New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-06
THE ATTORNEY GENERALS REPORT.
,,pcrxc roRGAN1zATIoy OF THE JUDICIARY
PURSUING vIoLAToRs OF THE FED
FRAI, ELECTION LAWS

PURSUING VIOLATORS OF THE FED
ERAL ELECTION LAWS.
Washington. Dec. 5-The annual report OF At'orneS-
General Miller was made public oday. III cOhcilos
def allied statement of the operations of the Depart
nent of Justice for the last fiscal year, togsther WIZ
a statement of the present condition of business DO
fire the United states Supreme Court and the Court Of
Claims Petitions 10 tho number OF o56o, represent
,no as6 vessels and abont 900, have been
filed in the latter court under the Act of January 20,
1855 commonly known the French spoliation Act
During the year 2os7 civil suits and H. 900 criminal
prosecutions were terminated and there are pending
1850 Of the former and 1919 Of the latter clasS.
The Attorney Gene a. says that the number of peni-
tentiares which VIII receive United States prisoners
from outside the state is becoming limited, and IN
some cases the transfer Of Government convcts from
enc penitentlary to another becomes nee
essary in view of the vac!llating en-
actmens of the Legislatures in the several stato''
He recommends that provision be made for Ohtcu
States penitentary and United states rcfornatory
In a chapter on law business. the Attorney General
saws Soon after the 4th Of March last it was brought
to my attention that at the then recent Conglcssoha
elections there were very numerous and farreachine
viola of the Federal relating to such elections
In every case where such charges brought to t'
attention of this Department Instructions were gwen 10
the District Attorneys 20 investigate and pIUsecut5 TO
the utmost Of Their power every person implicated IN
such violations of Federal laws and am happy 10 be
able 10 report that number Of states such prose
cutlOns have been successful. large number OF
these cases are stu pending and the instructions TO the
DisirictAttOneys sim ~ push them Ia the end
1t is proper to say that in some efforts have
been made Of them very recently prevent and
cripple these prosecutions. by attempts 10 iniimdatc
the marshal from serving process and witnesses from
giving their testimony such intimidation going 10 the
extent of actual assassination.
But It must not be supposed that hostility 10 tho
United States courts and United States officers Is con
fined to election matters On the contrary, the records
Of the Department Of Justice show that In some dis
Iicis the cvil proceedings Of these courts and crnh
nal prosecutions wholly disconnected with the elective
franchise, cannot proceed, because the lives Of
necessary witnesses are In such danger
that it would be simply tnhuman 10 enforce
Their attendance and the giving OF their
testimony while the evidence is abundant that. IN
certain localities, occupation Is dangerous
faithful performance OF duty by United States las8ls
OF course such lawessness cannot be tolerated"
In regard 10 the necessity Of reorganization Of
he judiciary, the Attorney General says In part :
Without entering into details as TO any plan in
this matter, simply suggest. an illustration Of
the urgency Of doing something. that the Eighth
Circuit, including the two new states of Dakota CON
sists Of nine States embracing twelve districts and
twenty-five divisions. II Is, Of course unnecessary
to say that no Circuit Judge can hold tbe Circuit
Courts. as contemplated by the present system in all