The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-12-09
CRICCS' STATEMENT.
The Attorney General Makes a Re-
port on His Department.
PRIZES CAPTURED DURING THE WAR.
The Attention of Congress Called to the
Necessity Of ProvidiHg wore Ads-
quate PORN or Government
for 'askn.

Washington. Dee. s. Attorney Gem
eral Griggs To-Day su omitted to con-
gress his annual report of the opera
tions of his department lie saws:
The war revenue net has be m especially pro-
ductive Of doubtful questions and many in
stances OF advice ana direction to ths commits
sioner Of internal revenue reiative to different
features of that statute will he found in the re-
port Of that office The attention of congress
is respectfully called to them in order that. II
IL he necessary or advisable. congress- may cor
rect any defects or inequalities in the law
which the Interpretation OF the department OF
justice have made.
Very soon after the outbreak of the war with
Spain the department was called upon to take
charge OF legal proceedings for the condemna-
ton OF vessels and cargocs captured by our
navy prizes and brought into our ports for
adjudication. As early rs April %. two Span
ish vesscls-the Buena Ventura aud the Pedro
were so taken and thereafter SINH
lar captures were made by our war
ships during the prolres OF the war
until total OF 80 vsssslcs were BROUGHT
INTO various ports and labelled as prizes or
this number 30 were taken to Key West, within
the Jurisdiction OF the southern district OF
Florida; four were taken to Charleston, one to
Savannah and one to New York All but eight
Of the 80 cases brought In the Florida district
have been heard and decided, those still unde-
cided being those captured during the later
stages OF the war. The amount realiz ID from
the sale of the captured vessels and cargoes
condemned us prize Is 1910 In ten cases
| appeals have been TAX on the part OF the
claimants to the United States supreme court
from the decree OF the district court and are
now pending.
There was an increase OF - In the number Of
cases on the appellate docket Of the supreme
court OF tn United States and "A decrease OF 81
| in the number disposed OF, the number remain
| ing having been reduced thereby from 1853 TO
| 3l3
The attention OF congress is called to the
necessity of providing more complete and
| adequate form OF government for Alaska
| The efforts to administer justice and maintain
| order IN the territory, with the large access
| sions OF population that have recently gone
| into that region. restricted by the very
| limited machinery provided for Alaska In its
| original sparsely popuat' d condition. are Mt
| tended with great difficulty and embara SSment
| The power OF congress to provide form of
| government adapted to the peculiar condit.o ns
| of this ertitory is undoubted The machinery
| Of Justice is entirely inadequate There should
| be an increase in the number Of Judges. the
number OF United States commissioners and
| United States district attorneys The
| powers OF the United States commisSil M
ers In that territory should he increased, 80
| as to enable them to hear ant cOn"lu ie minor
| cases OF both civil and Grim nal nature, with
right to appeal to the territorial district cou /.
| Much complaint arises from tn" operations OF
| the fee system in connection with the office OF
| United States commissioner. | recommend
| that u change in the method Of cnmpenStting
| these officers he IN lde that their comp 'nSi-
| ton shall be paid entirely by fixed salary
| and all fees covered into the treasury.