Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-03
MR.. GRIGGS' REPORT
INCREASED APPROPRIATION ASKED
FOR NEW DEPARTMENT BUILDING.
RecOmme ndatiOns In Regard to the
Girls Reform school and Report of
the Boys Reform School.

Attorney General Griggs this afternoon
sent his annual report to Congress. The re-
port opens with the work of the United
States Supreme Court for the fiscal year.
This shows that 80 cases were docketed on
the appellate docket and 81 were disposed
of, leaving 1903 to be disposed Of. OF the 81
appellate cases disposed of 100 were affirm
ed, Is reversed, 50 dismissed, 80 settled by
the parties and dismissed; in questions
certified were answered, and 80 were denials
of petitions for writs of certiorari under the
act of March 8, 1891.
The most notable and important cases
disposed of are briefly mentioned.
Regarding a new department building Mr..
Griggs says:
In my last annual report 1 informed Con-
gress Of the selection of architect and
the approval of plan for the new building
for the Department of Justice, provided for
by act of March 3, 1899. In that report
stated that it was probable that on &C.
count of the extraordinary increase In the
cost of building materials and labor 1t
would be impossible to complete building
of the design selected with the money au-
thorized by the original appropriation, and
that additional appropriation would be
necessary.
subsequently to the date of my report 1
advertised for and received bids for the
construction of the building according to
the proposed design These bids verified the
prediction l had made, and disclosed the
fact that a very substantial increase of the
appropriation would be necessary If the
building were to be Of the capacity and
style contemplated at the time the act was
passed, and in dignity and finish worthy of
the objects for which the structure is in
tended.
To construct a building of the size requir-
ed and of the design provided for within
the present appropriation would require the
use of ma terials so cheap and common as
to render the building a blemish rather
than an ornament to the national capital.
1t would be necessary, instead of construct
ing the outside walls Of the building of
marble. as is proposed, to construct them
of terra Gotta. and the interior, which. ac-
cording to the present plans and specifica-
tfonS Is to be of a style and finish which
would render it an object of beauty and of
general interest, would need to be con-
structed on the plane of an ordinary cheap
Office building.
Il have the honor, therefore, to renew my
recommendation for the increase Of the
limit and an additional appropriation which
will enable the department to erect and
furnish a building of the material and in
plans and specifications. 1t Is my purpose
to secure bids for the work, which
shall hereafter submit to Congress as a
basis for such further appropriation.
United States Prisoners.
On July l. 1899 there were 3,137 United
States convicts in the various prisons and
reformatories of the country, as against
1882 at the close of the last fiscal year on
June 80, 1900. OF the total number in con-
finement at said last date 9O2 were in the
United States penitentiary at Fort Leaven-
worth. Kan. and IS in the United States
penitentiary at McNeils Island, Wash. The
remainder, 1862, were in the various state
institutions made use of for the purpose.
The number of prisoners in custody dur
ing the ! shSsS. diScha rQpd during
the year, 1,6o1: in confinement on June 30,
1900, 1892; discharged by expiration Of SEN
tence, 1,527; died, a. pardoned, So released
by writ of habeas corpus, 8; transferred to
insane asylum II; received during year
ending June 80, 1900. 1876. OF those in
prison on June 80, 1900, there We're en-
ployed on piece work, 1876: on state account,
496 on prison duties, 1,636; total working,
2,j6S.
Criminal Practice and Procedure.
"In my report for the year 1899 I urged
upon Congress the necessity of providing,
by suitable legislation, for an appeal on the
part of the government in cases Of decision
adverse to the United States by the courts
upon demurrers interposed to indictments.
Since that report was written other in
stances have arisen emphasizing the neces-
sty for such a change in criminal pro-
ceCure. One instance, among Others, will
suffice to illustrate the Importance of this
subject.
"A criminal information was filed in
United States district court against a per-
son charged with pasturing sheep on the
Sierra forest reserve, in violation of the act
of June 4, 1897 go Stat, 35). There are
about thirty cases in that district involving
the same question, but against different
parties. The defendant in the test case in
stituted filed a demurrer to the information,
which the court decided against the gov
eminent on mere questions of law. Under
the present procedure it is impossible for
the government to have the decision of the
district court reviewed, although it is the
opinion of the district attorney having
charge Of the case and of the Attorney
General that the decision was erroneous
and ought to be reversed
1T Is not conceived that such a law as is
proposed would interfere in any way with
the constitutional rights of defendants but
would permit the construction of statutes
and of the Constitution in criminal cases.
Wnere such construction is adverse to the
Government, to be submitted In regular
course to the appellate courts and to re-
ceive the construction of those court
course which is quite as reasonable and
necessary in criminal cases as in cases in
volving mere property rights.
District Reform Schools.
The Attorney General refers to the report
Of the trustees of the reform schools OF
the District, but makes no recommended
tions except as to the girls reform school.
AS to this institution he says:
ulSe d6dHl upon congress the I'M
portance of legislation which shall reduce
the age limit of admission to the sch Dol
and enlarge the powers of the trustees, so
as to provide by parole, when earned or
by transfer to the workhouse in refractory
cases, and In other ways for more COM
plete authority over the inmates. Con-
gress is referred to the exhibit mentioned
for additional information upon this topic,
which is believed to be of vital interest 10
the school. l suggest, as means to the
4
comforting similar power upon the board
of trustees Of the boys reform school,
might properly be extended to this school,"
Judgments and Fines.
The aggregate amount Of the judgments
rendered in favor of the United States in
civil suits during the last year was $685.
1888. and the amount actually collected
on these judgments was So, 1851, while
So. 1881 was obtained during the year on
judgments rendered in former years for
the United States. and 81, 100 AZ was other
v-,s-o t.