Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-11-11
GOVERNMENT SUITS.
Annual Report OF the Solicitor OF the
Treasury.

SO1ASS
Annual Report Of the Solicitor Of the
Treasury.
IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS AFFECTING THE
PROSECUTION IN THIS DISTRICT OF CIVIL SUITS
AGAINST DEFAULTING OFFICIALS, ETC.
Mr.. Henry T. Neal, solicitor of the Treasury, has
submitted to the Attorney General the annual report
upon the operations Of that Office, which shows
that the whole number OF suits commenced by the
office within the year were 3,216, involving sum
sued for of 1885,, ,3O3.S6. Of the whole number
1885 were decided in favor OF the United States
90 adversely decided, 436 settled ana dismissed 12
penalties remttted leaving 1.4O4 still pending The
whole number OF suits decided or otherwise dis
posed of during the year was 3,157; the whole
amount for which judgments were obtained was
every source sasS on "a The nnnher NJ ofrora o
OF compromise accepted was 20, involving
$379 29, and the amount accepted $51 S. The
number OF offers rejected was 49, involving
1915, 1892.
DELAY IN COLLECTING JUDGMENTS AGAINST DE-
FAULTING OFFICERS
very potential reason for the failure to collect
a larger proportion OF the judgments recovered
against defaultng Officers Is that the accounts OF
such officers are not more promptly adjusted and
government for collection. The solicitor therefore
suggests that hereafter the accounts of all officers
shall be adjusted within period OF two years after
the retirement OF the respective incumbent from
his office, and that limitation be provided within
which suretieS must be called upon to make good
the DEFAULT OF their principal
CIVIL CASES OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE COURTS OF
THE DISTRICT.
The solicitor makes special mention of the condi-
tion Of the civil business in which the government
is interested pending in the courts Of the District
OF Columbia The dockets show that for years past
but few civil actions in which the government Is
partly plaintiff and to which defense has been
1nterposed, have been tried In reply to an inquiry
upon this subject the district attorney said that
the force In his Office is utterly insufficient to attend
tion OF Congress has never been sufficiently at
tracted to the difference between the duties OF the
u S. district attorney for the District of Columbia
and those OF Q. S. attorneys elsewhere. Owing to
the important prosecutions conducted in the Dis
trict growing out OF frauds upon the governmental
has neceSSitated the employ OF special counsel
and it will be impossible TO transact the business
OF the Office in the future without either the ap-
pointment OF special counsel in such cases. or an
Increase of the regular force the latter alternative
being most desirable In every way. IL has been
necessary to almost entirely neglect the civil busi-
Of the Office for the duties on the criminal side
OF the courts 1t has been necessary most OF the
time to allow the grand jury to 60 on without The
assistance OF any person from the district attOr-
ney'S Office.
AN ASSISTANT TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY RECON-
MENDED.
In view OF this condition Of AFFAIRS the solicitor
recommends that the district attorney be author
ized to employ a competent assistant at a stated
salary to take charge OF all the civil business in
which the government is interested in the District
COURTS or If this is not ADVISABLE that the solicitor
be charged with the care OF and the prosecution and
defense OF such business.
The solicitor also submits the draft of bill simi-
lar to that submitted by Solicitor Geo. F. Talbot in
1876, which will effect prompt settlement OF the
accounts OF the Officers OF the government by the
asks If satisfactory, that it be submitted to Con-
greSS.