The Portland daily press., 1889-12-06
DAY IN WASHINGTON.
The Attorney General Wants Prisons
for Government Offenders.
Cashier sIicott Qualities to Enter the
Proposed Establishments.
Large sums Stolen From Uncle Sam
and His Representatives.


detailed statement of the operations Of the
Department Of Justice during the past fiscal
year. together with statement of the pres.
ent condition Of the business before the
United States Supreme Court and Court of
Claims. Petitions to the number Of $3.50,
representing 1856 vessels and about s30.0OO.-
0Oc, have been filed in the latter court under
the act Of January 0,1885, commonly known
as the French spolIation act Experience
has shown from trials and findings in this
class Of cases that the findings for claimants
have fallen far below the amounts claimed,
from which 1t may reasonably be concluded
that the estimate of S30,OO0.0o0 will exceed
the amount for which the government may
ultimately be found liable. During the year
2,2S7 civil suits and Il, ,5S8 criminal proSecu-
tiOns have terminated, and there are pend
ing 1850 of the former and 1912 Of the latter
class.
The Attorney General says that at the
present time there is not q single Institution
In the country which will receive United
States prisoners free. The list of the num-
ber of penitentiaries which will receive
United States prisoners from outside the
State at all is becoming limited, and in some
cases transfers of government convicts from
one penitentiary to another becomes neces-
sary in view of the vaScillating enactments
of the legislatures Of the several states.
When all the States In which suitable peni-
tentiaries are located enact laws to the above
effect the government will be compelled to
hire quarters for criminals or designate in
stitutions, which are in no way proper
places, for confinement. 1t Is therefore
recommended that provisions be made for an
United States penltentiary ana an United
ed for the confinement of the milder class of
criminals. 1t is also urged that prison bu-
reau be established In the Department OF
Justice. where could be gathered, collected
nal statistics Of the United States.
In the chapter on law business the Attor-
ney General says: "Very soon after the
Atm of March last. it was brought to my at
tenti0n tnat at the recent congressional cleo
reaching violations Of the Federal laws re-
lating to such elections. In every case where
charges were brought to the attention Of this
department instructions were given distr let
attorneys to investigate and prosecute to the
Gated in such violations Of the Federal
laws, and am happy to be able to report
that In number of states, such precautions
have been successful. A large number OF
indictments have been returned and upon
some of them trials have been had and in a
number of cases convictions have been OBJ
tanned. In some cases, the culprits pleaded
guilty and ased for mercy at the hands OF
the court. A large number of these cases
are still pending and instructions to district
attorneys are to push them to the end"
The Attorney General makes the following
remarks in regard to the necessity for reor-
ganization of the judiciary:"The Importance
Of soma change in the judiciary system of
the United States which will enable the
courts, and especially the supreme court, to
cumulated, ana decide current cases as they
shall come upon the dockets can hardly be
| exaggerated. l am aware that there is,
| among judges and lawyers, as well as lay
men. great diversity OF opi1-
this end shall be accomplished. say, how
| ever, that safety and propriety urge that
Congress shall address itself to this subject
with a determination to find remedy for
this crying evil of delay in the administra-
| and in the Supreme Court, an evil which
amounts practically to denial of justice in
a large number of cases. Without entering
into details as to plans In this matter. SIM
| ply suggest as an Illustration of the urgency
| of doing something that the eighth circuit,
including two new states, the Dakotas, con-
sists OF nine states, embracing 10 districts
and % divisions. 1t is Of course unnecessa-
| ry to say that no ciicuit judge can hold cir
cult courts as contemplated by the present
/ Sy stem In all these districts. The condition
| OF things In the Supreme Court is still worse
and that court is getting every year further
| In arrears.
Tie report contains number of other re-
| concentrations among which are the follow
ing:
| For an assistant attorney general for the de-
partment of agriculture
For an additional assistant attorney general for
/ the department of justice.
| For an appropriation to be used In the cOlec-
| tion OF old Judgments idue the United states.
Tha the United States statutes be amended so
| as to recognize more than one degree of murder.
That authority be given TO receiver appointed
In one district 10 bring suits for assets in the
| federal courts Of any other district.
That the United States courts be given jurisdle-
| tion to investigate and punish any crime per-
petrated in and as a part of the commission of
any offense against the laws of the United States.
| That clear and definite fee bill be enacted for
| proceedings before United States commissioners.