The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-12-08
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sIEs
PILING UP DATA
CONCERNING 'REDS'
U. S. Department of Justice Has Great
Deal Of Information, Reports
Attorney General Palmer.

Washington, d. c., Dee. S-The de.
partment Of justice is confronted with
increasingly dangerous radical activ.
tiles" Attorney General Palmer said
in his annual report submitted to-day
to Congress.
Mr.. Palmer did not 90 into details
as to red" activities in general, but
said that Of the total Of 365, 295 index
record cards, 1900 BertilIon records
and 262,7l2 finger print records now in
the department, some 10000 represent
ed data concerning reds" and their
work. He mentioned that the depart
ment had increased steadily its con
{tributory sources of Investigation, add
ing 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, bis department
found itself only halfway through its
scores of Investigations and litigated
questions. Countless 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 TO recover funds paid out
through error or fraud provide another
source OF supply for litigation. al
legged infringement Of patent rights by
the government in its manufacture of
war materials as well as similar claims
arising from private manufacture of
war supplies on the cost.plus arrange
ment, 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 gen.
eral added
In addition TO these, Mr. Palmer said,
the department viii be burdened for
months to come with its prosecution Of
violaters Of the sedtion and selective
service acts. Under the latter, the
number of cases tuns high, be said.
Department agents are engaged now in
gathering all necessary data through
records OF local draft boards which
have been assembled in Washington
and prosecution Of the cases viii pro-
coed Immediately upon completion 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, il is not a crime
TO send threatening letters through the
mails unless in furtherance of scheme
to defraud or as a means Of eXtortion
Pointing out that letters threatening
personal injury or destruction Of prop
erty may be sent with impunity, he
urged revision of the law TO cover such
cases.
Mr., Palmer said also there was need
for a statute providing punishment
for individual aSemptings to defraud
the United States. Present statutes.
he said, provide punishment only in the
event that two or more persons con
spire 10 deiraud the government
Recommendation also was made that
criminal procedure be changed to make
more simple the removal of indicted
persons to the district where the in.
dictments were returned. He described
the present system as "grievously de.
fective,' and as making removal pro
ceedings infinitely more cumbersome"
than extradition.
The attorney general recommended
creation Of pardon and parole board
of three fully empowered to handle
all pardon nd'parole cases, thus reliev-
ing the attorney generals Office Of du-
ties (which are becoming increasingly
heavy and onerous" Jurisdiction of
penal institutions also should be vest
in this board, he said.