Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-12-14
OLNEY'S REPORT.
The Acknowledgement Shows
What He Has Been Doing.
The BUSINESS GREATLY INCREASED.
Comments on Chinese Exclusion, "IIat
Trimmings" Etc.-UnIon Pacific In
terosts Watched The sherman
Antitrust Law.

| WAsmSoToS, Dec. THE annual re-
port Of Attorney-General Olney was
submitted TO congress to-day. IL shows
that the volume OF business of the fed
cral courts is rapidly increasing. The
number of criminal prosecutions pend
ing In the federal circuit and district
courts July last was 93s5 against
| SSOs July I, 1885, while the expenses Of
the United States courts exclusive Of
| judges salaries) incurred and paid In
the fiscal year 1898 were 81. b2s, 67G, as
| against e., s71, 1888 In the fiscal year 1885.
The two cases Of greatest consc-
| quence TO the government decided by
| the supreme court during the past
gear, says the report, were known as
the "Chinese exclusion" case, and the
hat trimmings" case. The latter in
Volved no legal principle Of special mo-
rnent, but its decision adversely TO the
government makes IL liable 10 PEE
cuniary claims vnriously estimated as
amounting from SlO, 600, 900 TO ESQ., OOO-
900. The Chinese exclusion case on
the other hand, brought into debate a
question OF constitutional law second
TO none In gravity and with far reach
ing results dependent upon its deter
mination
The Encouragement devotes some
attention TO the cases arising under
the Bowman act, speaks Of the diff
Guilty of their proper investigation ow-
ing to the fact that they grow out OF
transactions of thirty years ago, and
says that these cases demand the most
careful legislative safeguards against
successful fraud. During the past
year but forty of these cases have lcen
decided by the court, with the npVre-
gate allowance of s14i, OGs. O6, bringing
the total of allowance In these cnses
up TO 81, 3s2, 20l.06. There are pending
1909 cases, embodying claims esti-
mated by the assistant att rney-gen-
eral, who has had special charge of
these cases, at about S37, OO0,0
The report OF the solicitor OF the
treasury shows that the whole number
Of suits for penalties, fines, etc. dccid-
ed or otherwise disposed of during the
year wns G.63s; the whole amount for
which judgments were obtained, eN-
elusive Of DEGREES In rem. was slOI,O10.-
40; and the entire amount collected
from all sources was $500, 400 u.
Considerable space is devoted in the
report To the discussion Of affairs in the
Indian territory An omission 10 call
attention 10 what may fairly he char
ncter lcd as NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF JUS
tice there would, the report says, be
without excuse. II Is claimed that
treaty stipulntions stand in the way for
u remedy for this state of things. II
that he true, then IL Is clear that no
time ought to be lost in the negotiat-
ing of new treaties.
Regarding the Union Pacific receiver
ship, the report speaks confidently that
the interests of the United States will
be secured by the appoints nent of addi-
tional receivers.
Regarding the sherman antitrust
law the Encouragement says there
has been and probably still is u wide
spread Impression that the aim and eff
feet OF this statute are TO prohibit aud
prevent those aggregations of capital
which are so common at the present
day anu which ARE sometimes ON so
large scale rs To practically control
all the branches of an extensive indus
try II would not he useful,
even II IL were possible to ascertain
the precise purposes Of the iramers OF
the statute. II is sufficient To point
out what small basis there il for the
popular impression referred TO.
The aggregate judgments in favor of
the United States In civil suits during
the year were s2S5, O5l; the aggregate
tines, forfeitures and penalties impos ed
in criminal prosecutions we're SOS, OF.