Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-02-08
INTERESTING INTERVIEW.

A Prominent Federal OfIicer Talks
About Criminals and Politicians.
Hon. D. o. Finch, United States dis
trict attorney for Iowa, was in Davenport
yesterday and submitted to an interesting
interview from Democrat Gazette repre-
sentative:
"What class of cases require most of
your attention." asked the scribe of Mr..
Finch. who made reply:
| The greatest number of cases we have
are violations of the revenue law, the
trial OF which occupies very little time.
Postal and counterfeiting and cases of
that character in court which we have to
try, occupy more time really than the
disposition of the revenue cases; but
probably in the aggregate, violations of
the revenue laws occupy more time than
other class of cases."
Does the government keep a pretty
sharp lookout for those who try to violate
or evade the lawsf"
Eyes, think it does"
| "What kind of counterfeit money is
most common
| II think the silver coins. We have had
a few cases of counterfeit paper money
The biggest case of that kind was right
here in your own city, when that man
Pratt was sent up for five years. We
sent one woman to the penitentiary for
two years for passing genuine ten dollar
bills raised to twenty dollar bills We
got hold of eleven bills that were passed
in that way"
| ''1s 1t common thing for women to
figure as counterfeiters or as assistants to
counterfeitersY"
| I'm several cases which have had, the
real guilty parties use female friends to
pass their money, thinking that they
could do 1t without the suspicion that
might attach to man. We have had
several such cases"
HAS President Cleveands admins
tration been marked by any special en-
forcement of laws. brought under your
noticeY'
His administration has been marked
by more strict scrutiny of officials &C.
counts than anv administration which
remember of. / think all officials under
him have been held to very strict en-
forcement of duty, and their fees have
4 bCCh hSPt luC siiiGl Illull Ol lDS
law"
What do you regard as the strongest
feature or features of the closing admins
istrstion?
Il regard his tariff reform policy as
the leading feature of his administration,
aHd the one that will remain longest in
the minds of the people"
Has Mr.. Cleveland left his party in
any better condition than he found it?'
Yes, think he has"
PLEASE explain howf"
81 think he has left his party in better
condition, because he has left it with a
distinct issue, and has be9ueathed to his
party the right side of that issue"
Then your idea is that the reform of
the tariff is live question which has
come to stay"
eyes sir, to stay until it is triumph
ant"
Would the position of the party in
your opinion be stronger if Mr.. Cleve-
land had urged hts views earlier on this
question, In his administrator
Il think PERHAPS it would; because il
is an issue that the more it is studied and
the better it is understood, the more Ger
tain it is to succeed. The people are
slow to grasp an issue of that kind. de
not think they will ever realize it until
they come 10 know their pockets are
touched and self interest shall prompt
them to adopt the reform do not be-
lieve that one Can reach all mankind un
less through their pockets or self inter
est"
What are your predictions of Gen
Harrison's course after March A.
| MY predictions are that Gen. Harri>
son will maintain q conservative policy.
but that he will be prevented from pros
ecuting it by the influences that will be
brought to bear upon him"
| els there likely to be much of a rush
Of republicans for tine Iowa offices now
held by democrstsy"
well of that cannot answer. Judg.
ing from the past should think there
would be-"
"Do you think Gen. Harrison will in
sist upon making a complete change OF
those who have been faithful in Office an j
have unexpired commissioner
mo, do not believe ne will. Per.
sonslly do not believe be would favor
such a course, but | think the influence
of the men in charge of the party organ
izations may probably induce him tc
make wholesale changes. l do not be.
lieve left TO himself that he would do
it,"