Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-10

NEW CODE OF LAWS RECoMMENDEp-prs-
TRICr JURIEs-THE JAIL AND REFORM
sCHooL-RAILRoADs IN wAsHlNGroN-PHo-
POSED BUILDING TOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE, ETC.
Attorney General Garland, In his report 20
Congress, devotee considerable attention 10 mat
tiers relating to the District of Columbia In
recommending a code Of laws for the District
he quotes at length from Attorney General
Brewster's report Of 1854, and says: "Where
Congress has failed to define or provide q pun
ishment for what should be crime in the Dis
frfct, recourse is mainly had to the laws of
Maryland. most of which existing prior to Feb
ruary "a, 1901, have since been repealed, al
tered, or amended. 1 think as the former At
torney General did, that in view of the facts
above stated. there seems to be an Imperative
ndTess.y ,os the prompt adoption of civil and
DISTRICT JURIEs
There 10 just cause OF complaint he SAYS
against the manner Of selecting District juries,
and, after quoting bodily from Attorney Gen.
eral Brewster's report on the subject he recon-
mends, as did his predecessor. shat, in the
interest OF justice and as q matter OF economy,
the number OF Jurors should be increased to
forty-eight, that the time OF service should be
exists in the jury that deficiency should be
supplied from the box, and that an improved
system or drawing, selecting and summoning
adopts the views contained i'm the Attorney
Generais report OF 1884, in regard To special
jurors in the District.
THE DISTRICT JAIL
Is, ne says, "in many respects a model institu-
ton, the building having been constructed
after the most approved plans, and being. so
lar as cell arrangements, ventilation, &c, are
considered, all that can be desired With re-
gara 70 MS general management however am
OF the opinion that the present plan can be i'm
proved upon.
Under existing arrangements the jail affairs
are not under the entire charge of any one per-
SON, and it is therefore difficaIt to FIX RESPONSE
plnty for Its management. The Department of
!uslice examines and passes upon all bills for
Tue expense OF conducting il, including the cost
OF subsistence, fuel, medicines, and ali supplies
as Wen as the payment OF the salaries of officers
ana employees. But IL has nothing whatever
10 40 with the purchasing of these supplies, nor
with the employment OF the force engaged
upon the premises il acts simply as the pay
maSter, and settles bills already incurred
To remedy this state of things, 1 recommend
that the institution be placed under the control
o ., some one authority or head who shall not
10 its expenses, but who shall also be held re-
sponsible for the efficiency and conduct OF its
way the institution could be more satisfactorily
conducted, and with greater benefit to the COM
munlty, as well as with a considerable saving
70 the government Some one person or de-
partment should have sole charge and be alone
responsible for its entire management.
AS far as possible careful attention has been
PAID by this department to the expenses Of the
Jail during the past year the total, however,
falling but very little below that Of 1884"
In regard to the
REFORM SCHOOL, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
he says: "The report OF the trustees of the
Reform school OF the District OF Columbia
sets forth the necessity for increasing the capa-
city OF the school. The present buildings are
not large enough to accommodate the number
OF onenoers who should be sent there. This is
matter that 1 think should be provided for
now, and recommend that an appropriation
trustees.
L recommend also such legislation as will
permit this school to be designated as the place
OF confinement tor Juvenile offenders from con.
lumbia.
think it would be well to have representa-
tive OF this department on the board of trustees
and recommend therefore that the chief clerk
a trustee"
LEGISLATION TOUCHING RAILROADS IN WASH.
INGToN CITY.
'The attention of Congress is respectfully
called to the subject of more definite legisla-
ton touching railroad facilities i'm the city of
Washington. Much controversy has arisen
upon this subject and the Commissioners of the
district nave been involved In good deal OF
criminal nature have been threatened against
| them They have deemed the matter of such
flcally in q communication, and / recommend
/ that Congress, by legislation, remove these
difficulties as far as it may be able to do So"
NEED OF NEW BUILDING FOR THE DEPART
MENT OF JUSTICE.
The Attorney General suggests the propriety
of erecting on the grounds adjoining the De-
partment of Justice a proper building for the
accommodation. in addition to the Department
of Justice, of the Supreme Court and other
proper courts and commissions of the United
STATES. The necessity for quarters for the Su-
preIne Court of the United States, other than
those now occupied, is apparent the present
courtroom is manifeStly too small and its Local
ton not sufficiently apart from the publicity
aud hustle attending the sessions of Congress.
Accommodations should be provided for the
court, not only commensurate with its high
position and dignity, but as well the character
and volume OF its work, the increasing growth
of the bar, and the number of interested par
ties TO causes and other spectators.
The site already belongs to the government,
is of sufficient size, and convenient to most of
the executive departments and to the Execu-
tive mansion.
Courts and commissions, having the dignity
Of and acting in reality a., courts OF the United
States are created from time to time as neces-
sity calls for them. 1t seems fitting that these
should be located in proper government
building with the Department of Justice and
the Supreme Court, all convenient to each
other and under one root, and not, as now and
heretofore, in rooms hired from private persons
at constant outlay for rent and other expenses.
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS.
The report devotes considerable space to the
consideration Of the judicial system of the coun-
try, and says that the United States courts as
now organized cannot possibly transact the
business before them with the promptness that
Justice requires. 1t endorses the general fea-
lures of the Davis bill for the establishment OF
a court OF appeals, or intermediate court, as
best adapted for the purpose, but suggests a
plan based on that bill, the main features of
which were Incorporated in the presidential
message.
The Attorney General repeats the recommen-
dations OF his predecessor that authority be
given the judges Of the United States courts to
sentence prisoners convicted OF first offenses TO
such reformatories or graded prisons as may be
selected by the Attorney General. He urges
the necessity of building government peni-
Tertiary, where all persons convicted of United
States offenses could be confined and employed
in the manufacture of supplies exclusively for
the government, which work would assist in
making the institution selfsustaining.
He adopts the views of his predecessor on the
is OF the highest importance that the plead
ings In criminal cases be simplied, q uniform
system of challenges provided and the whole
proceedings shorn OF the technical objections.
Among the recommendations are the follow
ing: That each justice Of the Supreme Court be
provided with q stenOgraphic secretary or law
clerk; that the fees Of marshals in Montana,
idaho and Wyoming be doubled; that outgoing
marshals be required to turn over to their sue
cessors at the time Of their qualification all un-
finished business Of every kind; that the sala-
ries OF marxhals be revised; that the compensa-
ton OF the United States attorneys for New
Mexico aud Arizona be increased, and that the
compensation OF clerks of United States courts
in California be reduced; that attorneys and
marshals be required TO make returns by fiscal
- 80 A10v. I.,. 49, 49, --r