The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1884-12-04
THE ATToRNEYoENER

Many Valuable Sugggstiuns of Reform In
Practie Before United states Coupys a
National Peniteptary Recommended as
an Economic Measure.
WAsnISGroN, d. G, November 20.
Acknowledgement Brewster has com
pleted his annual report II contansa anum-
Der Of suggestions and recommendations
looking to new legislation amendatory of
existing statutes. oar criminal proceed
ure is faulty. III criminll cases the
pieadings Should be simplided, a uniform
system Of CHALLENGES provided and the
trials shGrn Of tie technical objections
and numberess di,ai0,y motions that can
now hc iNtcrposp1 ta prevent a speedy
trial upon merits. IN preparing indlet-
mcnts for offenscs against the United
States il is now necessary to follow the
common law forms Of the last century,
with all their technicalitics, verbosity OF
description and rupcttions, SO that what
should be Simple and couclse written
accusation, becomes n long aud confused
mass Of descriptions and allegations,
wholly nnintcliigibl9 to both defendant
and jury.
MItna view to remcdying the evils,
omissions and defects Of criminal pro-
ccdure, MIR. Brewster submits number
mends their adoption as general laws for
| tine courts of the United States. He
recommends That the statutes authorizing
/ OUTGOING United States MarShals TO exc.
| cute all processes in their hands at the eX-
| piration Of their commission, be changed,
| so as to require them to turn over to
| their successors AL unfinished business.
! The present law, Mr.. Brewster says, leads
| to confusion and conflict of authority, as
well as delay in the settlement of Mar
shal's accounts
He recommends salaries for United
States Marshals aud District Attorneys.
| The present fee system is an expensive
one. 1t is estimated that it costs the
Government $40 In expenses for every
dollar of the Marshal's emoluments which
shows that ii would be to the interest OF
the Government to give the Marshal Il
fixed compensation, 50 as to remove all
Inducements to perpetrate frauds upon
the Government and frauds upon the cit
izen.
I've same reasons in favor of salaried
officers apply with even more force TO
United States Attorneys, who examine
the accounts oi Marshals. The emolu-
ments of the Attorney ought not to be
contingent upon ihe amount Of business
done by the officer upon the correctness
OF whose accounts he must pass.
MIR. Brewster recommends that the
Attorney-Gtueral be given authority to ad-
Just salaries of Marshals upon some basis
TO be fixed by law
On the subject of United States pris
oners, the Attoney-Gencral favored thu
erection OF Il Penitentiary centrally To-
Gated and controlled by the United States
in which to confinc its own prisoners. il
is not always possible to secure sucl
treatment and discipline for prisoners
confined in State and municipal insttu
tiOns best calculated to affect theii
reformation. United States prisoners, a,
rule, are OF better class Of men thar
the average convict, and are capable o
performing better work. If Govern
ment prison were erected the convict,
could be employed in the manufacture 0
supplies exclusively for the Government
This would keep them employed. anC
should render the Penitcntary almos
sclf-sustanining. 1t also would ayoi(
any objection to convict labor, while th
taxpayers would be relieved almost en-
tircly OF the burden of supporting them
, II Congress- acts upon this recommenda
tion, it is suggested that the Penitcntar
should be erected at some central poin
where there arc ample railroad faciitie
for the transportation OF the goods manu-
featured by them.
The Star Route civil suits, the Attorne
General says, have been vigorousl
pressed. In fourteen cases instruction
to bring suit have been given, and in 81
or eight process has been issued and suit
: commenced.
: The condition of the public service
+, Mr.. Brewster says, so far as it relates t
: officials in his department, is greatly in
proved This i. due 10 the active effort
: of the present administration in checkin
y irregularities, correcting abuses ant
/ furnishing frauds and eXactions con
: mittcd by Marshals, District Attorney
and Commissioners IN number Of dii
iricts. In every case where these matter
came to his attention he has done all i
: his power 10 remedy and in some case
. has succeeded in the conviction and put
: lie punishment of such offenders.
In these efforts TO improve the publ
!, service many difficulties were eXper
s enced They were resisted by deliI
u qlent officers ana their adherents; BIT
it the useful and purifying effect followin
conviction and Imprisonment was 500
n felt in the whole service.
), In order to continue this strict supe
v vision Of the conduct and accounts {
}. court officers, he recommends an amp