Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-12-08

values. Should this permissive
consolidation prove ineffective
after limited period, the au-
thority of the government will
have to be directly invoked.
Consolidation appears to be the
only feasible method for the
maintenance of an adequate sys.
tenn of transportation with an
opportunity so to adjust freight
rates as to meet such temporary
conditions as now prevail in some
agricultural sections. Compe'
tent authorities agree that an
entire reorganization Of the rate
structure for freight is necSs-
sary. This should be ordered at
once by the congress.
Department of Justice
AS no revision Of the laws of
the United States has been made
since 1878, a commission or COM
mittee should be created to I'M
dertake this work. The judicial
council reports that two more
district judges are needed in the
southern district of New York,
one in the northern district of
Georgia, and two more circuit
judges in the circuit court Of
appeals Of the Eighth circuit.
Legislation should be considered
for this purpose.
It is desirable to expedite the
hearing and disposal of cases. =
A commission of federal judges
and lawyers should be created
to recommend legislation by
which the procedure in the fed.
eral trial courts may be simpli-
fled and regulated by rules Of
court, rather than by statute;
such rules to be submitted to the
congress and to be in force until
annul!ed or modified by the con-
gress. The supreme court needs
legislation revising and simplify
ing the laws governing review
by that court, and charging the
classes of cases Of too little pub
lie Importance to be subject to
review. Such reforms would
expedite the transaction of the
business of the courts. The adj
ministration of justice Is likely
to fail if it be long delayed.
The national government has =
never given adequate attention
to it's prison problems. 1t ought
to provide employm emit in such
forms of production as can be
used by the government, though
not sold to the public in compe-
tition with private business, for
all prisoners who can be placed
at work, and for which they
should receive a re asonable COM
pensation, available for their de.
pendents.
Two independent reformato.
ries are needed; one for the seq.
regation Of womel, and another
for the segregation of young
men serving their first sentence.
The administration of justice
would be facilitated greatly by
inclIding in the bureau of in
vestigation Of the department OF
justice a division OF criminas
Identification, where there would
be collected this information
which is now indispensable in
the suppression of crime.
Prohibition
The prohibition amendment to
the constitution requires the
con gress and tho president 10
provide adequate laws to pre-
vent lis violation. 1t is my duty
to enforce such laws. For that
purpose a treaty is being nego-
tiated with Great Britain with
respect to the right of search of
hoverirg vessels. To prevent
smuggling, the coast guard
should be greatly strengthened,
and a supply of swift power
boats should be provided. Tho
major sources Of production
should be rigidly regulated. and
every effort should be made to
suppress interstate traffic. With
this action on the part Of the
national government, and the
cooperation which is usually
rendered by municipal and state
authorities, prohibition should
be made effective. Free govern.
ment has no greater menace
than disrespect for authority
and continual violation of law.
1t is the duty of a citizen not
only to observe the law but to
let it be known that he is OPP
posed to its violation.
The Negro
Numbered among our popula-
ton are some 12,000,000 colored
people. Under our constitution
their rights are just as sacred
as those of any other citizen. 1t
is both a public and a private
duty to protect those rights.
70
all its powers of prevention and
punishment against the hideous
crime Of lynching, of which the
negroes are by no means the
sole sufferers, but for which
they furnish a majority Of the
victims.
Already a considerable sum is
appropriated to give the negroes
vocational training in agricul-
ture. About half a million dol
lars is recommended for medical
courses at Howard university to
help contribute to the education
of 500 colored doctors needed
each year. On account of the
migration of large numbers into
industrial centers, it has been
proposed that a commission be
created composed of members
from both races, to formulate
better policy for mutual under
standing and confidence. Such
n effort is to be commended.
Everyone would rejoice in the
accomplishment Of the results
which it seeks. But it is well to
recognize that these difficulties
are to a large extent local prob
lens which must be worked out
by the mutual fOrbearance and
human kindness of each COM
munity. Such method gives
much more promise Of a real
remedy than outside interfer-
ence.
Civil Service
The aintenanCe and extension
Of the classified civil service is
exceedingly important. There
are nearly $4,000 persons in
the executive civil service draw
ing about $700,000,000 Of year
ly compensation. Four-fifths Of
these are in the classified serv-
ice. This method of selection Of
the emplOVes of the United