Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-10
Federal Justice in the South.

Federal Justice IN the Soutn.
II the accounts Of the work Attorney
Genersl BREWSTER Is credited with having
directed from Long Branch this season be
true. the public should be inclined TO look
ienienily upon some Of his sins. For some
time past IL has been evident from our
southern exchanges that the alleged Depart
ment Of Justice was somewhat enervated us
far ms the South was concerned. II the dep
MY marsha,s have not been lying low In the
matter OF politics they have shown de-
cice6 distaste for the business OF Wholesale
arrests. We bad been disposed toaccountfor
this state Of things on the ground that
great reformation had taken place among
the "souibern outlaws" However, 1t ap-
pears that there Il another solution OF the
mystery. During such time as the Atior-
ney.Ceneral could spare from his various
eouipagcs he has been making a study Of
the manners, customs, &C., OF the United
States court officials in the South and West.
A Washington special telegram TO the Dos.
ton Herald says:
The weather has not prevented the agents
Of The Department OF Justice from making
mpit asant inquiries IN regard TO fees and
court expenses, In the South and West par
ticuarly. The reports OF these inspectors
will not be made public until the Attorney.
General submits his annual report 10 the
President In December, but IL Is known
that scarcely an official connected with the
administration Of justice In the South and
III on.
mel,t for extravaganza. cXtortion, and fraud.
some United States Judges do no. feel alto
eether easy with reference 10 these reports.
rbe bills Of clerks aud commissioners are
sulposed 10 be examined by the judges
before they are allowed, and ii VIII be
difficult 10 explain why some practices
have not long ago been detected and pa,
a stop 10. One circuit judge was visited
by an inspector recently to see II the
statement Of n clerk OF his court IN
regard to fees allowed was correct. The
clerk had for years charged for making
certain records in criminal cases. The In
spector found that no such records had
befn made, although thousands OF dollars
had been received upon bills in which the
folios for each case had apparently been
calculated and charged for. The clerk as.
serted that the circuit judge passed these
bills knowing that the work charged for
bad never been performed. The Judge In
formed the inspector that the clerks state
mcnt was true; that he did not con-
slider ii necessary that The record in ques-
ton should be kept, but that he did re.
gard the charge for II rs legitimate
perquisite Of the clerks Office. In other
cases witness-fees have been allowed with
the consent OF the judges for days [wrong-
fully Charged asl spent In going to ana
returning from court, allowances Tor
guards in marsbals' accounts when none
we're used, and commissioners accounts.
swellcd TO high figure with false charges,
have been passed by judges who, to say
the least. were very negligent. When
these inspectors come back TO Washington
they tell good stories OF how unp0pullr
they are in the districts visited. Upon their
appearance i'm town they are made to feel
that they are regarded as spies ana inform
ers-men engaged in bounding respectable
men with petty prosecutions. The local
papers are used TO make them mis-
cradle. All kinds Of traps are set to catch
them, il possible, in some indiscretion,
such as drinking, gambling, and kindred
designations. II q slip is made, dozens OF
aflidayits are at once forwarded setting
forth the moral obiquties Of the inspector,
IN order that the force of his report may be
broken. In one or two cases these tactics
have scared of inspectors, but as general
thing the agents OF Aforementioned
Brewster have proved TO be very shrewd
fellows, and their summers work will 30
far 10 prove the Department OF Justice Is
going in for reform.
Our only regret is that II will not be in or
der for Acknowledgement BREWSTER TO sub
nit bis report before the presidential cleo
ton. We should like very much to have
some OF our northern contemporaries-the
Providence journal, for instance-posted
Oh Federal Justice" i'm the S,uth as 4
political machine. Presuming that the At
iorney. General proposes TO master the sub
feet and treat ii in all its length and
breadth, we would like to be be.
hind the scenes when the average
Sialwart editor undertakes to wres.le
with Mr.. BREwsTER's chapter on the rela-
lions Of the deputy marshaIs to the reve-
nue. spies and iniormers, or to prove one
Of his calculations as to how much the
destruction Of two quarts OF embryo APP
ple.jack cost the United States Govern
ment. IL would be interesting 10 OBJ
serve the effect upon these editors OF
an exposition OF the science of black
mailing in the interest OF the Republic
can party as applied by the alleged
Department Of Justice in It's dealings with
the South. Information on these points
coming from such high source as the At
tome, General might induce them to be-
lieve that the South has some little ground
for claiming that the Federal machinery in
this section is not all it should bc-is, in
fact, a trayesty upon justice and too often an
instrument CT oppression.