The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-12-11

Fiae Connections,
Holiday Goods.
fall and see for
yourselves.
Ar1oRNsY esNsnAus RspoRr.
Cammcnds the Salary system and Wants
some Changes In Lava.

Some Changes In Laws.
WASHINGTON. Dec. iO.-Attorney
General Harmon ia his annual report
10 congress expresses his satisfaction At
results, 80 far as obtained OF the new
salary system. which displaced the old
ies system on July 10. Of the present
year. Returns, he says. afford striking
evidence OF the wisdom Of coarse NO
org advocated, which removes public
service from some common temptations
q extravaganza and abuse A very
largo reduction Is shown IN every one
Of the items which would naturally DO
affected by tho fec system Fees for
United States marshals will show a re-
ductiou FOR the year Of about 100000
from those Of previous years Other
reductions viii be made, approximAtos
as follows; Fees Of jurors. si25, sos;
fees Of witnesses, ssO7, 01S pay Of bail
ills. s9l .4gO; salaries and expenses Of
district attorneys. si92,Ol2. Report
shows although there was an increase
during the year Of 80 in the number Of
cases docketed by the United States
supreme court there was an increase OF
81 In number disposed OF.
The dockets at the close Of terms
show a decrease Of iO7 cases At the
end Of the October terms. 1894, there
remained undisposed Of GA cases. The
number OF cases on the docket AZ tho
October term was 1883 OF this mum.
Der l0l were disposed Of during the o.
tobcr term. 1895, $50 were in the appel.
late and FIVE on the original docket.
, The number Of cases actually considered
by the court was ga.
The attorney general points out two
defects In the criminal laws, TO which
the attention Of congress Is invited. The
first, no says. Is unnecessary, and IA an
? unfortunate confusion Of our criminal
legislation. Provisions are constantly
\. enacted to meet special cases and chs
= consequence is It Is often difficult q
4 ascertain which Of two or more laws arr
q applicable 20 the case IN hand Case
arise which ought 10 be covered by laws
4; but there are none, and the same Of
e tense Is visited with various degrees o
punishment. not determined by any diff
:. ierence In criminality, but merely b!
the fact that various statutes relating h
/. specific instances OF the Cfenso Ar
drafted by different men and passed a
r different times The attorney gener'
thinks a new crimes act should b
passed as speedily as possible which
should contain provisions simple. easil
understood and general In its scope
covering such crimes against the Unise'
States government that uniform sys
B tenn Of punishments would thus be pro
/ vided and that as 10 cases arising I
a. future, the present laws relating =
/. these crimes should be repealed. Thi
work could be easily and quickly per
r formed by a commission.
:. The second defect Is the unfortunai
Vi results Of the present law governin
wri,s OF error TO the supreme court
IN criminal cases The questions raised !
these criminal cases for the most PAL
cr are comparatively trivial and not {
A.. general Importance. lie thinks that
p. transfer OF criminal appeals TO the circu
court OF appeals with the present systcl
X permitting important questions 10 !
presented to the supreme court by ce
- tifcation. is highly desirable. A r
Dd view OF the cases before the Unite
States court can then DO made.
as On the subject OF the antitrust Ia
do the attorney general says;
"The resi- -ieted scope OF provisions
x. this law, as they have been constru'
by the courts, especially In the case
IS. the United States vs.. + @. knight cor
10. pany, make an amendment nocessal
II any effective action is expected fro
81. this department Besides, the fund
n. the disposal Of the attorney gener
Of which can be applied to investigation
preparation and prosecution Of the cas-
under this law, is wholly inadequate
~