Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-09
RADICAL DANGERS
ARE INDICATED IN
PALMER'S REPORT

WASHlNGIONJ DeC. c.--InS Q6-'
partment of justice Is confronted
with increasingly dangerous radical
activities" Attorney General Palmer
said in his annual report submitted
today to congress.
Mr.. Palmer did not go into details
as to red" activities in general, but
said that of the total of 365,295 in
dex record cards, 1900 Bertillon
records and 262,712 finger print rec
ords now in the department, some
$4,000 represented data concerning
"reds'' and their work. He mention
ed that the department had 1ncreas-
ed steadily it's contributory sources
Of investigation, adding that this
meant better facilities for running
down persons whose lives bore marks
of crime.
Mr.. Palmer said, that while other
government agencies during the past
year were rounding out their labors
incident to the war, his department
found itself only half way through
it's scores of Investigations, and liti-
gated questions. Countless hundreds
Of claims growing out Of the war
have been made against the govern
ment, he said, and must be fought
through the courts. Cases in which
the government seeks to recover
funds paid out through error or
fraud provide another source of sup
ply for litigation. Alleged infringe
ment Of patent rights by the govern
ment in it's manufacture Of war ma
terials as we'll as similar claims
arising from private manufacture of
war supplies on the cost-plus ar
rangement, also puts litigation on
shoulders of the departments staff.
The department policy of resuming
prosecutions of trusts has restored
to activity other Investigations and
crime-proving machinery, the attor
ney general added.
In addition to these, Mr.. Palmer
said, the department will be burden
ed for months to come with its
prosecution of violators of the sedi-
ton and selective service acts. I'm
der the latter, the number of cases
runs high, he said. Department
agents are engaged now in gather
ing all necessary data through rec
ords of local draft boards, which
have been assembled in Washington,
and prosecutions of the cases will
proceed Immediately upon completion
Of that work.
Investigations and trial argu-
ments during the year have shown
4oopholes in many statutes, Mr.. Pal
rner said. He called attention to the
fact, under existing law. it is not
a crime to send threatening letters
through the mails unless in further
ance of a scheme to defraud or as
means of extortion. Pointing out
that letters threatening personal in
jury Or destruction of property may
be sent with impunity he urged re-
vision of the law to cover such cases.
Mr.. Palmer said also there was
great need for a statute providing
punishment for an individual at
tempting to defraud the United
States Present statutes, he said,
provide punishment only in the event
that two or 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
"grievously defective" and as max
ing removal proceedings infinitely
more cum bersome" than eXtradition.
The attorney general recommend
ed creation of pardon and parrole
board of three, fully empowered to
handle all pardon and parole cases,
thus relieving the attorney generals
office of duties which are becoming
Increasingly heavy and onerous.'