The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-05
4 STAB AT THE SOUTH.
Attorney GENERAL MILE
MAKES HIS ANNUAL REPORT

NJ
southerners SlanderouslyR Represented
as Uph 5lding Lawless Acts Against
the Governmental Claim that Every
obstruction Possible is thrown Out
IN Prevent the Conviction of Crini-
nails.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Attorney Gen
.,sl Miiler's annual report was given to
the nublic to-day. Some extracts are given
herewith.
In a paragraph about the court Of claims
he says:
The war claims alone now pending are about
500 in number. and estimated upon the basis
of the amounts claimed IN the cases earlier in
heir history will aggregate AZ lease 500, co.,
0gO These claims are now very care
fnIiv examined. The evidence, largely
~ Re found in the south and in the confederate
sT.hives. is very carefully searched out and
rgidlv scrutinized, with the result that COM
nara,ively few cases end in judgments against
The government.
are held the number of persons arrested for
Violations of the United States laws and held
awaiting trial, or serving short sentences,
is very great, ana the accommodations
If the county jails are oftentimes meager
This pecessitates the crowding of the govern
n,ent prisoners into institutions entirely too
Is
building of United States jail at Atlanta. Ga,
one at Paris, Tex. and one at Louisville, KY.
and at other points where the average of United
sta as prisoners of this character in number is
100 or more. This matter should receive at
tention.
CASES FOR FEES
On the subject of the case and fee-mak-
ing abuses he says:
In the enforcement of the laws for the pro-
tsction of timber upon the public lands. it has
been found that great numbers OF cases have in
the past been commenced before the United
States commissioners against axmen or day
laborers, while those primarily responsible,
and who are making large profits
by the cutting and selling of
such timber have been permitted 10
escape In some districts hundreds OF prose-
cutions have been commenced against such
laborers, examinations mad before commits
Sioners at great expense to the government,
the cases then sent 80 court. pleas of guilty on
tered and the sentences suspended; the only
effect being that the government was compelled
10 paw large costs to witnesses aud court Off
GERS. Similar practices have also largely pre-
vailed in internal revenue cases.
CONDEMNED BY TIE DEPARTMENT.
These practices have met with no favor at
the hands of the department. On the contrary >,
The district attorneys and marshals have been
admoniShed that they must cease; that prose
BUTTONS for timber treSpaSS ought TO be com
m4nced primarily against the operators, who
are the prime movers in the raids upon the
which is sufficiently important to demand an
arrest. an Indictment and trial, is Of sufficient
Importance to demand punishment; and that,
so far as their powers extend, every effort must
be used to the end that punishment shall fol
low conviction. So great were these abuses
that the attention'of the judiciary committee of
the House of Representatives was called to the
same, and has resulted in an inves
ugstion by committee of the
House. which mas already as l think
resulted in great Improvement in this part of
the public service. Abuses of this character
are, however, measureably at least, incident TO
the system which makes the emoluments of
commissioners, attorneys, clerks and marshals
cependent upon the amount of business they
can find, and they call for the most careful
consideration ana vigorous treatment at the
HANDS OF congress-
ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW.
In a chapter in regard to the difficulty Of
enforcing the law OF the land, the Attorney
General says;
IN some parts of the country the lawlessness
t0which attention was called in the last annual
report of this department continues. The
enforcement of the internal revenue laws and
Of the United States election laws is par
ticularly resisted; and the officers of the
Internal revenue, as well as United States mar
shals are frequently met with violence and
are occasionally the victims of assassination at
me hands of those guilty of violating these aud
other laws, and their friends Several assassi-
nations Of officers and wivnesses with the pur-
pose Of impeding the execution Of the laws and
orders Of the United States, have
occurred during the past year. Within
the last ten days, deputy
marshal, attempting TO serve warrant for the
arrest OF man for violation of the postal law
was shot and instantly killed by the man SOU ght
10 os arrested, and on preliminary exaInina-
non before magistrate of the state the priS
ooer was promptly discharged.
AN ANOMALY.
1t is certainly an anomaly in the government
hay INIT tad ~fio- for
me purpose OF stopping pro ,ecution in the fed
VA courts should not only not be punished. but
lot even De put on trial, although in at least
Two cases in one district in 1890 well known
| yer such is the fact 1t is needless to say
tlat the federal courts have no adequate
jurisdiction over these offenses
| SECTION 500 OF the Revised Statutes provides
Slat IL any person attempts by intimidation,
GlIeatS etc, to prevent any citizen from exer-
gshS the right Of suffrage, and in so doing
C,nnil.s felony or IL two or more persons
gonspire to debar any person from the enjoy
Ueht OF any of his civil rights, and in so doing
vohtnils felony, such felony shall be punished
aUturllhg TO the laws OF the state wherein the
@lae IS committed
CHANGE WANTED
section $500 were SO broadeped as to make
s1y felony committed while in tn act of vio-
aung aay statute of the United States triable
~ %.He united States courts, and punishable
so SUN 10 the laws of the state wherein the
SAle Is committed it would greatly help in
'uS administration of Justice
~ loIs as the persons who kill officers. wit
1855 1855 or Jurors for the purpose of impeding
sn s lauAn istraton of justice can only DE tried
s punished i'll the federal court as for minor
| StaoseS' the administration of the United
| ds ,gs laws and the laws themselves in many
99tFlceS Viii have little respect
NJ ane supreme court has recently decided that
tb g peace of the United States.' ls it not
nrosa Ity Oh congress to provide by law for the
sntgno a.lon OF this peace" everywhere and at
DILIGENCE OF THE OFFICERS.
ai ro,e"ithstanding the difficulties of the stu.
GI; ALL, me officers Of this de 9artment have been
lion fn IN ext cutting the laws In prosecu.
e,aI AT 4r Violations of the election laws in sew
havo ILs.ricts, convictions and pleas of guilty
| AZ an %T obtained in large number of cases
mo- =; 'HuStration. however of the difficulties
I'm - egch prosecutions, the district attorney
| ue 9lStrict reports that, in a cert ain county
vo+ n99uIoer Of whose citizens were con-
| ths 49, u OF violations Of the ection laws
ao1hVy court ordered all the fines and costs
oonr. , t against them in the United States
hst W y; ne PAID out of the county treasury: and
ctilsr "a another county, number of whose
DnaJoS3 were IN like manner convicted. or had
/ btba ~ guilty to indictments for such offenses
p3 on y nlted States court. 81 300 was actually
snd coH. VI The county treasury upon such fines
tbern eoICs IN one day. These facts speak for
medical Colleges New Tutor.
r.