Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1886 — DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. [ARTICLE]

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

Recommendations of Attorney General Garland In HU Annual Report. The annual r» port of Attorney General Garland contains a detailed statement of the busineee of the Department of Just ce for the last fiscal year, together with statistics of crime against the United States. The Attorney General brieflv urges the importance of legislation on the following maters, the necessity for which was pointed out in his last annual report : Fees for marshals in territories, pay of deputy marshals, revision of the feeb Jl. substitution of I seal for calendar year, chief supervisors of elections, protection to civil officers and witnes.-es, fees of witnesses and jurors in territories, and a reorganization of the jury systsem in the District of Columbia. He devotes a chapter to the subject of Unitea States prisoners and the general question of Convict labor, and advocates the building of a government penitentiary and reformatory at B an earl v day, and recommends the appointment of a commission to inquire into the matter. He also renews the recommendation that authority be given the Judges of United States Courts to sentence in their discretion prisoners convicted of first offenses to such reformatories or graded prisons as the Attorney General may select. He also urges the necessity of additional United States jails, and mentions Atlanta, Ga., and Louisville, Ky., as cities where 'such buildings are much needed. The number of United States prisoners in custody June 30, ISSG, was 5,929. Supplementary legislation respecting the restoration of court records is strongly urged by the Attorney General as necessary for the preservation of records of great value. 'lt is impossible, he says, to overestimate the necessity that exists for a change in the judicial system to meet the constantly increasing business of the country, and he urges that something be done to remedy the evils complained of on all sides.