The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-07
Gregory Presents Only
Cold Figures on Work of
Department of Justice
RECOMMENDS SOME
NEW LEGISLATION
Enforcement of Antitrust
Laws Complicated by
War Conditions
CBy Associated Press1


cold figures showing the results Of
tice in coping with German plotters
in this country are given in Attorney
General 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 q set Of volumes
rivaling the most exciting tales OF
| fiction might be written from them.
The attorney generals report mere
ly 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 fruit
full OF results.
The governments hands have been
materially strengthened so that il
now has power to deal with disturb
ing malcontents." says the attorney
generals report.
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THE prosecution of William d.
Haywood and other leaders Of the
socalled Industrial Workers Of the
World, to the number Of more than
$50 in the northern district OF un-
nois is an instance OF how these laws
may be employed for the public pro-
lection in this time Of stress. The ef-
feet OF these prosecutions Is already
having q far reaching and highly
beneficial influence towards the
maintenance OF order and obedience
to law throughout the country"
After dealing with the war Rctivi-
ties Of the department the attorney
general passes on to recommends
tons concerning the civil laws OF
the nation.
Attorney General Gregory fenews
at the outset his recommendations
that the commodities clause Of the
interstate commerce law be amend
ed to meet supreme court decisions,
to divorce transportation from pro-
duction. While the legislation Mr..
Gregory recommends is intended par
ticularly to cover the coal roads. IL
would also prohibit to the last degree
q railway from manufacturing or
owning anything it transports in in
terstate commerce.
Also, the attorney general renews
his recommendations for q provision
Of law intended to benefit the federal
courts. 1t would provide that when q
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.
Under existing law there is no
legal penalty for sending threatening
letters through the mails unless to
accomplish extortRtion or as part Of
q means to defraud. Mr.. Gregory
recommends legislation to make it
q crime. The statute OF limitations
for criminal prosecution in bank
ruptcy cases, now one year, the at
torney general regards as having de-
feated Justice in some cases and he
recommends that it be extended to
three years.
Antitrust Laws.
In the enforcement OF the anti
trust laws the attorney general says
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 selfish
impulse of traders to take advantage
of the extraordinary condition OF the
times, are not punishable under the
anti trust laws, the report says, no
matter how completely lacking they
may be of economic justification or
how extortionate.
Sales of commodities by retailers
to consumers generally fall outside
Of interstate commerce and therefore
are not within the purview of the
federal laws.
Within such limitations, Attorney
General Gregory says the department
Of justice has utilized its full en-
ergy.
Several of the great antitrust
cases, previously begun, notably the
Harvester and steel
units are still in the supreme court.
The attorney general devotes
much OF his report to informing con-
gress Of the steps he has taken to
carry out the measures against
enemy aliens. They include cooper
alton of federal marshals and troops
with local authorities, and go into
the legal procedure in great detail.
Saturday is last day Of the Big
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