The Indianapolis journal., 1884-11-26
Importance Of Enforcing the Election Laws
desirable Changes in the Draw
ing of Indictments.
The House Appropriations Committee
Mapping Work for the Session.
President Arthur Will Extend the eourte-
sizes of the White House to the Pres
ident Elect-General Notes.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
Importance of the Election Laws-Desirable
Changes Suggested.

Changes Suggested.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25.-In his annual report
Attorney general Brewster suggests that all ac-
counts of chief supervisors of elections be taxed
in open court, under the inspection and exami-
nation of the district attorney or his sworn as
sistants, and they must then be forwarded to
the proper department for further examination
and inspection, if deemed advisable and necessa-
ry. These election laws are of the highest i'm
portance to the genersl welfare, aud their proper
execution is a matter of prime necessity; their
abuse, on the other hand, is great public
wrong, to be guarded against by appropriate leg
slation.
The Attorney general DIRECTS the attention of
Congress to the want of proper leg
islation for criminal cases In pre-
pairing indictments. he says, for offenses
against the United States, it is found necessary
to follow the common law forms of the last cen
tury with all the technicaties, verbosity de-
scriptions, repetitions and precision of state
ments formerly required. whereby that which
should be simple and concisey written aceusa-
tion becomes lengthy and painfully confused
mass Of descriptions and allegations. wholly
unintell:gible to the defendant who is called
upon to answer, and to the jury selected to try
the Ease. To reduce the pleadings to a plain and
comprehensive statement of facts would serve
equally TO the advantage Of the government and
the defendant There is reason why an in
dictment ought not to be adjudged sufficient and
good law which charges the crime substantially
in the language of the act prohibiting the crime
and prescribing the punishment or SO plainly
that the nature of the offense charged may be
easily understood by jury. When it is neces-
sary to describe, or make averment of any writ
ing or printed instrument, as the law now stands,
such instrument must be copied into the indiet-
ment, with literal exactness The omission of
word that appears almost indiscernible among
the lines and hourishes created by the skill of
the engraver or penman. would be a fatal defect
that might enable guilty man to escape pun
ishment. The Attorney general points out the
evils Of omissions and defects in the present law
in cases of murder, manslaughter larceny de-
murrers motions to quash. challenges, ETC. and
submits the draft of bill designed TO afford
remedy.
In connection with the subject of Jury duty,
he says: ut is the belief and common report
that the business of jury fixing hourishes to an
alarming extent in the District 1t is asserted
that men live, support their families, and even
become rich in the practice of this nefarious
profession, as the jury system now exists That
unscrupulous men should safely conduct such
business in debauchng juries in the District
should occasion no surprise. With but twenty
six jurors, such as usually serve, active jury
fxer would become acquainted with at
least two three of them in a few hours, and
that would give him a strong beginning in his
efforts to thwart justice. With but twenty six
jurors. serving but three months, it would not
require one third that time for combined force
of jury fXers to become thoroughly acquainted
with the habits. associations, character and busi
ness of each of the jurors, and the influences, il
any, that could be used to reach him and bring
him within their power. Then again, what is
there to prevent one or more well dressed and
apparently spectablelooSin rogues placing
themselves in the way of marshal, or his depu-
ties, to be brought into court as talesmen and
serving upon juries to aequit their friends or
confederates"
The Attorney general recommends that the
jurisdiction of the United States Circuit Court
and District courts in the judicial district Of
Maryland be extended, for the purpose Of Sc
curing trial in such courts and before juries
drawn from the entire State of Maryiaud of
cases involving crimes committed in the District
of Columbia against the United States. The ma
tlonal treasury, he says, Is great center of
allurement ana temptation. All plans to de-
fraud the government, no matter where con
trived, are mostly consummated in Washington
and when the guilty parties are arrested their
trial must, of necessity, take place before jury
drawn in the District. The arrest of one
set of defendants brings them the sympathy and
active aid of all others engaged in similar
schemes. If the defendants are wealthy. as is
often the case, by liberal expenditure of money
they secure the acquaintance and friendship of
prominent men who are of social disposition.
and whose open and public association and COM
panionship with the defendants is not without
its helpful effect. When the case is called for
trial the government stands alouo and opposed
by many disadvantages, while the defendants.
aided not only by their wealth. the encourage
ment and influence of their friends, but by a
certain feeling of Indifference which seems to
prevail in Washington concerning such crimes
are permitted to depart from she courtroom tri-
umphing in their acquittal. escaping punishment
and scandalizing the administration Of justice
Such has been the case before, and such will oc-
cur again, so long as the national treasury
is confided solely TO the protection of local ju-
rors.
The Attorney general renews his reconmenda-
tions that the system of paying United States
marshals be changed from fees to salaries aud
that additional legislation be had to protect the
executive civil officers Of the government in the
performance of their duties, and against outrages
committed on them because they have faithfully
performed them.
Attention is called to the fact that the Lcgis-
lature OF Utah refuses to appropriate funds for
the execution of territorial laws under congress
sonal legislation. If this legislation is TO be
maintained, he says special appropriations must
he made annually to meet the demands of
justice