Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-12-11
NINETY-NINE SENTENCES
ARE IMPOSED so FAR
CONTINUED from Page one

Meetings of the communist and an
arChistic groups were suspended
and were followed later by the dec
laration Of the American delegate
to the third internationale at AM
sterdam that the January raids had
destroyed the hopes of the com
munists in America.
Mr.. Palmer recites the legislative
! program laid before congress at its
last session in which he said exist
ing laws did not permit the govern
ment to carry on the sort of prose
cution required in the case of some
Of the radical groups, notably the
| Industrial Workers of the World,
whose activities the department
has been unable to touch in most
! instances.
Turning to law enforcement
activities the attorney general says
the government collected approx
mately $4,532,000 in fines and
judgments in the last year or this
so, $4,000 came from fines in
criminal prosecutions while the re-
mainder was collected In civil pro-
ceedings.
Twenty eight antitrust cases
are pending in the, various district
courts over the country and the
supreme court of the United States.
Frank X. Nebeker, assistant to the
attorney general. in his special re-
port on the subject. says that pros
ecution of these cases is proceed
ing as rapidly as the machinery OF
the courts having jurisdiction can
be moved. Sixteen cases against
alleged trusts or combinations In
restraint of trade have been insti-
tuted in the last twelve months
and twelve others have been dis
posed of by final court action. Mr.
Nebeker says.
The report shows that in it's
campaign to lower living costs. the
department brought a total of 2,0lG
legal actions under the Lever act.
OF these. 1.049 were on direct
charges Of profiteering. Other ac-
tons included prosecutions under
| the provisions against boarding,
manipulation of food stocks, con-
spiracies, etc. Indictments were
drawn in I'll instances. the report
says, and to date ninety-nine sem
fences have been imposed.
Mr.. Palmer explains that the de-
partments work, especially in con-
nection with its drive on prOfiteers,
has been handicapped by an insult
| ficient number of attorneys, audi
tors, accountants and similar en-
ployes The inadequate number,
ne continues. was pitted against
high priced talent of the big in
dustrics and corporations. but he
adds that the work of the depart
ment's staff was rommendablc.
Delay in the completion by the
department of the environment IN
vestigation, ordered by congress,
was explained likewise by the in
Adequacy of the inquisitorial force,
Mr.. Palmer says, however. that he
expects a report on this investiga-
ton at an early date, probably
soon after the opening of con-
gress"
The number of federal prisoners,
described as major offenders, held
in the various penal institutions on
June 80 was 4,737 as compared
with ass on the same date a year
previous, says the report. OF these
$3.50 were confined in federal
prisons, 1879 in state and territorial
penitentiaries, 225 in state reform
atories, 1870 in national training
schools and the remainder in mis-
cellaneOus institutions.
Mr.. Palmer makes numerous
recommendation for changes in
laws, most of which have been
sought for several years previously
| by his predecessors. He asks that
the moot question of the right of
the government to have stenog-
rapher before grand juries be defi-
nitely established by legislative
action in order that verbatum rec
ords Of all such Investigations may
be preserved.
Included in the other recon-
mendations are these: Provision
making a federal indictment run to
all parts of the country; legislation
aiding the settlement of certain
claims against vessels under gov
eminent control during the war;
permission. for appeal by the gov
eminent to the board of customs
appeals; provision for payment
of transportation of discharged
prisoners to their homes at time of
discharge which. may be different
than the place from which they
were indicted. and the placing of
bankruptcy referees on a salary in
stead of a fee basis of compensa-
ton.
Mr.. Palmer also recommends
practically general increase in
the salaries of United States attor-
neys and marshals. In most cases
the increase is $500 per annum and
is proposed. the attorney general
Gays. because it has been found
that many designations are being
received because the salaries of
these officials have not kept pace
with tbD tnpraococ In living ,oStS