The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-12-08
WAR PRESENTS MANY
CASES TO DEPARTMENT
! SAYS PALMER REPORT
(By Associated Press)


: WASHINGTON, Dec. s. The de-
partment Of justice is confronted with
Increasingly dangerous radical activ-
tiles" Attorney General Palmer said
IN his annual report submitted today
10 congress.
{ Mr. Palmer did not go into details
as to 'red" activities in general, but
said that Of the total OF 385.29 index
record cards, 1900 Bertillon records
and 262,712 finger print records now
In the department, some 10000 repre-
scented data concerning reds" and
their work. He mentioned that the
department had increased steadily Its
contributory sources of investigation.
adding that this meant better facilt-
ties for running down persons whose
lives bore marks Of crime.
/. Heavy Work Ahead.
= 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 its
scores Of investigations and litigatcd
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 govern
ment seeks to recover funds paid out
through error or fraud provide an
other source OF supply for litigation.
ALLEGED infringement Of patent rights
by the government In its manufacture
of war materials as we'll as similar
claims arising from private manufac'
@ure of war supplies on the cost-plus
arrangement also puts litigation on
Shoulders of the departments stan.
! The department policy Of resuming
prosecution of trusts has restored to
activity other investigations and
crime proving machinery, the attorney
general added.
: Other Prosecutions.
Z In addition to these. Mr. Palmer
said. the department will be burdened
for months to come with it's prosecu-
tion of violators of the Sedition and
Selective Service Acts. Under the lat.
ter, the number of cases runs high,
he said. Department agents are engag'
ed now in gathering all necessary data
through records of local draft boards
which have been assembled In Wash
fngton and prosecution of the cases
will proceed Immediately upon COM
p!etion 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 fu-therance Of a scheme to
defraud or as a means of extortion
Pointing out that letters threatening
personal injury or destruction Of prop
crty may be sent with impunity, he
urged revision Of. the law to cover
such cases.
Needs Lew Change.
Pr Palmer said also there was great
need for statute providing punish
ment for an individual attempting tc
defraud the United States. Present
statutes, he said, provide punishment
only in the evene that two or more
persons conspire to drfraud the gov
crnmert
Recommendation also was made
shat criminal procedure be changed
tn make more simple the removal OF
ipGictei persons to the districts where
:hc indictments were returned. He
cesCrired the present system as "griv
oiis!y detective" and as making re
n1oval proceedings Infinitely more
cumbersome than extradition.-
The attorney general recommended
creation Of pardon and parole board
or three fully empowered to handle
all pardon and parole cases thus re
]ieving the attorney-generaps office o
duties" which are becoming increas
ing)y heavy and onerohs." Jurisdic
ton Of penal institutions also SHOULD
be vested in this board, he said.