1st Session. No. 131. COMPENSATION OF DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, MARSHALS, AND CIRCUIT COURT COMMISSIONERS. LETTER FROM THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL, RECOMMENDING A change in the mode of compensating district attorneys, marshals, and circuit court commissioners. MARCH 21, 1382.-Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary and ordered to be printed. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a letter of the 7th instant, addressed to me by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, and the documents referred to therein. The Commissioner recommends a change in the mode of compensating district attorneys, marshals, deputy marshals, and circuit court commissioners, viz, to pay them by fixed salaries rather than by fees. The subject is very important, and I have the honor to ask for it the earnest consideration of Congress. BENJAMIN HARRIS BREWSTER, Hon. J. W. KEIFER, Speaker of the House of Representatives. Attorney-General. TREASURY DEPARMENT, OFFICE OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Washington, March 7, 1882. SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith a report of Revenue Agent Thos. J. Kenney, giving a list of over one hundred and forty revenue cases brought before United States commissioners in the northern district of New York during the year 1881, upon complaint of persons other than internal-revenue officers, and dismissed by the commissioners for want of evidence. The institution of criminal prosecutions under the internal-revenue laws for trivial and technical offenses, where no frauds were committed or intended, is a constant cause of complaint in various parts of the United States, and is continually productive of irritation in the enforcement of the laws. These prosecutions are usually instituted upon the complaints of professional informers, and are a great source of revenue to witnesses, commissioners, marshals, and district attorneys. The abuses thus perpetrated are the legitimate and natural outgrowth of the law which compensates these officers for their services by fees, and I am satisfied that it will be impossible, by any system of administration, to prevent these wrongs until district attorneys, marshals, deputy marshals, and commissioners are paid fixed salaries like the great majority of other officers of the government. I respectfully call your attention to the observations upon this subject at page 9 of my last annual report (a copy of which is inclosed), and I have the honor of submitting whether it would not be wise to bring this matter prominently to the attention of Congress. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. BENJAMIN HARRIS BREWSTER, GREEN B. RAUM, Attorney-General. Commissioner. List of internal revenue cases brought before United States court commissioners in the northern district of New York, during the year 1881, upon complaint of persons other than internal-revenue officers, and discharged by said commissioners for want of sufficient evidence. BEFORE J. A. MURREY, COM'R, BUFFALO. BEFORE G. A. SCROGGS, BUFFALO. 9 United States vs. Chas. Scherms.. Failing to destroy stamp on empty beer keg. BEFORE J. C. STRONG, COM'R, BUFFALO. 10 United States vs. Benj. Logan.. D. M. T. BEFORE J. E. POUND, COM'R, LOCKPORT. List of internal revenue cases brought before United States court commissioners in the northern district of New York, during the year 1881, &c.—Continued. 24 United States vs. C. F. Kennfel. nesy. 26 United States rs. August Drees 31 United States vs. Gorham Snyder cher. 42 United States vs. Isaac Hooper 44 United States rs. G. W. Parshall 47 United States vs. Jane Voorhes 49 United States vs. George Woodcock mullex. 51 United States rs. J. P. Hoyd Failing to destroy stamp on empty beer keg. Same. Receiving unstamped cigars. |