The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-12-08
Records of Sixty Thous-
and of Them Are On
File There.
VERY BUSY
Government Has Not Yet
Finished With Draft
Dodgers.

pdTLueuL OL JuoC4C0 10 SOHAAStsSo "''
interestingly dangerous radical ac-
tivities," Attorney General Palmer
said in his annual report submitted to-
day to Congress.
Mr.. Palmer did not go into details
as to "red" activities in general, but
said that Of the tote2 Of 965,295 index
record cards, $1,000 Berttllon records
and 262,712 finger print records now
in the department, some $4,000 repre-
SSented data concerning 'reds" and
their work. He mentioned that the
department had increased steadily Its
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 while other
government agencies during the past
year we're rounding out their laporS
incident to the war, his department
found itself only half way through
its scores Of investigations and litl,
gated questions. Countless hundreds
Of claims growing out Of the war have
been made against the government, no
said, and must be fought through the
courts. Cases in which the govern
ment seeks to recover funds paid out
through error or fraud provide anoth-
er source of supply for litigation. AL
legged infringement Of patent rights
by the government in its manufacture
of war materials as we'll as similar
claims arising from private manufaC'
ture of war supplies on the cost-plus
arrangement, also puts litigation on
shoulders of the departments staff.
The department policy of resuming
prosecution of trusts has restored to
activity other investigations and crime
proving machinery, the Attorney Cen
eral added.
In addition to these, Mr.. Palmer
said, the department will be burdened
for months to come with its prosecu.
ton of violators Of the Sedition and
Selective Service Acts. Under the lat
ter, the number Of cases runs high, he
said. Department agents are engaged
now in gathering all necessary data
through records of local draft boards
which have been assembled in Wash
ington and prosecution of the cases
will proceed Immediately upon COM
pletion Of that work.
Investigations and trial arguments
during the year have shown loopholes
in many statutes, Mr.. Palmer said,
He called attention to the fact that,
under existing law, 1t is not a crime
to send threatening letters through
the mails unless in furtherance OF a
scheme to defraud or as means OF
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 OF
more persons conspire to defraud the
government.
Recommendation also was made
that criminal procedure be changed
to make more simple the removal Of
indicted persons to the districts
where the indictments were returned
He described the present system as
previously defective" and as making
removal proceedings Infinitely more
cumbersome" than extradition.
The attorney general recommended
creation Of pardon and parole board
of three fully empowered to handle all
pardon and parole cases thus relieving
the attorney generals office Of 1Httea
(Which are becoming Increasingly
heavy and onerous." Jurisdietion Of
Npenal institutions also shoYl3fbe vest
in this board Re said.