New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-06
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
ANNUAL REPORT OF ATTORNEY GEN
ERAL GRIGGS.


TIoNs FROM NEW POSSESSIONS
HIGHER SALARIES FOR
FEDERAL JUDGES.
Washington Dec 5.-Attorney General Griggs
in HIS annual report 20 Congress reviews the
work Of the Department Of Justice In the year,
and says that application is occasionally made
10 the Department TO have legal proceedings
brought in the name OF the United States against
corporations combinations that alleged to
be engaged in forming or maintaining monopo-
lies agreements in restraint of trade com
petition such actions" the Attorney General
says. "can be maintained only when the offence
comes within the scope OF the Federal statute.
The only Federal legislation against combina-
lions IN restraint OF trade is contained in the
sO-oalled Sherman act OF July .. 1890. 1t Will
be observed that this statute is directed only at
combinations monopoies in restraint OF trade
or commerce among the several States or with
foreign nations. II does not pretend TO go into
other branches OF business or commerce, or at
tempt in any way to interfere with those trans
actions which are carried on exclusively within
the confines of a State. or which do not amount to
what under the decisions OF the United States Su-
preme Court is understood by the term interstate
stitutional right to supervise, direct interfere
with the transaction OF ordinary business by the
people OF the several States unless such business
relates directly and not incidentally to interstate
commerce. and such has been the decision OF the
Supreme Court Of the United States"
The Attorney General discusses this subject at
some length quoting freely from the decisions OF
the courts sustaining his position. and in con-
clusion says:
In all cases where the facts presented to the
Attorney General capable OF legal proof have
established satisfactorily such an agreement or
combination in restraint OF interstate commerce
as is contemplated by the Sherman act legal
proceedings have been taken by him in the
name Of the United States either to dissolve the
combination or TO punish the offenders by in
dictment.
The Attorney General also refers 10 the many
important questions which have arisen in the
administration Of the government and affairs of
new insular possessions, and appends copies of
opinions rendered by him on this subject.
Referring TO the work OF the Court of Private
Land Claims, ne says:
1t will doubtless be necessary for Congress to
provide for some tribunal similar 10 this court
TO hear and dispose Of, upon such principles as
Congress may specify. claims OF an incomplete
character to public lands in the recently ac
CURED territory Of the United States in Porto
Rico and the Philippine Islands. As to Porto
Rico especially, early provision for the deter
mnation of questions Of this kind ought to be
made. and legislation ought to be passed to pro-
vide methods and restrictions under which
rights in public lands and waters in that island
be acquired. The rivers and streams, as
well as the water front the seaboard, in
Porto Rico were formerly vested in the Crown
OF Spain, and the ownership OF them has now
passed to the United States and can only be
disposed OF in accordance with the will Of Con-
gress No structure or Improvement for the
benefit OF the towns cities which requires the
use Of the waters Of the streams or the shores
Of the island can now be made. as there is at
present no law which authorizes any person 10
grant the necessary license or permission for
even the temporary diversion OF the waters
whether naVigable or not.
On the subject of judicial salaries the Attor-
ney General says
II IS not an uncommon thing 10 find lawyer
appearing before the United States Court in
case where his fee for argument exceeds the
annual salary Of the judge. The judges or the
United States Supreme Court and the circuit
and district courts are inadequately compen-
stated The same rs true OF those Of the Court
OF Claims The courts of the United States are
everywhere in the civilized world held in the
very highest repute: yet their judges are paid
smaller salaries than are allowed by the states
10 state judges I'm very many jurisdictions. l
believe that increase OF the salary or the
Chief Justice and Associate Justices Of the Su-
prerne Court to 10000 a year. Of the Circuit
Court Judges to $4,000 and the district judges
10 81 800 a year would be a simple measure OF
justice and approved by every just minded citi-
zen.
On the subject Of Alaska the Attorney Gen
eral says:
The administration OF affairs in Alaska, and
especially the administration OF justice through
the courts and court officers is not satisfactory
The criminal business Of Alaska has doubled
within the year, and the civil business has null
tiplied four times over. Complaints of the in
adequacy Of the provisions established for MAIN
tanning law and order and enforcing the Grim
inal statutes are universal. At present there is
only one United States judge, one marshal and
one district attorney for this whole vast extent
OF territory who are not able TO dispose Of one
tenth OF the business presented
He urges on Congress the necessity OF pro-
viding for the appointment Of an additional dis
trict Judge. an additional United States district
attorney and marshal and that the Territory be
divided into two districts. He recommends that
the salary Of the district attorney or district al
torneys II two are provided, be fixed at So,UOO a
year.
CABLE COHPANYS STOCK INCREASED.
Albany Dec 5-The Commercial Gable Company.
OF New-York City, to-day filed with the Secretary
Of State a certificate Of increase Of capital stock
from S0O00O 900 to SIS 10000 The stock as increased
consists of one hundred and fifty thousand shares
of the par value OF 800 each. The increase was or
dered BY the affirmative vote OF the holders OF i+Y2
shares Of stock The certificate. which IS signed by
GeOrCe g. Ward and Albert Beck declares that the
liabilities OF the corporation are SsS24sg