the manufacture and circulation of counterfeit money is remarkable, and speaks well for the intelligent skill, industry, and faithfulness of the operatives of this service. Legislation necessary to suppress counterfeiting of the obligations of foreign governments, for which there is now no law, is strongly recommended, and the report also urges that the manufacture and vending of dies and molds for making counterfeit coin be made a crime.

In Paris the ratio of suicide for every million inhabitants averages yearly 402, while in Naples it is only 34. The ratio for other cities is given as follows: Stockholm, 354; Copenhagen, 802; Vienna, 287; Brussels, 271; Dresden, 240; St. Petersburg, 206; Florence, 180; Berlin, 170; New York, 144; Genoa, 135; London, 87. and Rome, 74. It is said that the majority of suicides in New York are Germans.