The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-12-07
THE DEPARTMENT or LAW.

The acting Attorney General calls atten
ton to the necessity of modifying the pres
ent system of the courts of the United
states, a necessity due to the large increase
of business, especially in the Supreme
Court. Litigation in our Federal tribunals
became greatly expanded after the close OF
the late war. So long as that expansion
might be attributed to the abnormal condi-
ton in which the community found itself
Immediately after the return OF peace,
prudence required that no change be
made in the constitution OF our judicial
tribunals, but it has now become apparent
that an immense increase of litigation has
directly resulted from the wonderful
growth and development of the country.
There is no ground for the belief that the
business of the United States courts will
ever be less in volumes than at present
Indeed, that it is likely to be much greater
| is generally recognized by the bench and
| bar. In view of the fact that Congress
has already given much consideration TO
this subject, I make no suggestions as to
dctail, but express that hope that your de-
alterations may result in such Eeglslatlon
as win give early relief to the overburden-
| ed Court.
| The acting attorney general also
calls attention to the disturbance OF the
public tranquility during the past year in
| the territory of Arizona. A. band of armed
desperadoes known s''cow boys, probably
numbering from fifty to one hundred men,
have been engaged for months in commit
ting acts of lawlessness and brutality which
the local authorities have been unable to
repress. The depredations of these 'tcow
boys" have also been extended into Mexico,
which the marauders reach from the AriZo
4 ma frontier. With determination to meet
| the exigencies Of the case l am embar-
rassed by lack of authority to deal with
them effectually. The punishment OF
crimes committed in Arizona should ordi-
nariiy of course, be left to the Territorial
authorities. But it is worthy Of considera-
| ton, whether acts which necessarily tend
| to embroil the United States with neigh
/ boring Governments, should not be declared
crimes against the United States Some OF
the incursions alluded to may sperhaps be
within scope of the law, in revised statutes,
Section $3.50, forbidding military expedi-
tions or enterprises against friendly States
i But in view of the speedy assembling OF
your body, / have preferred to await such
4 legislation as in your wisdom the occasion
may seem to demand 1t may perhaps be
/ thought proper to provide that the setting
4 on foot within our own territory OF brig
| andage and armed marauding expeditions
against friendly nations and their citizens
shall be punishable as an offense against
/ the United States. I viii add that, in the
event of request from the territorial gov
ernment for protection by the United States
against domestic violence, this government
would be powerless to render assistance
The act of 1895, chapter &c, passed at g
time when Territorial Governments received
hut little attention from Congress, enforced
this duty of the United States only as to
State governments. But the act OF 1907.
chapter 80. applied also to Territories
This law seems to have remained IN force
until the revision of the statutes, when the
provision for the Territories was dropped
ann not advised whether this alteration
was Intentional or accidental. but as i
seems to me that the territories should DC
offered the protection which is accorded u
to the States by the Constitution, / sugges