The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-12-04
TIE Acknowledgement


Many Valuable Suggestions Of Reform in
Practic Before United states COurts-A
National Penitentiary Recommended as
an Economic Measure.
WAsHINGTONj d. e. November 26.
Attorney-General Brewster has com
bleted his annual report. It contains nuui-
Der of suggestions and recommendations
looking to new legislation amendatory of
existing statutes Our criminal proceed
uFe is faulty. In criminal cases the
pleadings should be simplifed, a uniform
system of challenges provided and the
trials shorn of the technical objections
and numbeTless dilatoTy motions that can
now be interposed to prevent a speedy
trial upon merits. In preparing indict-
mentS for Offenses dgainst the United
States it is now necessary to follow the
common law forms of the last Century,
with all. their technicalities, verbosity of
description and repetitions, SO that what
should be a simple and concise written
accusation, becomes long and confused
mass of descriptions and allegations,
wholly unintelligible to both defendant
and jury. .-.
W Ith a view to Temedying the evils,
omissions and defects of criminal pro-
cedure, Mr.. Brewster submits q number
of carefully prepared forms, and rec0nds
SeRepds their adoption as general laws for
the courts of the United States. He
recommends that the statntes authorizing
outgoing United States zMaTshals to exc
cute all processes in their hands at the ex-
piraton of their commission, be changed,
so ass to require them TO turn over to
their successors all unfinished business
The present law, Mr.. Brewster says, leads
TO confusion-and conflict of authority, as
weIl as delay iRs4the settlement of Mar.
shaI g accounts \. --ss..-
States HTarshals and District Attorneys.
The present fee SYSTEM is an expensive
one. tt Is estimated that 1t costs the
Government SO in expenses for every
dellar ofthe Marshal's enHo3a n1ents which
shows that it would be to the Interest of
the Government to give the Marshal Al
fixed compensation, so as to remove all
INDUCEMENTS to perpetrate frauds upon
the Government and frauds upon the cit-
izen.
The same reasons in favor of salaried
officers apply with even more force to
United States Attorneys, who examine
the accounts of Marshals. The emolu-
ments of the Attorney ought not to be
contingent upon the amount of business
done by the officer upon the correctness
of whose accounts he must pass.
Mr.. Brewster recomAends that the
Attorney-Geueral be given authority to adj
just salaries of Marshals upon some basis
to be fixed by law.
On the subject of United States pris-
oners, the Attorney-General favored the
erection of a Penitentiary centrally To-
Gated and controlled by the United States
in which to confine its own prisoners. It
is not always possible to secure such
treatment and discipline for prisoners
confined in State and municipal institu-
tions best calculated to affect their
reformation. United States prisoners, as
a rule, are of better class of men than
the average convict, and are capable of
performing better work. If a Govern
ment prison were erected the eOnvictS
could be employed in the manufacture of
supplies exclusively for the Government.
This would keep them employed. and
should render the Penitentiary almost
self-sustainining 1t also would avoid
any objection to convict labor, while the
taxpayers would be relieved almost en-
tirely of the burden of supporting them.
If Congress acts upon this recommenda-
| ton, it is suggested that the Penitentiary
should be erected at some central point
where there are ample railroad facilities
for the transportation of the goods manu-
factured by them.
The Star Route civil suits, the Attorney
General says, have been vigorously
pressed. In fourteen cases instructions
to bring suit have been given, and in six
or eight process has been issued and suits
commenced.
The condition of the public service,
Mr.. Brewster says, SO far as it relates to
officials in his department, is greatly inn
proved. This is due. to the active efforts
of the present administration in checking
irregularities, correcting abuses and
Furnishing frauds and eXactions COM
mitted by Marshals, District Attorneys
and Commissioners in a number of dis
tricts. In every case where these matters
came to his attention he has done all in
his power to remedy, and in some cases
| has-succeeded in the conviction and pub
lie punishment of such offenders.
In these efforts to improve the public
service many difficulties were expert
enced. They were resisted by delin-
quent officers and their adherents; but
the useful and purifying effect following
conviction and Imprisonment was soon
felt in the whole service.
In order to continue this strict super
vision of the conduct and accounts of
court officers, he recommends an ample
appropriation by Congress.