South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-23
REPORTS ON WORK
AGAINST PL0TTERS
Only Figures Show Results in
Atty.-GenS. Report-MakeS
recommendations.

WASHlNCION, Dec ZZ.-Only the
cold figures showing the results of
the work of the department of JUS
tice in coping with German plotters
in this country are given in Atty.
Gen. Gregory's annual report sub
mitted today to Congress. None of
the details Of the operations of the
secret service of that department,
touching almost every condition
from the romantic TO the sordid are
disclosed. Most of those must neces-
sarily remain untold until the end
Of the war, when a set of volumes
rivaling the most exciting tales of
fiction might be written from them.
The attorney generals report mere
~ tells the story Of results in the
figures of prison sentences which
the agents of German intrigue now
are serving in federal penitentiaries
In dealing with the enemies with
in, the department has found that
the espionage law. the trading with
the enemy act and the prosecution
of seditious conspiracy have been
fruitful Of results.
The governments hands have
been materially strengthened so that
IL now has power to deal with dis
turbing malcOntents," says the at
torney generals report.
THE prosecution of William d.
Haywood and other leaders of the
so-called Industrial Workers of the
World, to the number of more than
$50 in the northern district of Illi-
nois is an instance of how these
laws may be employed for the pub
protection in this time of stress. The
effect of these prosecutions is al
ready having a far reaching and
highly beneficial influence towards
the maintenance of order and obed-
lance 10 law throughout the cOun-
try"
Makes Recommendations.
After dealing with the war acti-
vities of the department the attor-
ney general passes on to recommen-
dations concerning the civil laws of
the nation.
Atty. Gen. Gregory renews at the
outset his recommendation that the
commodities clause of the interstate
commerce law be amended TO meet
supreme court decisions, TO divorce
transportation from production.
While the legislation Mr.. Gregory
recommends is intended particular
" TO cover the coal roads, it would
also prohibit TO the last degree a
railway from manufacturing or own
ing anything il transports in inter-
state commerce.
Also, the attorney general reneWs
his recommendation for a provision
of law intended to benefit the fed
eral courts 1t would provide that
when a federal judge reaches the
age of 20 years and refuses to avail
himself Of the retirement already
provided by law, the president shall
be authorized to appoint another
Judge for the same district to take
precedence over the older one.
No Law on Threatening Letters.
Under existing law there is no
legal penalty for sending threaten
ing letters through the mails unless
to accomplish extOrtatiOn or as part
of a means to defraud. Mr.. Greg
DRY recommends legislation 20 make
it a crime. The statute of limita-
tions for criminal prosecution in
bankruptcy cases, now one year, the
attorney general regards as having
defeated justice in some cases and
he recommends that il be extended
to three years.
In the enforcement Of the anti
90 al
the department has been confronted
by peculiar conditions brought about
by the war There are two broad
limitations on the power of the de-
partment.
Increases of price, brought about
not by agreement, conspiracy or
monopoly. but by the common sell
FISH impulse Of traders TO take ad-
vantage of the extraordinary condi-
tiOns Of the times. are not punish
able under the antitrust laws, the
report says. no matter how COM
plctely lacking they may be Of econ
omic Justification or how eXtortiOn-
ate.
Sales Of commodities by retailers
70 consumers generally fall outside
Of interstate commerce and there
fore are not within the purview of
the federal laws.
Within such limitations Atty
Gen. Gregory says the department
of justice has utilized its full energy.
Several Of the great antitrust
cases, previously begun. notably the
international Harvester and Steel
The attorney general devotes
much Of his report TO informing
congress Of the steps he has taken
70 carry out the measures against
enemy aliens. They include coop /
Grafton Of federal marshals and /
troops with local authorities, and I
go into the legal procedure in great |
detail.