The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-12-08
SERVICE GREATLY
STRENGTHENED
Brought Into Such Condition That 1t Is
Far Better Able to Cope with Teu-
ton Plotters, Says Attorney
General Gregory.

| Washington, Dec. Only the cold
| figures showing the results of the work
of the department of justice in coping
with German plotters in this country are
given in Attorney General Gregory's an
nual report submitted to-day to Con-
gress. None of the details of the oper-
ations of the secret service of that de-
partment, touching almost every condi-
ton from the romantic to the sordid are
disclosed. Most of those must necessari-
| ly remain 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 re-
port merely tells the story of results in
the figures of prison sentences which the
agents of German intrigue now are serv-
ing in federal penitentiaries.
In dealing with the enemies within,
the department has found that the es.
pionage law, the trading with the enc
my act, and the prosecution of seditious
conspiracy have been fruitful of results.
"The governments hands have been
materially strengthened so that it now
has power to deal with disturbing NAL
contents" says the attorney generals re-
port.
"The prosecution of William d Hay
wood and other leaders of the so-called
Industrial Workers of the World, to the
number of more than $50 in the north
ern district of Illinois is an instance Of
how these laws may be employed for the
public protection in this time of stress.
the effect of these prosecutions is already
having far reaching and highly beneii-
cial influence towards the maintenance
of order and obedience to law throughout
the country"
After dealing with the war activities of
the department the attorney general
passes on to recommendations concerning |
the civil laws of the nation.
Attorney General Gregory renews at |
the outset his recommendations that the |
clause of the interstate COM |
merce law be amended to meet supreme |
court decisions, to divorce transporta-
ton from production. While the legis-
lation Mr. Gregory recommends is in
tended particularly to cover the coal |
roads, it would also prohibit to the last
degree a railway from manufacturing
or owning anything it transports in in
terstate commerce.
Also, the attorney general renews his
for a provision of law
to benefit the federal courts 1t
would provide that when federal Judge
reaches the age of 20 years and refuses
10 avail himself of the retirement al
'eady provided by law, the president
hall be authorized to appoint another
Judge for the same district to take pre-
edence over the old one.
Under existing law there il no legal ,
penalty for sending threatening letters
through the mails unless to accomplish ,
xtortion or as part of means to de- |
raud. Mr. Gregory recommends legis- !
alton to make it crime. The statute !
# limitations for criminal prosecution :
n bankruptcy cases, now one year, the ,
ttorney general regards as having de-
Gated Justice in some cases and he rec a
mmends that it be extended to three !
ears.
In the enforcement of the antitrust =,
,ws the attorney general says the de- +
artment has been confronted by pc Z
uliar conditions brought about by the :
Tar. There are two broad limitations on
he power of the department
Increase of price, brought about not
Y agreement, conspiracy or monopoly, >
ut by the common selfish impulse of a
-aders to take advantage of the extra
rdinary condition of the times, are not
under the antitrust laws, :
lie report says, no matter how com ),
etely lacking they may be of economic =
lstfication or how extortionate. !
Sales of commodities by retailers to y
,nsumers generally fall outside of in y
rstate commerce and therefore are not -"
thin the puTview of the federal laws.
Within such limitations, Attorney Gen
al Gregory says the department of ?,
stice has utilized its full energy. OF
Several of the great antitrust cases, 9
eviously begun, notably the Interna- e
1nal Harvester and Steel suits, are still al
the supreme court.
The attorney general devotes much of tn
5 report to the informing Congress of go
e steps he has taken to carry out the re
aasures against enemy aliens. They al
rlude cooperation of federal marshals GO
d troops with local authorities, and OF
into the legal procedure in great de- OF