The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1894-12-12
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

able industries aJ great ulSuuNaheobSi eS
compared with their rivals differently located
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
Annual Report of Attorney General olney--
The Pullman Strike, the COmmOnwealers |
and the Indian Territory Troubles Re-
ceive Attention.
WASHINGTON, Dec.e 5.-Three topics,
the Pullman strike, the commonweal-
ers and the Indian territory troubles
claim particular attention in the an
nual report of Attorney General Olney,
submitted to congress yesterday.
SIT is not germane to this report, he
says, "to consider the origin or the
merits Of the labor disturbance which
has passed into history under the name
of the pullman strike" The relation
to it of the department of justice was
indirect and arose only when the rail-
roads of the country became involved
and the passage of the United States
mails and the movements of interstate
commerce were interfered with.
Chicago being the center of the
trouble and the loss of the very neces-
saries of life threatened, the most vig-
orous use of the legal weapons at the
demand of the government was justi-
Aed.
He follows the strike in its several
phases, the presence of troops to en-
force the order of the courts, and con-
cludes: "The strike at Chicago, so far
as it involved the obstruction of United
States mails and the paralysis of inter
state commerce, was practically broken
when the United States troops reached
that city and, being broken at Chicago,
was in reality broken everywhere else,
1t was at once realized that it necessa-
rily antagonized the laws of the United
States and therefore must fail unless
the power behind it was stronger than
the whole power of the federal gov
ernment."
1t is not usually considered fortunate
for property to be in the hands of re-
ceivers, but that fact made it easier for
the United States government to deal
with the "Commonwealers of Christ
This department" says the attorney
general, became involved because the
railroad properties seized were in the
hands of receivers appointed by the
federal courts and because these courts
at once issued DEGREES for the protec
tion of the receivers and their proper
ty, and directed the United States mar
shals to execute them. In very many
instances the marshals found them
selves unable to execute such orders
by any force of special deputies or an,
posse at their command.
upon such evidence being Furnished
the matter was called to the attention
of the president with the request tina
the orders and processes of the cour
might be enforced by such militar,
force as was necessary. The reques
was invariably acceded to, the troop
. being used in each case not as poss
comitatus under the command of tn
marshal, but as an independent instru
mentality, acting under the immediat
direction of the president through tn
; army officers personally in command
; BY this means the perils of a gray
situation were averted, widesprea
lawlessness was checked in its initia
Z stages, great destruction of propert
was prevented and large numbers G
persons, offenders not so much fror
vicious intent as from actual threat
ened want and suffering, were save
y the consequences of serious crimes an
: escaped with only moderate penalties.
:. The inefficient administration {
: Justice" in the Indian territory wa
called to the attention of congress Las
v year by the attorney general and onl
few weeks ago what he terms ran
r pant lawlessness" broke out again
d the absence of any remedial legislatio
!, on the subject. AS presenting the n
u cessity for action better than he cal
8 he presents the report of the grand jur
= for the Western district of Arkansa
1t says in part:
= "The causes for "a failure of a mo-
y prompt and efficient enforcement of Il
Is law in the Indian Territory lie wit
n the law itself aud the Interpretation
II those laws by the department at Was
: ington. Two causes appear to be mo
,- prominent, viz:
= "First-An utter absence of prop
'r understanding of the situation in Il
- - Indian Territory on the part Of the co
Of gressional committees having appr
a. priations for the service in charge;
lr the treasury and law departments
:. the government and by the public &c
y n orally. Second--A failure of the la
Is to provide adequate pay for the servi'
q THE latter cause is the natural o
~ ~ spring of the former and the remoy
+ Of the first will undoubtedly RENE
g. the second, but until the real situati
st is understood and adequate pay for Il
~ service is provided, no improvement
ia the enforcement Of the law will be
Ir- cured or can be secured"