The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1897-06-04

duce II is the practice OF the govern
mont officials when a dealer In ar
rested for violating tho internal rev.
enue laws. to give him every oppor-
tunity TO pay his nne and escape
prosecution. thus making his onensa
disagrceable to him In no way ex-
cept In the loss OF certain amount
OF money. the aggregate OF which
may not be as great as one months
profits from his fraudulent practices.
In the case Of ono retailer In Chi
cago who was recently apprehended
for Illegally selling oleomargarine.
tho internal revenue collector sim
ply called him up. secured from him
an ofor TO compromise. and for
wardcd this offer 10 Washington for
approval OF tho treasury depart
ment. II tho offer In accepted ho
Will suffer no further Inconvenience
from this case. and the public will
DO none the wiser. His case will not
serve as an example for other Of
Tenders. II will be necessary for
the prosecutors TO hunt up indivld-
ual cases and prosecute each sopar-
ately.
Tho Star puts Il very polntediy
and very Justly In an editorial OF
some length. In which Il says; There
IN grave doubt whether the principle
OF compromise. m applied TO criminal
cases, operates 10 the advantage OF
the community by the discouraging OF
crime. II has even been asserted by
some Observers that compromises tend
to foster daring operations In defiance
OF tho law. especially when no ques-
ton exists m to guilt and conviction
10 within reach. In the case OF the
pending oleomargarine prosecutions
the officials OF tho internal revenue
bureau acknowledge that they arc
now considering the adviaabllity OF
accepting an offer made by tho al
legged violatera OF the law prohibit
Ing the sale rs butter OF limitations
OF that product. who propose to pay
heavy sum in consideration Of the
dropping OF tho cases against them.
This method OF settling proceedings
under the law IA permitted by tho
statutes. and involves no impcach-
mont OF personal integrity. but II Ia
a serious question whether the best
purposes OF the law arc furthered
by acquiesoenco In such suggestions.
Tho chief purpose OF tho penalties
provided by the law ia not TO mulct
tho offenders 10 the enrichment OF the
treasury. but to discourage further vio-
lationa. The people OF the district and
others who suffer from tho operations
OF theao dealers In limitations OF butter.
who persist In marketing their prod
ucta M the genuine article, arc not
concerned In the least in the state Of
tho fraud fund" OF the internal row
onuo ONCE. into which these compro-
mise payments are paid. but they are
deeply interested In the success OF the
efforts 10 stamp out the frauda. and 10
this end they hope 20 SEQ the law ro-
lentieasly applied and the just penal
ties incurred exacted 70 the letter whom
convictions arc obtained. An offender
who 10 confident OF securing an acquit-
tai win not generally offor 10 compro-
misc and such an offer may DO taken
AZ fairly good evidence that he fears
conviction. II ho anticipates benefit
from the lack Of positive proof OF from
the interference OF some technicality.
no will save HIS funds and defy tho of
lcers OF tho law 10 prosecute him. His
offer 10 pay large sum. even whom
moro In amount than the fino that
would DO imposed In case OF convio-
ton. would not serve the full pur-
poses Of tho law. which also calls for
term OF imprisonment. IL ia this
latter mode OF punishment which Ia
most likely TO deter an ovil-door from
a repetition OF his crime The money
ine may only be partially representa-
tive OF the profits OF the illegal prac-
tico at which the law aims, and a
system OF fines without imprisonment
would practically amount TO licensing
fraudulent business. Tho imprlson-
ment Ia dreaded by vlolators, and AZ
long aB there In tho least opportunity
TO secure conviction which will result
In the application OF this penalty all
offers OF compromise should be reject
ed. II. however, there should be
enough doubt OF success In case OF &C
tive prosecution TO warrant the accept
anco OF compromise offer, the fine
exacted In this why should be large
enough TO put a heavy premium on
good behavior in tho future"
This compromise" feature OF ths
internal revenue law 10 one OF thu
greatest obstacles in the way OF en-
forcing the oleomargarlne act