New-York tribune., 1909-09-06
STUDYING NEW LAWS
l.. S. 4TTORNEYS BUSY.
Naturalization and Customs 4ppcat
Chances Cause General Shift.

Whenever Congress adjourns the United States
attorneys throughout the country are compelled
study the laws enacted, so that they may see
to their enforcement as the Presidents sig
nature is attached over in the Federal Building
several vacations of assistants to Henry S Wise,
the United States Attorney for this district were
cut short this year because of the volume OF new
laws turned out. One of the acts OF Congress that
went into effect July last transferred the work
prosecuting naturalization frauds to the office of
Mr. Wise.
Before that time special appointee looked after
this work under the direction of the Bureau of
Naturalization. The incumbent was Hugh Govern,
who had his office at No. 3 Beekman street The
new act Iegislated him out of office, and Mr. Wises
assistants familiarized themselves with the nat
uralzation laws last summer. II was said yester-
day that no provision made for the additional
expense to the United States Attorney, and until
that done the cost of prosecution would have
to he paid out Of tho contingent fund.
Each prosecuted costs approximately 500.
There about thirty in hand and
these Will be pushed at the autumn term of court
But Nj. Wise has nothing to do with the so-called
field service in connection with the investigation of
alleged violations of the naturalization laws. This
has been transferred from the Department Of JUS
tce to the Department of Commerce and Labor.
Richard X. Campbell is the chief of the Division of
Naturalization in that department, and the chief
OF the bureau here and under Mr.. Campbell. is G.
OC Cowley who has his offices where the Assist
ant United States Attorney used to be, No. Beck
street. When the evidence of violations has
been gathered IT is turned to Mr.. Wise, who
prosecutes.
The new Deputy Assistant Attorney General, y.
Frank Lloyd in charge Tor the present of cases to
be brought before the new United States Court of
Customs Appeals, has been vacation. Until
that court is formed which will be after Congress
meets the first Monday in December, Mr. Lloyd
will look after the legal end Of the work before the
Board of General Appraisers. There are to he
four attorneys in addition to Mr. Lloyd and the
Assistant Attorney General who is 10 be at the
head of the legal department of the new court.
His appointment will have to be confirmed by the
United States Senate the same that Of the pre-
siding judge and the four associate judges, who will
constitute the new court Congress appropriated
only $4,000 for this whole legal branch of the
customs machinery, and this will not pay the sal
aries of the attorneys.
The total salary cost OF this legal end OF the
tariff enforcement will be $l2.400 year. OF this
amount $4,000 will go TO the five judges 1850 TO
the attorneys and the remainder, s24,sOO to the
clerk marshal, assistant clerks and stenographers
The equipment of the court and adjunctS has not
been computed 1t was said Yesterday that I
would be probably we'll into next year before the
court would he able to get down to work. although
the appointments 10 he made would doubt be
sent the Senate soon after the opening session.
Then Congress will have TO appropriate the neces
sary money for the court expenses, although, it
was said, the money could be drawn from the con
tingent fund pending action by Congress.
But no new legal machinery or laws are interest
ing the United States attorneys more than the pro-
posed change in the Sherman act and the inter
state commerce Law. A government attorney said
Yesterday:
The laws enacted by Congress and amend
ments to the old require great deal of study, and
involve often complete change in the govern
nents mode Of procedure in certain cases. II is
not recognized by the general run of persons kow
anxousy the work of Congress is studied by those
who have been chosen by the government TO en-
force the laws OF course, the laws enacted TO pro
tect the citizens from criminal practices are as
rule for the purpose of strengthening those already
in effect, 70 correct weaknesses discovered by
means Of court decisions, The constant changes
are trying government officials, but it will be
found 7 he that the aim of Congress is more
10 clarity ana strengthen existing statutes than
increase the laws"