National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-01-09
THE MILLS OF JUSTICE.
Special Report Of the General Agent Of the
Department Of Justice.
Brewster Camerons Work for Period
Of Two Years.
Ch'nge in, the Fec System Of Compensatiog Court
officers Urged.
An Insight Into the Methods OF Which
the Machinery ~ Moved.

Brewster Cameron, general agent of the de-
partment of justice, yesterday made his re-
port to the attorney general Of work done by
the examiners of the department Of justice
from Feb. 1, 1882, the date of his appointment,
to Jan, l. 1884, as follows:
Your attention is first directed to the prin-
cipal matters intrusted to my care; one of the
most important being to supervise the ac-
counts Of marshals, attorneys, clerks Of courts,
commissioners, superintendent special deputy
marshals at elections jailors, wardons, and
other persons connected with tho courts.
Constant efforts have been made to exercise
as careful supervis ion Of these accounts as
p ossibe.
The great extent Of territory over which
these officers and persons are scattered, and
the large number of officials, render this work
very difficult there being So marshals, G5
attorneys, 1872 courts and ,622 active COM
missioners. and many subordinate officers.
The insufficient appropriation permits the
employment of only three examiners con-
stantly, much of whose time is frequently
occupied in long journeys over the whole
United States and Its remote territories.
In considering the accounts of court Off
GERS many questions arise touching the me-
cessity for tho employment of assistants to
shals, deputies to clerks Of courts, and other
subordinate officers and whether the manner
of conducting the business of each district is
economical and just; consequently the gem
eral agent and examiners must DO familiar
with the law and with the practices in each
district. Personal examinations therefore
become necessary throughout the country.
Experience has shown that in this way the
government and private citizens can be
largely protected from the abuses growing
out of frivolous suits instituted by officers of
the court to increase thoir fees. Combina-
tions Of professional informors, deputy mar
shals, and commissioners to harass and extort
money from private citizens by unwarranted
arrests have been discovered and broken up.
Among other investigations. the official
conduct of territorial judges has been in
quired into.
Except in the territories, the western dis
trict of Arkansas, and the District of Column
bia, the government owns no place for tho
confinement of prisoners. It has been neCes-
sary to arrange for the support Of the United
States prisoners in state and county institu-
tions. In making these arrangements it was
found that by concentrating the prisoners
they could be supported at q nominal cost
to the government. This plan was adopted.
As a consequence many penitentiaries have
offered to support the prisoners free Of cost;
but the department selected only those insti-
tutions whose discipline and accommodations
were humane and sufficient. Great care has
been taken to secure economy and the posi-
BILE reformation Of the prisoners. Their con-
dition and treatment are frequently inquired
into by personal inspection Of the examiners.
The result is gratifying to those who have
these matters in charge. I'm order to ascer-
tain the progress that has been made in prison
discipline. an examiner, familiar with this
branch of the service. attended the tenth
annual conference of charities and corrections
held at Louisville, KY, September lsst.)
Under the election laws there is appointed
in each judicial district a chief supervisor of
elections. At all elections for representatives
in congress the circuit court may be called
upon to appoint supervisors under the direc-
tion of the chief supervisor. The law fixes q
per diem allowance for the supervisors and
allows chief supervisors certain fees for
records, &c. Their accounts are usually re-
ferred by the secretary of the treasury to this
department for investigation; the examiners
being familiar with tho manner in which
supervisors duties should BIO performed and
with the law governing the same, and also
because the appropriation has been disbursed
by the attorney general. The lack of uni
formity in the performance of their duties,
and their disposition to multiply records to
create fees has made these examinations
necessary to protect the government against
loss. Many irregularities have been cor
rected and their recurrence IL is hoped, pre-
vented. The sums disallowed have been
large--amounting in three accounts to &c.
15s36-in ono account, ST., 70265, and ST.
21921 and s., 236.5O in two other accounts re-
spectivey.
In examining the accounts of court officers
ii occasionally happens that fraud is discov-
cred which calls for criminal prosecution. In
such cases much time is needed to secure the
evidence. This requires the services of ex-
aminers, and draws heavily upon the appro-
priation. They also attend upon court as
witnesses in the cases.
In criminal prosecutions scrupulous care
has been taken to avoid injustice to persons
accused of rendering fraudulent accounts.
In each instance an opportunity was given to
the accused party to submit in writing any
explanation he wished to make and, before
criminal proceedings were begun, his answer,
together with all the evidence in the case,
was submitted to the United States attorney,
without whose written recommendation no
prosecution was instituted This is in COM
pliance with your directions in all cases
against officers OF the court.
Where there are no government buildings
for the use OF the courts tho necessary accom-
modations have been procured and furnished
with view to economy and convenience.
Examiners are required to inform them
selves of the amount and character of bust
ness in each district visited. This knowledge
is needed when applications are made for as
sistant attorneys, clerks, &C., and enables the
patch
Under the attorney general are placed APP
preparation for specific purposes, such as in
vestigations of violations Of tho intercourse
acts, &C., and persons SO Employed have also
been under the direction and supervision of
the general agent. lie has examined all &C.
counts for the transportation of prisoners to
pcnitentiaries in districts other than where
the convictions were had examined and mp
proved the accounts for expenses incurred by
the United States Jail in the District of Co
lumbia, and contracted for the keeping of
United States prisoners in ials throughout
the entire country and supervised the OK
penses.
Many other similar services are daily re-
quired of tho examiners and general agent
of which an important one is the instructions
given to marshals and other court officers
how to perform specific duties and render
proper accounts.
You are aware that tho fee system of COM
pensating court officers has been found UNI
reliable and unjust to the government as vol
MS to the citizen forced to appear in the United
States courts. AS a result of the examiners
Investigations OF the accounts of marshals
commissioners, and others you were pleased
70 recommend 10 congress in your last annual
report the propriety of compromising court
officers b. salaries instead of fees In the
interest of tho government and the citizens it
Is hoped that your recommendation will be
favorably acted upon, for it will be seen by
reference to reports made by different exam