Wiarus. (Winona, Minn.) 1886-1893, 1890-12-11
OF THE LAW.
Reference to the Work of the Depart
ment of Justice.


The report OF the attorney-general is under
the law submitted directly to congress. but as
the department OF justice is one of the executive
departments, some reference to the work done
Is appropriate here. A vigorous and, in the
main, an effective effort has been made to bring
to trial and punishment all violators OF the
laws, but, at the same time. care has been taken
mat frivolous and technical offenses should not
De used to swell the fees of officers or to haraSs
well-disposed citizens. Especial attention is
called to the facts connected with the prosecution
OF Violations OF the election laws, and OF Offenders
CONVICTIONS, very many OF them pleas Of guilty.
VIII, II Is hoped, have a %salutary restraining
influence. There have been several cases where
postIlasters appointed by me have been sub
lected to violent interference in the discharge Of
their affairs. duties. and to prosecutions and per-
sonal VIC 'ence OF the most extreme character.
Some OF these cases have been dealt with
through the department OF justice, and in some
cases the postottices have been abolished or sus.
pended. l have requested the postmaster general
to pursue this course in all cases where other ef.
iorts Jailed to secure for any postmaster. not
himself III fault, an opportunity peacefully to
exercise the duties of his Office. But such ac-
ton will not supplant the efforts of the depart
1nent OF Justice to bring the particular offenders
to punishment.
The vacation by judicial DEGREES of fraudulent
certificates OF naturalization, upon bills in
equity filed by the attorney general in the cir
cult court of the United States. is a new appli-
cation OF a familiar equity jurisdiction. Nearly
'lC III sue uetEetS I'd T. DtbD taken during
the year, the evidence disclosing that a very
large number of fraudulent certificates OF nat
urallZatlOn have been issued. And III this con-
nection | beg to renew my recommendations that
the laws be so amended as to require a more full
and searching inquiry into all the facts neces-
sary TO naturalization before any certificates
are granted. 1t certainly is not too much to
require that an application for American citizen
snip shall be heard with as much care, aud ac-
corded with as much formality as are given to
cases involving the pettiest property right.
AT the last session | returned. without my n
prevail. Il bill entitled A act to prohibit book.
making aud pool selling in the district of Column.
bla, and stated my objection to tie that it did
not prohibit, but i'll fact licensed what 1t pur-
ported to prohibit. An effort will be made un-
DER existing laws to suppress this evil, though it
IS not certain that they will be found adequate.
The report of the postmaster general shows the
most gratifying progress i'll the important work
committed to his direction. The business
methods have been greatly improved. A large
economy IN expenditures and an increase OF
iour and three quarter millions have been real.
lied. The deficiency this year is SO, 7S6. 300. as
against S6,3oO.1S3 last year. Notwithstanding
tne great enlargement OF the service. Mail routes
nave been qulckened and greater accuracy and
dispatch i'll Distribution have been attained.
The report will be found to be full of interest
aud suggestion. not only to congress but to
those thoughtful citizens who may be interested
10 KNOW what business methods can do for that
department OF public administration which
most nearly touches al our people.
The passage OF the act TO amend certain sec,
tons OF the Revised Statutes reiatingto lotteries
Is approved. it has been received with great and
deserved popular favor. The postOtice depart
ment OF Justice at once entered upon the enforce
ment Of the law with sympathetic vigor. and
already the pubic mails have been largely freed
from the fraudulent and demorallzing appeals
and literature emanating from the lottery com.
DanleS.