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. 4 3 FEDERAL ATTORNEY 5 GOOD COLLECTOR $1 1,500,000 Turned in by Eastern Penna. District Tops All Others . The United States Auorncy’s of- fice for the Eastern Judicial Dis- trict of Pennsylvania, at Philadel- phia, collects annually through the Federal Courts more monies than . any other of the 91 Districts of the United States. Last year, according to United States Attorney Edward W. Wells, his office through judgments col- “ Jected a total of $11,500,000 of . Which sum $7,000,000 was deposited ' with the U. S. Treasury. : Wells, in explaining the magnj- " tude of the work done by his office, “49.1178 civil sults in states that during the last fiscal ‘year the Government was a party the Eastern Judicial District. | . The territory embraced by the Bas\ern Judicial District of Penn- sylvania includes the counties of PhiJadelphia, Delaware, Uhester. Lancaster, Montgomery, Bucks, Berks. Northampton, Lehigh and Schuylkill. Within this territory the United States Attorncy is its legal representative in all matters to which the Fedcral Government may be a party, either criminal or civil, with full responsibility for the ’ prosecution and defense of all the civil rights of the Government. as well as the prosecution of those ; who violate the criminal statutes. Civit Sults Overshadowed Though the prosecution of coun- terfeiters, smugglers, booticg con- spirators and others of the kind s sensational element js furnished which gains public attention, to the detraction of the importance and work required for civil sults. “Where a criminal prosecution “may result in’a fine amounting to- $50 a civil suit will gain for the Government sums totaling into the hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Wells explained. ten counties of which the district is composed represent one of the wealthiest and _ most industrious sections of the Na- tion with a population of approxi- _ mately 4,000,000 persons. Problems > are constantly arising within this}: - area to which the Government is a party, and with which the VU. 5./. ' ‘ Attorney's office is vitally _ con- ee nn rt aa en a nS SER oe Buren of Inbestinution PP iFt BRS se ; eit is the duty of the Federaiy” — af f Sip tity Mad ‘ sults of the investigations and the - Concernin ’ who investigates violations against ‘amination to * they hold, it Attorney to begin suits for the re- covery of monies claimed to be due | and owing to the Federal Govern- ment under the laws pertaining to taxes and duties, and to defend buits presented by those claiming overpayment. To represent the Gov- ernment in all actions brought by and against it arising out of war]. risk insurance and matters - ing to the Veterans Bureau:.in al) matters of breach of contract to which the Government may be a party. He enforces the payment of penalties due upon al] bonds en- tered. into for the faithful per- formance “df ‘obligations of many kinds and description. He brings sults in Admiralty to which the Government may be a party, and Philadelphia being” prominent port, the ltigation in this respect is of some magnitude. : ‘The United States Attorney at- tends to the purchase of all lands end tenants for Governmental pur- poses, preparing the necessary doc- uments and completing the set- tlements thereof. -He brings and prosecutes to a conclusion all pro- ceedings for the’ acquisition of lands by condemnation, where equitable terms of purchase and/|- sale-cannot be agreed upon.” Differs From Municipal Procedure Differing from the procedure of the municipal courts, a warrant for the arrest or prosecution, or search of @ person or premises cannot be obtained in Federal Court or from a United States Commissioner mere- ly by claiming a wrong done by the complainant, as is done in Btate practice. A Federal warrant may be obtained only from a Federal judge |: or a U. 8. Commissioner. No war- rant will be issued on the plea of a complainant who is a private in- dividual, but only upon the affi- |. davit of a duly recognized repre- sentative of the Federal Govern- ment. Buch affidavits are made only after a thorough investigation by trained agents of the Bureau |. having jurisdiction over the partic- |: war violation. This insures that no! person is liable to arrest untill af thorough investigation has been made of the complaint against him. |; The United State Attorney is notified following an investigatio in the form of written reports o theevidence to which each one of Government's witnesses in each case will testify to. He weighs the re- “n, ure a thy | Crimes Handled by U. 8. Attorney | The crimes the United States At-{ torney’s office encounters in its Prosecutions are those primarily Bmtions of the laws of the United alan . “I might go to any Jength to jl- , lustrate the sound reasons that moved Congress pre ease of WS com e Federal Criminal Code, laws to white slavery, to the unlawful use' of narcotics, to embezzlement of funds of national banks,” . Wells, “these might be cited as evi- the oretes the necessity for laws for . on vernmen BP ell as the er fovernm t . ese, e jaws of the land, Passed in accordance with the pro- visions of the Constitution and the amendments are the laws which the United States Attorney takes a , Solemn oath to uphold and enforce,” “Wells declared. “It remains with the people to elther sit idly by as the racketeer prowls his. nefarious way, or to follow the advice of George Washington who in his fare- well address, said: “This Govern- ment has « claim to your confidence and your support. Respect for its authority, compliance with its laws, acquiescence in its measures, are} enjoined by the fundamental max- ims of true lberty’.” The laws of the Jand are the will of the people, disrepect for the law leads to dis- integration of Government. - ----. evidence gathered and decides]: whether the Government depart- ment involved has a@ prima facie case that warrants prosecution. : the type of person]. the Government’s statutes, Wells |. said. “With the exception -of the/: Department of Justice all agents: and investigators are under civil service regulations which means that they had to pass a rigid ex- guality for the posts|: means that they; eannot be discharged unless for good cause and therefore they are not to be swerved from their duty by influence or . political wwrece ne.