Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-12-06
MILLER'S REPORT.
The Attorney Generals State.
ments and Recommendations.
Psnitautiafy and Rsiormitory for U. S.
Prisoners Needed.
6uccessfu, Prosecutions OF Federal Law
vioiators-crying Evils In Delayed
Justice.

department of Justice during the past year
together with . statement of the preseat con
dition of business before the United State
Supreme Court and Court of Claims Peti
tions 10 the number of $3.50. representing
1856 Yessels and about $50, 600 900, hay,
been hled In the latter court under the act Of
January 20, 1855, commonly known As ths
French Spoilation Act. Experience hsi
shown from trials and findings in this elias.
of cAses, that findings for claimants have
fallen far below the amoanss claimed. from
whish it may reasonably be concluded thai
the estimate of $50. coo, 900 will exceed the
amount that the government may be found
liable. During the year 22s7 suits and IA =
5ss criminal Prosecutions terminated. and
there are pending 1850 Of the former and
1912 OF the latter class.
United States Prisoners.
The Attorney General says that at the pres.
ent time there is not single instance of q
country which will receive United States pris.
oners free Of cost The number of peniten-
tiaries which will receive United States pris-
oners from any outside State at all is becom-
ing knitted and in some cases the transfer of
government conyicts from one penitentiary to
another becomes necessary in view of
vacillstng ensctments of the legislatures in
the several states. When all the States in
which suitable oenitentisries are located en-
act laws to the above effect, government will
be compelled to hire quarters for criminals
or designate institutions which are in no way
proper places for confinement. -
He therefore recommends that provision
be made for the United States penitentiary
and the United States refofmatory, the latter
being intended for the confinement Of q
milder class of criminals. He also urged
that prison bureau be established in the
department of justice, where could be gath
cred, collated and recorded in permanent
form the criminal statistics of the United
States.
Violations OF Federal Laws.
"very soon after the i,h of March last it
was brought 10 my attention that at recen.
elections there were very
numerous and far reaching violations Of the
federal laws relating to such elections.
In every case where charges were brought
to the attention of this department instruc,
tiens were given to district attorneys to in
vestigale and prosecute to the utmost of
their power every person implicated in such
of federal laws and am hsppy to
a
such prosecutions have been successful. A
large nrmber of indictments have been re-
turned; upon some of them trials have been
had +; in a number of cases convictions have
been obtained and in some cases the cuiprits
pleaded guilty and asked for mercy at the
hands of the court. A large number of these
cases are still pending aud instructions are
to the district attorneys to still push them
10 the end.
Reorg ganiz alton Of the Judiciary.
The Attorney General makes the follow.
rg remarks with regard to the necessity of
of the judiciary; The i'm
poItance of some charge in the judicial
,yste N of the United States which will en-.
able the courts. and especially the supreme
court, to dispose of the large number Of
Eases now accumulated and decide current
eases as they shall come upon the dockets,
can hardly he exaggerated. am aware that
there is among judges aud lawyers as well
as laymen great diversity of opinion as to
the manner in which the end may be acc ,m-
plished. | say, however, safely and properly,
urge that Congress shall address itself to
this cubject with the determination to find q
remedy for the crying evil of the delay in
the administration of justice in some of the
circuit courts and in the supreme courts
an evil which amounts practically to denial
of justice in a large number of cases. With
out entering into details as to the plan in
this matter, simply suggest, as an
Illustration OF the Urgency
of doing something for that eighth circuit,
which including the two new States of Da-
kota, consists of nine States, embracing IL
districts and % divisions. 1t is of course
to say that no circuit judge can
hold circuit courts as contemplated by the
present system, in all these districts. The
of things in the supreme court is
still worse and that court is getting every
year further In arrears"
The report contains number of other
among which are the fol-
lowing; For Assistant Attorney General for
the department. of agriculture, for additional
Assistant Attorney General for the depart
ment of justice; for appropriation to be used
in the collection of old judgments due the
United States; that the United States
statutes be amended 80 as to recog-
nize more than one degree of murder;
that authority be given to the receiver
appointed IN one district to bring suits for
as sets in the federal courts of any other dis
trict; that the United States courts be given
jurisdiction to investigate and punish any
crime perpetrated in and as a part Of the
of any ofense against the laws
of the United States; and that a clear and
definite fee bill be enacted for the proceed
ings before the United States COMM -sioners.
NADnrNn0