The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1870-07-21
TPublic-Ro s7l
AN ACT % establish the Department q
= l Justice.

Justice.
Bet enacted 5ytsS Seaats and House
Of Representatives Of the URited States "
Aa.sriea ii Congress GssSn.tle9, That
the,p shall DO. and is hereby established an
cxecntiye department pf the government Of
the ITnitei States 10 DO called the Department
Of Jnstice, ofwkich the Attorney General shall
be the head. His daties, gAary, and tenure
Of Office shall remain rs now hxed by law,
except 50 far as they may be modified by lhis
SEQ. 9. Aud 30 4 fWtkT enacted,
That there SKail DO 10 said department an Of
ficer learned in thelaw, to assfst the Attorney
General in the Performance ofhis duties, to pc
caIlea the Solicitor General, and aERho In case
Of vacancy in che Office OF Attorney General, or
Ia his absence or disability, shall have power
10 exercise all the duties q that Office. There
anil also be continued in said department tho
two other officers, learned in the law, called
the assistants OF the Attorney General, whose
dplv r shall be to assist tho Attorney Geherai
and Solicitor General in the perlormapee q
their dutiez, as now required BY law.
SRc. 8, And be Il further endcieds That
nom and after the time when thia act takes
effect, the solicitor Of the treasury aud his ee-
sistants, the solicitor Of int0rnal revapuo the
solicitor and naval Judge advocate gen
eral, who shAH hereafter DO known 90 The
naval solicitor, and tie clerks, messengers, aud
lRborers employed in the Office OF Attorney
Ge6eral, aud In the Offices Of the solicitor Of
the treaeury. naval solicitor, and solicitor Of
internal revenue, and the law officer IN the pe.
partIaept Of State, new designated as the ex
aniner Of elAims In said department. shall be
transferred from the departments with which
they are now associated TO the Department o.
Justiee; and said officers shall exercise their
functions under the supervision aud control Oh
the head Of tho Department Of Justice,
SEC. 4 And be Il further -erdeted,
That questions Of law submitted to tho Attot-
ney General for his opinion, except questions
involving construction Of The Constitution Of
the Quilted States. may be bY him referred 10
srch ofhis subordinates as he may deem ap-
propriate, and he may require the written op-
inioa thereon Of the officer 10 whom the same
may be referred; and Il the opinion given "
such officer shall be approved ey the Attorney
General, such approval 50 endorsed thereon "
shall give the opinion The same force and eIlect
as belong TO the opinions d the Attorney ser.
eral.
SEC. s. Aad 30 Il further 6aactcd, That
whenever the Attorney General deoms It ne,
cessary, he may yFequire The Solicitor General
10 argue any case in which the government ls
Interested before the CoGrt Of olaiins; aud o.
to cases coming by appeal from the t9grt q q
Claims TO the Supreme Court Of the United
States, It shall be tho duty ef tho Attorney
General and Solicitor igeneral to escondlct and
argue them before that esnft as IN other cases
in which the United States Is Interested. And
the Attorney. General may, wheneyerh he deems
it for the interest Of The United StateS. conduct
and argue any case In which the goyernmenti is
Interested in any, Gov q q the yniled etaie.,
or nav rru6ira the isf Gelltrnl euy oi.
fcer or ms dopaftlseut 70 dosos And the So-
lieitcY G6nefal. a any iIicer OF the Department
Of Jrstice, may be sent bythe Attorney Gene.
ral TO any State or district in the Emitted States
10 attend TO the interests Of the United States,
or In the fourts Of any State, or TO attend to
any other interest Of the United States; for
which service they shall in addition
to their salaHies, thtir actual aud necessary ex.
penses while so absent from the seat Of govern.
mont, the account thereof to be verified BY a.
SEQ. O. Aad 10 il farther enacted,
That Whenever question flaw arises in tho
administration, either Of the War or Navy Do
partnent, the cegniEance Of which Is not CIV
en- BY statute 10 some other officer nom whom
the head Of either these departments may re-
ouire advice, the same shall be sent to the At
torney General, to be by him referred 70 the
proper otficcr-ef his department provided fer IN
tM;act OF otherwise disposed Of as he may
deem proper; and esch head OF any department
Of the government may require the opinion OF
fhe Attorney General on all questions Of law
arising in the administration Of their respect
i've departments.
SEQ z. And be Il fMttcr enacted. That
the duties euioined upon the Auditor Of the
Post ofise BspaEtlnentby the fourteenth sect.
oroanization Of the Post Office Department,
and 70 provide more effectuslly for the settle.
ment Of The accounts thereof" passed July tw o,
eighteen hundred and thirty six, shall hercaf
tcF he performed by some officer Of the Depart
ment OF Justice, 10 be spaoiapy designated {,
under,the direction Of ffie Attorney General,
who shall also have the care OF prosecutions
for mail depredations aud penal ofenses against
the postal laws.
SEC. 8. And DO Il ftrther enqcteG
That the Attorney General is hereby empower
ed 10 make all necessary rules and regulations
for the government Of said Department. Of 9 ust-
ice, and for tho managemSRt and distribution
OF its business.
SEo. 9. And 10 Il flrtker enacted.
That Che seyerol officers hereinbefore transfer.
red from the other departments to the Depart
rnent Of Justice shall hold their respective dt.
fees until their successors are duly qualified;
and the Solicitor General, and whcneynr Va.
cancies occur, the assistants Of the Attorney.
General, and all the solicitors and assistant
solicitors mentioned in this act. shall DO ap'
pointed by the President, by and With the ad-
vice nd consent ofthe Senate. ALI the other
officers. cicrks, aud employees in said depart.
mont shall be appointed and be removable by
the Attorney General.
See. u. Aad 30 i further cnactcd,
That The following annual salaries shall be
paid 10 the officers hereinbcfore mentioned:-
TO tho Solicitor General, seven thousand Ave
hundred dollars; 10 each Of the assistants ol the
Attorney General, Eve thousand dollars each:
TO thesolicitor of the internal revenue, i've
N a.. Al. .Efsa NkaR