Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-05
ADMINISTERING JUSTICE.
Important Recommendation I'm the Re-
port Of the Attorney.0eneral.

port OF the Attorney.0eneral.
PRovrnrSrs SEHDkD-A NEW COURT su1Iprxo
RHcoMnrSpED-S1xD OF CONVENIENT
PRISON AND REFoRNAToRY-u. Q. PRrsoSI1s,
The Acknowledgement in his annual report
to Congress, states that the condition Of the
docket Of the Supreme Court at the close Of
the last term October term, 1850, when CON-
pared with its condition at the close of the
term next preceding October term, 1850, ex-
hibits an increase Of sixty-seven cases in the
number left undisposed Of on the two dockets.
the appellate and original. The number of
cases actually brought under consideration was
s25, Of which 2ls were argued orally and LOG
submitted on printed arguments. The number
of cases decided ct this term October term.
1850, in which the United States were con-
cerned was IS, Of which 81 were decided in IA
vor Of and SO against the United States, and in
criminal cases questions certified were an
swered. OF those in which the United States
appealed % were affirmed, IL reversed, and 8
dismissed. Thus the total number of cases
disposed Of at the October term, 1887, in which
the United States were interested was 6S. The
above does not include six cases on the appel
late docket from the Court of Claims in which
the District Of Columbia was party.
THE COURT or CLAIMS.
Since the last report $50 suits, claiming up
ward Of %, SOC, 900, have been brought under
the ordinary jurisdiction of the court. The
total number Of such cases now pending is
l,l20, claiming upward Of 1000, 900. During
the last term 27S cases, claiming about %, 7o4,.
S24. IS, we're acted on by the court and reported
to Congress. OF this number IA cases, claim
ing 81, 625, 233. A. were dismissed, In 1874 cases,
claiming 81 LOIS. 591.31, findings favorable to
claimants were filed by the court, 30 far % IL
shown by the findings, for S237, 93013. There
are now pending 6,062 cases, involving up
ward Of $3.50 000, 900.
FRENCH sPoLfAT1oNs.
The petitions filed in French spoliation
cases number $3.50, representing 1855 vessels
and about $50, 0O0, 900. There have been re-
ported to Congress by the Court Of Claims
findings favorable to claimants in LOG cases,
amounting to s74l, zoe. 50. The court has also
reported in II cases adversely to claimants, the
amount involved in these II cases being
1921, 046. OF the claims against the District Of
Columbia during the last term there were
brought to trial suits, claiming 1857 1859. II,
and Judgment was rendered in them in favor
Of claimants for s22,0l0.17. There are now
pending 50 cases, claiming upward of 81, 400.
600; and these, 1t Is expected will be disposed
Of at the next term Of the court
CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS.
There were terminated during the last year
14,579 criminal prosecutions. There were
pending July /, 1888, 7,22s criminal prosecu-
tons. The aggregate amount Of fines, for
FIXTURES, and penalties imposed during the year
in criminal prosecutions was s54l, sos. 43, and
the amount Of these fines, forfeitures, and PEN
alties collected during the year was S109 64S AZ,
while s12,s14.67 was realized on fines, for
FIXTURES, and penalties imposed in former
years. The court expenses for the fiscal year
1888 amounted to $3.50, 1ss03.
GOVERNMENT PENITENTIARY AND REFoRMAroRY.
Owing to the adjustment of the contract
system by legislative enactment in several
states, and the passage Of q recent act by Con-
gress forbidding the employment or hiring out
of United States prisoners on contract new
arrangements have had to be made with sew
eral penitentiaries. The various examinations
that have been made, and the recent laws that
have been enacted, with respect to the labor Of
prisoners, prove more conclusively than ever
the absolute need Of government peniten-
tiary and reformatory. There should be, the
report says. provisions at once made looking
to the erection Of at least one United States
penitentiary, and, If possible, q reformatory.
The cost Of conducting government peni-
Tertiary will not, the report says, be greater
eventually than the cost Of subsisting the pris-
oners in the various penitentiaries throughout
the country will be. There are at all times
II two penitentiaries we're built, 30 located
geographically that they would be easy Of &C
cess to the different parts of the country, the
difficulties now lying in the way Of being able
to properly care for government convicts would
be obviated and the United States would not
be compelled to rely upon the various state in
situations for the keeping of its own criminals
Again, If an institution such as referred to
should be erected the government would have
direct and absolute control of all its convicts.
A large number of prisoners convicted in
United States courts are those who have COM
mitted but single offense, and who have but
commenced career of crime. II they could be
prevented from associating with hardened GRIM
inals, and not confined in an institution which in
every way suggests criminal life, many, per-
haps. could be reformed. It would seem that
the United States should have model prisons
and reformatories Of its own in which to con-
fine its criminals, and provisions could be made
for the employment of the inmates at some
suitable industries on a system Of labor which
would not violate the recent act of Congress.
nor be inconsistent with the laws passed by the
several states and the prevailing opinions rela-
tive to the subject Of contract labor.
PRISONERS.
During the year ending June 80, 1885, there
were received in the different penitentiaries.
reformatories, &C., throughout the United
States, 933 prisoners. The total number in
custody during the year was 1875. There were
discharged during the year S74, and on the 3Oth
day OF June. 1888, there were still in confine-
ment 1901. OF the 933 prisoners received dur
ing the year $50 were born in the United States
$50 were foreign born; S15 were males and IS
were females 701 claimed to be temperate and
232 admitted themselves to be incorporate;
there were 1855 whites, 66 blacks, 81 Indians,
and so Chinese
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA JAIL.
at is to be regretted that the entire man
agement of this institution is not placed d.
rectly under some one authority. Some
provision should at once be made by Congress
for the erection Of an additional wing at the
Jail, or separate building for the confinement
solely Of female prisoners. As at present ar
ranged this class Of convicts are confined in
the front portion of the Jail. which, up to the
present. has been entirely unfit for their recep-
ton. Needed improvements have been made.
which tend greatly to their comfort. It is.
however, only temporary relief, and the alb
solute need of an additional wing or building
for the female prisoners will surely on investi-
cation commend itself to Congress. The
grounds about the Jail at present are open to
the public, and il is with difficulty that commu-
nication from the outside with the inmates is
prevented. There is large tract Of land sur
rounding the Jail, which could be made availa-
erected around the Enclosure. 1t could be
utilized for a garden, which would 20 far
toward supplying the Jail with vegetables. and
at the same time AFFORD an opportunity for the
prisoners once in a while to obtain exercise in
the open AIR. To persOna confined for auv