Evening star., 1924-03-19

which has resulted in this and kin
dred prosecutions
THE defendants in that case were
sentenced to pay fines aggre regating
son for periods from six TO ten
months each.
Other Important Cases.
MANY cases of tremendous i'm
portance to the country are being
taken care of in the war transactions
section and many problems arising
in the conduct of these cases are con-
stantly referred to the Attorney Gen
eral for his personal decision.
In the Court OF Claims one case
was decided yesterday against the
government in which a judgment for
$1,077,000 was rendered, while at the
same time demurrerS to the petition
against the government in twenty
eight cases were decided in favor of
the government in which the principal
amount claimed exceeded s227.o0o,-
600, and with interest and other
charges involved more than $780,
100000. The petitions in these cases
were dismissed outright.
No Attorney General can ever
give personal attention to the de-
tails of the cases going through the
department, but each Attorney Cen
er:ll is responsible for the policy of
every case in the department. The
business of the government in the
federal courts has increased TO such
an extent during the past ten years
that whereas the total number of
cases commenced in 1912 numbered
less than 10000, during the past year
they exceeded $4,000. Whereas less
than 10000 cases to which the gov
ernment was party were terminal
ed in 1912, more than $4,000 were
terminated last year.
Following Cases Through.
THE important case Of the govern
nent against the Chemical Founda-
tion, Inc. which had been the sub
ject of three hearings by separate
congressional COMMITTEES. has just
been taken on appeal to the circuit
court of appeals for the third cir
cult. The policy of pursuing the gov
ernment'S case to the court or last
resort, as well as the position to be
taken by the government IN its
briefs. is one primarily under the con-
troll Of the solicitor general, but also
under the supervision of the Attorney
General.
The Attorney General said last
night that, while he is tremendously
interested in the outcome of the
hearing before the special committee
Investigating the Department of JUS
tice, he has nothing to fear from
searching inquiry into every activity
within the department. Its business
is promptly disposed of and the men
and women now engaged in it's serv-
ice are cooperating most efficiently
and successfully in disposing of the
tremendous problems committed to
their care, with the sole thought
of discharging their full duty in pro-
tecting the rights of the public with
out fear or favor.
$50 far the investigation OF the
Department of Justice has not dealt
with the efficiency of the department..
The testimony as revealed in the
hearings has consisted of rumors,
gossip and unreliable hearsay evil
dence emanating from tainted sources
such as discredited and discharged
agents, some of whom are under
indictment for misconduct in con-
nection with their official duties, and
others who have no reputable stand
ing in the communities where they
live.
Meanwhile the legitimate work of
the government goes on and the At
torney Generals time and energy is
directed to it's accomplishment"