Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-01-03
THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.

We have no doubt the statute of limita-
tions was designed with an honest purpose
probably to prevent the persecution of per-
sons many years after the commission of an
otfense of which they had sincerely repent
ed. The design of our laws is reformatory,
not punitive, although punishment is neces-
sarily part of the system. It was conclud-
ed by the trainers of the statute of limita-
tons that if a man had lived for six years
without committing crime, it was an evil
dence of sincere and permanent repentance,
and his otfenses committed previous to that
time ought to be condoned. So it was
agreed that for certain class of offenses
the lapse of time should be bar to legal
proceedings.
While this was the intent of the law-and
commendable one too-it has been subject
to abuse, and no law is more frequently used
to shield criminals from the consequences
of their acts than the statute of limitations.
An official who has been guilty of specula-
lions for long series of years manages to
conceal them from the public gaze as long
as possible, and when finally detected in his
rascality, pleads the statute of limitations as
reason why he should escape punishment
1t generally happens that acts of criminal
nature isappropriation of funds, etc. are
ante-dated so as to give the person accused
every possible advantage atttainable from
the lapse of time. Then every device of as
tute attorneys is employed to secure delays,
until finally the more adroit of the thieves
manages to escape punishment entirely. We
have of late had some striking examples of
how this statute can be used to defeat the
ends of justice and assist in the escape
of criminals from merited punishment
The pine land rings of Minnesota
and Louisiana have grown rich on
the proceeds of their larcenies, but
can defy the officers of the government by
reason of the bar placed by this statute
against proceedings agrinst them. Many of
those who have evaded the law as to the col
lection of revenue taxes also plead this senti-
ment to avoid the payment of their dues.
The Indian agents who have been robbinp
the aborigines for ten years, have escaped
the just punishment for their misdeeds by
reason of the existence of the statute of linn
ltations. And now comes Ex-Secretary
Robson, with an effort to escape the penal
ty of lnaladministration of the navy depart
ment by pleading the lapse of too much
time. 1t has been demonstrated that he has
spent, since 1872, over two hundred mil
lions of dollars and yet We have to-day not a
single vessel that can be denominated first
class, and only ninety of the whole number
owned by the government are even sea-
worthy, The Congressional committee, to
whom the matter was referred, have pre-
pared their report. showing the most shame
less extravaganza and downright dishonesty
in the conduct of affairs, yet Robson asks
delay. He processes to be able to furnish
proofs that he was guiltless of the transgres-
sion charged upon him. Day after day the
conclusion of the testimony has been de-
layed, the evident purpose being to delay
the commencement of legal proceedings I'M
til after the expiration of the six years fixed
by law as the bar against punishment.
Such purposes were never contemplated
by the originators of the statute of limita-
lions. 1t was not designed to provide means
OF escape for criminals, but rather to protect
persons really innocent from prosecution
and persecution. Some means should be
devised to defeat this perversion of the law,
aud we feel that something will be done at
an early day to remedy the defect that has
crept into it's administration.