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wee” wa be / CC-287 _ Mr. Tolson____ fora HOOVER ; - Mr. E. A. Tamn IRECTOR ‘ ‘ * ; . Mr. Clegg ‘ Mr. Coffey Mr. Glavin United States Department of Justice Mr. Ladd Mr. Nichols__ Washington, A. €. Mr. Rosen Mr. Tracy June 28, 1943 Mr. Carson___ Mr. Harbo Mr. Hendon Mr. NeGuire__ Mr. Mumford Mr. Piper Mr. Quino T The attached sheet covers a call June 43 ¥rom Tele. Room Assistant Director H. H. Clegg to Assistant Direttor A. Rosen Mr. Nease concerning the handling by the Department of,a memorandum from Mias Beahm the Director relative to Federal Judge £. Webb, Western District wiss Gandy of North Carolina, who 1s decidedly out of e in comparison with other judges in imposing sentences, and Ur. Clege's recommendations, fir that such matters should be sent to Administra of theASupreme Court rather than to the Department and, second, that if the ep ent is advised, suggestions be made to them as to what action they should take. Pederal Bureau of Investigation f ld Cl «et The menorandum to which Mr. Clege referred was sent to the Attorney General on June 3, 1943, (66-8054-8-24) outlining Judge Webb's leniency, pointing out the results to the Bureau's operations, and con- cluded: "I thought I should bring the above situetion to your attention for any action that you deem advisable." 2 ’ I believe the action taken in this case was the proper one. It is certainly not the function of the FBI as an investigative and law enforcement agency to bring such a situation directly to the attention of the Supreme Court. Such action would be a complete contradiction to our long established policy of impartiality and divorcenent from judicial or administrative decisions and recommendations. Furthermore, I do not believe it is the Director's responsibility to suggest or recommend to the Attorney General what action he should take in such a situation. A matter such as this is purely one of policy for which the responsibility is his, ard the Bureau, I believe, would be more apt to be embarrassed by the improper execution of its suggestions with no opportunity for protest than to leave such matters in the hands of the Attorney General as they should be. Cn a oh ee a Nea F. Respectfully, {