Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-12-27


the titles ct lands ssauired by the gov
ernment There have bsen. of late
years. more CREST constitutional qaes-
tions decided in the attorney-xenersl's
oiice than for . long time previously;
such, for example, IS that in which
Justice Field was concerned SOME time
ago"
And are records Of ell thess tudg-
ments kept ~ the Department."
oh yea" ssiA Mr.. Miller. He part
" turned in his seat and indicated .
bookcase full II large, iesthsr-bo
volumes There they sre. And since
hare bees here there have been de-
cisioas enough HANDED down T. I'll IT
least . volume"
els IL trus that Yen exercise . super.
vision ever al prisoners n federal
courtsT'
Yea On IN average there are about
fo,eoe Of saeh prisoners. - distinguished
from those who are confined In state
prisons We employ examiners 70 In
Yestieste the proceedings Of all officials
concerned In the trial and sentencing
of federal prisoners, except, Of course.
the judges, who are not subject to our
supervision. Most Of the federal pris-
oners are such as have bean sentenced
TO long taRnA Three-6fths of the
whole naaber Of them are confined in
three prissns-in Columbus, in Detroit
and smother. These are considered 20
BE msdel prisons. II any abuses arise
Ne go that thsy - eorrecAed"
'.ADd ! saprose ysa are applied 70
slBo ih the mseeeP Of payasns?"
"Yea. we have - many Is ten or
twelve applications for pardons come TO
us every week. II is one Of the most
painful functions We hsws 70 discharge.
There b the oonEict between the nat
ural desire to Be nercAul, and the de-
mands Of duty. The applications ara
hrst referred by the pardon clerk to
the court Of the district attorney, then
. brief \ made ont and submitted -
me, anA again submitted By me to Pres
idsnt Harrison He looks It over BE-
fore affixing his signature. have the
appointment, BY the way. Of all die
trict attorneys. And in al matters IN
which attorneys sre employed In casoa
ct . distance, have 70 Ax the fees.
There 4, Of course, . regular fee bill;
but in addition 70 that, there are Incl
dental and fortuitous matters for which
extra fees can be charged. md al these
hare - BE carefully investigated and
any tendency to overeharge seAeek u.
This makes constant struggle fer ex-
penses. Il il irksome businedb, and the
system b bad ons. have suggested
that II be reformed As It is now there
Is naturally N effort On the part Of
attorneys to make al they can. The
case - similar in journalism eetween
space-writeEs and salaried writer's. The
former are tempted 10 send In Is much
material - possible; the latter are snly
interested - Do well the work they have
70 de-"
Els there any particular class q
crines." I inquired. (which Il more
likely Than another - cems before
ysuS"
mo; not specially ~ 70 che nature d
the crime; but, for instance, We have
kaA more 70 do with the crimes com
mitted In the territories. ana especially
in The Indian territory, which was .
great hot-bsd for esius. New that
0klahena has been ss1eleA. hevevcr.
tie es1Fts there stesad 10 the e4ensss
aEu6nst law. Tho fact n, this is great
big law chico hags what it is-aud
administrative, too"
"And how much 6ne dsy do you
rive 70 the transaction q IN tAis bush
ness, Mr. Mller7'' as1led I; though my
psrsenal ambition toward the attor-
nsy generalship had been fully and
finally cured some while before.
We'll, get down here nevsr later
saan half-past eight, end I dent get
away again bsfors ave." We ne reply.
"Ycs, these are longer hours than the
clerks have to keep. but IT'S the same
~ any law business. except thst you
hsven't the same option - to what
you'll undertake that you have IN pri-
vstc practice
"Ysu are an indiana man. are you
net7' inquired
II was oorn in New York, but J
moved Qua 10 Indiana and prsetieed law
there" be said. "Mr. Harrison and
came into business relations then. Since
fsrs have seen Mr.. Harrisou about
every day"
''Did il ever occur - you. m thoss
days. that you might be sitting here?''
II nsver had the slightest anticiya-
tion Of such . thing. In fact. I may
ssJ that, until WITHIN three months Of
my coming here. tire idea Of holding q
public s1fscs had never presented itself
to my mind"
And certainly srly . high motive
csuid have induced him to aceept the
ofRce when IL was rendered 10 him.
Frea Tie pecuHiary pcint Of view. .
hwysr Of Nr. Miller's attachments
could ssrtainly make more In private
prsctice Aan his salary - attorney
general would amount 70; while tha
chsrssseS 81 sAs man entirely pps-
eludss ths iAes tAss money will come
- him through sny irregular channel.
n The hesds Of such mea - shsse ire
affairs - DE country are sass. They
are nes 81 essas aeilisiss. and their
rspussslen b ;so &ssr 10 them - sllsw a.
tAsir sxsrstae ooss ssti1ssss s<hrviss
shan - - Interest go ~ eae bese In
tsrss0 Vt - eovonDenA The VOL
srss which ny. Miller sontssbnsss -
- lisvNry - ~ ssscrnsy ssasrsa 80
80 hheH 10 - tbs lease vADu>sbls n
80 va1noAls esliee1iea.
JUzxAn uAv9uonHB
a ssopss ousssssss
Ne wss going sacas Jea>rnsa avenue