St. Paul daily globe., 1891-05-19
NAVASSA RIOTERS.
In Committing the Sentence the
President Scores the Bosses.

ICSLuCnb 0COEC5 ttlc hOS96Ss
WASHINGTON, May 1S.-The presi-
dent disposed of the case of the Navassa
rioters to-day. His action is embodied
In the following Endorsement of the ap-
plication for executive clemency. Il
have examined with care the papers
submitted in these cases and am not
willing that the death sentence should
be executed. The killing was, as to
each of the prisoners. satisfactorily es-
tablished, and that it was felonious is
also clear. But the conditions sur
rounding the prisoners and their
fellows were of most pecul-
lar character. They were American
citizens under contract to perform labor
upon specified terms within American
territory, removed from any opportunity
to appeal to any court or public officer
Tor redress of any injury or the enforce
ment of any civil right. Their en-
ployers were, in fact, their masters.
The bosses placed over them imposed
fines and penalties without any SEM
blance of trial. These penalties eX-
tended to imprisonment, and even to
the cruel practice of tying men up for a
refusal to work. Escape was impossible,
and the state of things generally such
as might make men reckless and des-
perate. The United States government
should provide by law for the execution
of contractSto labor in Navassa before
public officer whose duty it should be
to see that the men who 90 there
to labor are well informed as
to the nature of the obligations
assumed, and should maintain on the
island an officer with power to hear
complaints and to adjudge controversies.
L have within few weeks been COM
PEELED to send a war vessel to the ISL
and to Investigate the complaints of a
workman. who by letter complained to
me that he was forcibly detained be-
yOnd the time contracted for. A report
upon the case has Just been received,
which flndS tLat the complaint of this
man of an unjust detention upon the
island was true. A board of naval Off
GERS from the Kearsarge made inquiry
into the condition of things upon the
island, and conclude their report as fol-
lows: we would desire to state fur
ther that the discipline maintained on
the island seems to be that of a
convict establishment without its
comforts and clean linen: and that
until more attention Is paid 10 the
shipping of the labOrers by placing it
under government supervision, and some
attention is shown in the treatment OF
AoOOAOAo biiCAO, HIS
representations and disorders will be
of constant recurrence. In this
connection we desire to say that the
fault does not seem to lie with the su-
perintendent, but with the company,
which neglects to heed Recommended
tons and, further, to supply food of
quality, and at the proper times, for it 10
be both sufficient and palatable.' This
is not case for pal Idon; the crime
was very grave one. but, taking into
account all of its antecedents and incl
dents, have concluded to commute
the sentence to Imprisonment for lite.
The sentences in the cases of George S.
Key, Henry Jones and Edward Smith.
convicted of murder in the circuit court
of the United States for the district of
Maryland and sentenced to be hanged,
are each committed to Imprisonment for
life at hard labor in the penitentiary"