New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-28
WASHINGTON.
NEEDED CHANGES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE.

NEEDED CHANGES IN IhE DETAR IMLNI VI
JUSTICE.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ATTOREY-GENERAL
PLANS TO FACILITATE CAUSES IN THE So
PREME COURT.
lBY TELEGRAPH 70 THE TaIBUNEI
WASHINGTON Nov. 21-.fhe House Appro-
priatons Committee held meeting to-day. Attorney
General Williams present and brought to the atten-
tenton q the Committee an anomaly in the working OF
the Department OF Justice wbohlhe thought ought to be
remodod by Legislation. When the Department OF jus
tice was established a. ont three years ago, the law OIL
GERS OF the several Go eminent Departments styled So
citOrs were made Jorunate 60 the Attorney-Gene-
raj the purpose being rat they should have their offices
I'm one building and 10 ier work under his superyslol
It was found mpractc ibe 20 fully carry ont this plan
Each Cabinet Minister wanted ms legal adviser at ms
elbow so TO speak, and strongly objected to being
Obliged TO send 10 another Department whenever
ne wanted 70 consult With him. SO the so
lictors remained where they were and went on
making decisions good deal in the old way,
practically ignoring the fact that the new law
made them Assistant Attorneys underthe orders
of the head Of the Department Of Justice. The only
change was that their decisions subject TO review
by the Attorney General and that they could not en-
pOy outside counsel conduct cases for the Govern
ment in courts the new Department taking charge OF al
litigation Now, Mr. Williams recommends that these so
citors be disocated from the Department OF Justice,
and placed again theory they are in practice under
The subject up connection with the estimates
for the expenses Of The Department OF Justice for the
next hscal year. The Attorney-General said that ne
was obliged law TO make estimates for the eXpenseso
the offices ~ solicitors, and that hc could not inel
GENTLY D Ike such estimates because their Offices were
situated away his Department IN different parts OF
the city. ... ~,
number Of plans proposed 70 facilitate the dis,
posal Of causes n the United States Courts nearly al or
which are so crowded with business that there i great
complaint Of the laws delay. Ia most Of the Circuit
Courts ID takes two years 10 reach case after IL 10
placed upon the docket ana business men lItqlehty
prefer suffer considerable losses rather tIan ~ an
nJyed and put 10 great expense waiting Tor The L'lOy
course OF Justice The overloaded condition OF the ~
prene Court docket Is Wei known 10 all persons having
business with that tribunal plan much talked Of ana
one which has the support Of number OF JudEs ana
Distrct-AttOrDeys is 60 relieve both the Circuit ana
Supreme Courts icy increasing the number o. CFcut
Judges, and providing for number OF Courts OF Appel
be held by bench OF theS: judges, 70 WMch Appeals
from the Circuit Courts should De first taken before
being carried the Supreme Court is believed that
tWO-thrds 81 the that now come DetOrc
the Supreme Court tgants would accept as final tbs
decision Of the proposed bench of Circuit Judges aud
would appeal 20 the Court Of last resort Inc gu
Iremc Court would thus he greatly relieved, and, be-
rdoe, tho addiioqgl Circuit Judges would be a9ie to
dispose more rapidly C tUc usual CIcut Court buslCs,
which Is al the time increasing.