The Washington times., 1913-12-09
Attorney General Tells Congress
Purpose of Administration
Is to Effect Complete Sep
aration of interests.
Criticises Fiscal Methods of
Clerk of District Supreme
court-WouId Give Help to
Judges Over Seventy.

Trust dissolutions which shall be
real dissolutions, removing the same
set of men from control of separate
parts into which a trust is dissolved,
is the aim Of the present Admins
tration, according to an announce
ment in the first annual report Of
Attorney General McReynolds.
My fixed purpose is to oppose any
plan Of dissolution which would
leave the separate parts Of the un-
lawful combination under the con-
troll of the same set of men," he de-
clared.
The Attorney General recommends
Z change in the organization OF the
District Attorneys Office in the Dis
trict of Columbia. He declares point
edly that the audit OF the accounts
Of the Supreme Court of the District
does not appear entirely satisfactory.
but does not specify in what manner
the audit is not satisfactory or does
not meet with his approval.
Wants New Building.
He says: Tine District ON Columbia
States in which the office of the at
torney aDc clerk OF court are organ
lied on a basis entirely different
from that which obtains elsewhere.
The accounts of the clerk of the
District Supreme Court are examined
by an auditor appointed by the court
whose examination does not appear
Entirely satisfactory. Action is taken
ty the court upon the report Of the
auditor. which is final and conclusive
Tron accounting officers. There Is
no opportunity for the departmental
SUI ervision which has proven so
salutary in other districts. The Of
flee OF the United States attorney is
still upon the old emolument basis,
under which the attorney and his as
sistants ere paid from a sum appro-
priated from the earnings Of the Of
fee
There is no sufficient reason why
these Offices should remain in a
status different from like Offices else
where, and respectfully recommend
appropriate legislation"
The Attorney General. urges a
huiIding for his department and a
number OF increases in salary for his
assistants and others. He makes
seven recommendations for the bet
,erment OF the department and the
courts. and in one OF them refers 20
;.lleged evils IN clerks offices.
The first recommendation suggests an
enactment OF Congress providing that
in cases where a judge in any court
Glow the Supreme Court fails to ask
Tor retirement AT the age of 20 years
d younger judge. who would take prece-
dence on the bench, be appointed to
cit with tie older man. Though judges
are retired on half pay, many of them
ian 20 take advantage of the retire
Inent clause. the ATTORNEY General says
and the administration of justice has
suffered thereby.
SOuIl SltIhS.
Clerks of United States courts ne
says, ~'should be appointed for speci-
lied terms by the courts, with the con-
GENT and approval OF the Attorney
General. and should be subject to re-
n0vaI by the President for cause ut
al.y time. This, j think, would add to
the efficiency of the courts and protect
them from certain evils disclosed by
experience.
Provision should be made for a re-
view by the Supreme Court of the final
decisions of the Court OF Customs AD-
peals by writs of certioraTi, TO be grant,
ed only upon application of the Gov
eminent
The annual term OF the Court of
Claims should be fixed to begin on the
hIst Monday in October of each year,
and the court should not be finally ad-
y"urnsd earlier than the last OF June.
\ Vacation Of three months seems ad-
'4uate.'
The Attorrey-General recommends the
'.Ilactment Of the Clayton bill giving
the Supreme Court power to promul-
.Ite rules in respect of trials on the
law side Of Federal courts.
II is recommended that all assistant
attorneys general be paid 5000 a year.
Mr.. McReynoids declares that it is be-
coming increasingly difficult to get men
Of sufficient caliber to fill the places
or less.
With rspect to the antitrust program,
I is made clear that the Attorney Cen
eral will follow the plan adopted in
dissolying the Union and Southern Pa
cific railroads
In actual practice the plan is work
ing successfully" he said.s The plan
effectually prevented the Union Pa
cIfic ComDany or its stockholders, who
were parties to the combination from
continuing in control of the Southern
Pacific
Alleged violations of this law Cthe
Sherman antitrust statuteD are being
constantly reported. and an organiZa-
tion is being perfected through which
substantial complaints may be prompt
- investigated and violations vigor-
ousiy and speedily dealt with" was the
Attorney Generals trust busting
troTnise. He said district attorneys will