Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-08
U. s. KEEPING TAB
ON $4,000 "REDS"
Attorney General Palmer
Says Radical Activities
Are Increasing.

The Department of Justice is con-
fronted with Increasingly dangerous
radical activities" Attorney General
Palmer said in his annual report sub
mitted today to Congress.
Mr. Palmer did not 80 into details
as to red activities in general. but
said that of the total of S65.29J index
record cards. 1000 Bertillon RECORDS
and 262.712 finger-print records, no"
in the department. some 6o.oo0 repre-
scented data concerning reds ana
their work. He mentioned that the
department had increased steadily It's
contributory sources of investigation,
adding that this meant better facill-
ties for running down persons whose
lives bore marks OF crime
Mr.. Palmer said that whlie otheT
government agencies during the last
year were rounding out their ldoore
incident to the war. his depdr 'hent
found itself only half way through
it's scores of Investigations and HUI
gated questions.
Hundreds OF Claims Made.
Hundreds of claims growing out OF
the war have been made against the
government he said, and must be
fought through the courts. Cases IN
which the government seeks 10 re-
cover funds paid out through error
or fraud. Alleged infringement OF pat,
ent rights by the government, ana
claims arising from private manu-
facture of war supplies on the cost
plus arrangement also put lltieat1on
ON the shoulders of the departments
staff
The report shows that there were
Az juvenile offenders connneo III ome
National Training School for BOYS
at the end of the last fiscal year. con-
nared with $50 for the same date tne
wear before Recommendation Is i,auS
for the purchase of 100 acres OIL Ianu
living south of the National IIaIn!ns
School for Girls. In that institution
there were 1O1 girls held June 80
last. the number at the end OF 'he
previous year being eighty-three.
The department policy of resumlns
prosecution of trusts has restoreu "
activity other invesusations IL
machinery. In audl-
tion to these, Mr.. Palmer said. the oe-
nartment will be burdened for months
10 come with it's prosecution OF VIZ
Iators of the Sedition and seiectl'e
service acts.
Loopholes in Statutes.
Investigations and trial arguments
during the year have shown loopholes
in many statutes. Mr.. PalmeI sslt t
He called attention to the fact tnat'
under existing law, it is not crime
to send threatening letters through
the mails unless in furtherance OF
scheme to defraud or as means VI
extortion. Pointing out that letters
threatening personal injury or de.
struction of property may be sent
with impunity, he urged revision OF
the law to cover such cases.
Mr. Palmer said also there was
great need for a statute providing
punishment for an individual attempt
ing to defraud the United States.
Present statutes. he said, provide pun
ishment only in the event that two or
more persons conspire to defraud the
government.
Recommendation was made that
criminal procedure be changed to
make more simple the removal of In
dicted persons to the districts where
the indictments were returned. He
also recommended creation Of par
don and parole board of three. fully
empowered to handle all pardon and
parole cases, thus relieving the At
torney Generals Office of duties
(which are becoming Increasingly
heavy and onerous." Jurisdiction of
penal institutions also should be
vested in this board. he said.