Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-12-09
Government HAS|
RECORD OF $4,000
RADICALS IN U. S.
Department of Justice Con.
fconted With "Increasing-
Iy Dangerous Red Activi.
ties" Says Palmer.

Washington, Dec. S.--The De-
partment of Justice is confronted
with increasingly dangerous rad
ical activities" Attorney General
Palmer said in his annual report
submitted today to congress.
Mr.. Palmer did not go into de-
tails as to red" activities in gen
eral, but said that of the total of
Sos, POS index record cards, 7l,000
Bertillon records and 262,7l2 finger
print records how in the depart
ment some $4,000 represented data
concerning reds" and their work.
He mentioned that the department
had increased steadily its contribu-
tory sources of investigation, adding
that this meant better facilities for
running down persons whose lives
bore marks of crime.
Has Much Work.
Mr.. Palmer said that while other
government agencies during the last
year yere rounding out their labors
incident to the war, his department
found itself only half way through
its scores of Investigations and liti-
gated questions. Countless hun
dreds 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 re-
cover funds paid out through error
or fraud provide another source of
supply for litigation. Alleged in
fringement Of patent rights by the
government in its manufacture of
war materials, as we'll as similar
claims arising from private manu-
facture of war supplies on the cost
plus arrangement, also puts litiga-
ton on shoulders of the depart
ment's staff.
The department policy of resum-
ing prosecution of trusts has restor-
ed to activity other Investigations
and crime proving machinery, the
attorney general added.
Still After Slackers.
In addition to these, Mr.. Palmer
said, the department will be bur
dened for months to come with its
prosecution of violators of the sedi-
tion 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 prosecution Of the cases will
proceed Immediately upon compile
ton of that work.
Investigations and trial argu-
ments during the year have shown
loopholes IL many statutes, Mr.. !
Palmer said. He called attention
to the fact that, under existing law,
it is not a crime to send threaten
ing letters through the mails un- !
less in furtherancee of scheme to |
dcfraud or as a means of extortion.
Pointing out that letters threaten
ing personal injury or destruction
of property may be sent with I'M
punity, he urged revision OF the
law to cover such cases.
Change Fraud Act.
Mr.. Palmer said also there was
great need for a statute providing
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 con-
spire 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 re-
turned. He described the present
system as "grievously detective"
and as making removal proceedings
infinitely more cumbersome" than
extradition.
The attorney general recommend
I'd creation Of pardon and parole
board of three fully empowered to
handle all pardon and parole cases,
thus relieving the attorney generals
Office of duties (which are becom-
ing increasingly heavy and oner-
GUS" Jurisdiction Of penal institu-
tons also should be vested in this
board, he said.
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