Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1897-06-26

II
Inst. makes a vigorous and just pro-
test against the practice Of the
treasury department compromising
oieo prosecutions. says Chicago Pro-
duce. II is the practice Of the govern
ment officials when a dealer is ar
rested for violating the internal rev.
enne laws. to give him every oppor-
unity TO pay his fine and escape
prosecution. thus making his offense
disagreeable TO him In no way ex-
cept In the loss of q certain amount
oil money. the aggregate OF which
may not be Is great as n months
profits from his fraudulent practices,
In the case of n retailer In Chi
cago who vas recently Appreciated
for illegally selling oleomargarine.
the internal revenue collector sim
ply called him up. secured from him
an offer to compromise. and for
warded this offer to Washington for
approval Of the treasury depart
ment. IL the offer In accepted he
VIII suffer no further inconvenience
from this case. and the public will
be none the wiser. His case win not
serve as an example for other Of
tenders. II win be necessary for
the prosecutors to hunt up individ-
uai cases and prosecute each separ-
ateiy.
The Star puts II very pointediy
n very justly in an editorial OF
some length. In which IL says: There
IL grave doubt whether the principle
OF compromise. az applied 20 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 the law, especially when no Ques-
ton exists as 10 guilt and conviction
10 within reach. In the case Of b
pending oleomargarine prosecutions
the officials Of the internal eysnue
bureau acknowledge that they are
now considering the ~adyisabiiity OF
accepting an offer made by the al
legged yioiaters OF the law prohibit
Ing the sale AZ butter OF limitations
OF that product. who propose to pay
a heavy sum In consideration OF the
dropping OF the cases against them.
This method OF settling proceedings
under the law Is permitted by the
statutes. and involves no impeach-
ment OF personal integrity. but IL Ia
a serious question whether the best
purposes Of the law ara furthered
by aeqniescence in such suggestions.
The chief purpose OF the penalties
provided by the Law is not to mulct
the offenders 10 the enrichment Of the
treasury. but 10 discourage further yio-
iaiions. The people OF the district and
others who suffer from the operations
of these dealers In limitations of butter,
who persist in marketing their prod
ncts as the genuine article. are moi
concerned In the least In the state OF
the fraud fund" OF the internal rev.
cnue once. into which these compro.
misc payments are paid, but they are
deeply Interested In the success OF the
efforts 10 stamp out the frauds. and 70
this end they hope TO see the Law re-
lentiessiy applied and the just penal
ties incurred exacted to the letter when
convictions r obtained. An offender
who IL confident OF securing an acquit.
tai will not generally offer TO compro.
mise and such nm offer may be taken
as fairly good evidence that be fears
conviction. II he anticipates bench,
from the lack OF positive proof or from
the interference OF some technicaiity
he will save hts funds and defy the OF.
ncers Of the law 10 prosecute him. Hi
offer to pay a large sum. even whcr
more in amount than the fine tina
- - .Z-. H. -
ton, would not serve the full pur,
poses OF the law. which also calls fol
| a term of imprisonment. II is THU
latter mode Of punishment which Il
most likely TO deter an evil-doer from
: a repetition OF his crime. The none,
ine may only be partially representa-
q tive OF the profits OF the illegal prac
9 lice at which the law aims. and
Q system of fines without Imprisonment
r would practically amount TO licensing
o a fraudulent business. The imprison
!. ment Ia dreaded by violators. and a
long az there is tho least opportunit
r 10 secure conviction which will resul
n in the application OF this penalty al
offers OF compromise should be reject
ed. II, however, there should b
n enough doubt Of success In case of nc
y tive prosecution to warrant the accept
ance OF n compromise offer, the I'm
q exacted in this way should be larg
enough to put a heavy premium O
good behavior In the future
u This compromise" feature OF th
e internal revenue law is one OF III
% greatest obstacles In the way Of en-
9. forcing the oleomargarine act.
New Asparagus Blight.-Professo
n Byron ID. Halstead, OF the Rutgers Col
= lego Experimeut Station. gives n some