The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-12-16
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
The Annual Report Of Attorney
General Garland,
Giving . Detailed Statement OF the Busi
ness of the Department OF Justice
Done During the Last
Fiscal Year.


GENERAL aARLANp's REPORT.
WAsnINGToN, Dec. S.-The annual report
of Attorney General Garland contains de
tailed statement of the business of the De-
partment of Justice during the last fiscal
year, together with statistics Of CRIME
against the United States. During the year
84 suits, aggregating in amount 1880, 900,
have been brought under the ordinary juris.
diction of the Court Of Claims. The total
number of such cases pending is 691, in.
volving &, 100000. Under the Bowman act
1,23S cases have been transmitted to the
court by committees of Congress. These
involve large amount. There are now
pending ,140 cases, the amounts involved
being S3O,0O0OO0. Under the same act
twenty-eight claims, to the amount Of
s4,OOO,OOO, have been transmitted by the
heads of departments. OF these nine cases,
involving $15, 600 900, are still pending In
addition to the above there have been filed
under the "French Spollation act," 2,15O
cases, amounting to $12, 100000.
1t Is stated that 500 more cases will be
filed and the amount increased to about
SIS. 100000 During the year 425 suits, in
volving claims for $l7, ,706, ,42s, were brought
to trial In 398 suits, claiming Sl6, ,906, ,553,
judgment was for claimants for Sy67, $50.
During the year 1879 civil suits, to which
the United States was party, were ter
minated in the Circuit and District courts of
the United States. The number pending
July was 1926. The number of criminal
prosecutions terminated during the year
was IA, 40, about one-half of which were
for violations Of internal revenue laws The
aggregate amount of judgments rendered
in favor of the United States in civil suits
was &S21, 1873. The amount actually collected
was s2O2, IT. The amount of fines, forfeit
ures and penalties imposed in criminal
prosecutions during the year was $567 ,63l.
Civil suits to which the United States was
not party, numbering 1885, were termin-
ated during the year in United States Cir
cult and District courts.
The Attorney General urges the import
ance of legislation on the following matters,
the necessity for which was pointed out in
his last annual report: Fees for marshals
in Territories, pay Of deputy marshals, re-
vision of the fee bill, substitution of fiscal
| for calendar year, chief supervisions of cleo
| tions, protection to civil officers and witness
| fees of witnesses and jurors in Territories
and reorganization of the jury system in
| the District of Columbia.
He devotcs chapter to the subject of
! United States prisoners and the general
question of convict labor, and advocates the
| building OF q Government penitentiary and
| reformatory at an early date. He recon-
| mends the appointment of q commission to
1 inquire into the matter. He also urges the
necessity of United States jails and men-
tions Atlanta, Ca, and Louisville, KY, as
|, cities where such buildings are much need
ed. The number of United States prisoners
in custody June 80, 1886, was 50, ,259.
The Attorney General calls attention to
the unsatisfactory condition of revenue liti-
cation in the Southern district Of New York,
and commends the suggestion Of the Solicit
or of the Treasurer for the appointment OF
an additional Judge for the exclusive trial OF
| revenue cases in that district. Supplement
ary legislation, respecting the restoration Of
court records is strongly urged as necessary
| for the preservation Of records of great
| value. 1t is impossible, the Attorney Gen.
| eral says, to overestimate the necessity that
| exists for change in the judicial system to
| meet the constantly increasing business OF
| The country and he urges that something be
done to remedy the evils complained Of or
ell sides.
Mr.. Switzer, chief Of the Bureau of Sta.
tistics, in his annual report says the for
eign commerce of the last fiscal year, when
compared with that of the fiscal year 1886
discloses few marked changes. The fol
lSwing are the most important: There has
been decline of $62, ,664 ,925 in the value OF
the exports of merchandise and an increase
Of $57, sos ,SO7 in the value of the imports OF
merchandise. Notwithstanding this de-
cline in the value Of exports and the in
crease in the value OF imports, our exports
Of merchandise have exceeded the value Of
the imports, the former being $679, 2s24 ,S3t
and the latter $685. ,436, 1875, thus showing ar
excess of exports over imports of s44,0ss,
G94.
There was an increase Of $34, Az, 800 in
the exports of gold and decline Of s., 94S,
347 in the imports thereof, the excess Of the
exports over the imports Of gold amounting
to $22, 20S, S42, as against IN excess of i'm
ports over exports amounting to &lS,2l3,S so
during the fiscal year 1885. The inward
and outward movement of silver was abou
the same as during the preceding fsca
year, the excess Of exports being 81, eco,
912, as against an excess Of exports Of 81,
203,006 during the preceding fiscal year
The small decline during the last fisca
year is hopeful indication that the trad,
depression Of the past four years ha
reached its lowest point, and that we are ol
the eve of period Of increased commercial
activity and national prosperity This il
further indicated by the trade returns o
the first three months of the current fsca
year, which exhibit gratifying results.