Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-05-05
THE CABINET ACTS
In Regard to Alleged SeditiOus
Literature

which VIII he Taken from the Mails at
San FranciscO---Ed~srdA Atkinson, the
sender, Says Matter Was Taken from
Public Documents.
Edward Atkinson of Boston and his anti
imperialist pamphlets occupied a good deal
of the time at the cabinet meeting at Wash
ington Tuesday. The result of the discus
sion was a decision to prevent the Atkin-
son pamphlets from reaching the soldiers
and others in the Philippines to whom the
administration had been informed they
were being sent. Postmaster General Smith
telegraphed an order to the postmaster at
San Francisco to take the questionable
documents from the mail.
Atty. Gen. Griggs told the President and
the other cabinet officers present that Mr..
Atkinson could be Indicted, convicted and
severely punished, but that it was not, in
his personal opinion, expedient to proceed
against him. In an interview Mr. Griggs
said:
"There is no question in my mind that
Mr.. Atkinson could be indicted for break
ing the laws of his country, convicted and
given a heavy sentence The law is plain
on the subject. 1t is sec. 1894 of the Re-
vised Statutes, which is as follows:
Every person who iucites, sets on foot assists
or engages In any rebellion against the authority
of the United States, the la thereof, gives
aid or comfort thereto, shall be punished by I'm
prtsonment OF not more than 10 years. or by a
fine of not more that $4,000, or by both Of such
punishment; and shall, moreover, be incapable
of holding any office under the United States.
"This covers not only the case of Mr..
Atkinson, but of any others who are assist
ing the rebellion against the authority of
Al IL -. ~
ing aid or comfort thereto by advising the
soldiers not to re-enlist, or in any other
way hampering the operations of the gov
eminent, or encouraging the Filipinos to
resist. However, inasmuch as apparently
no harm has been done, we will probably
treat Mr.. Atkinson as but harmless as a
baby, recognizing that he is not responsible,
and that he is accomplishing nothing"
The documents referred to are: First,
1.-THE Cost of National Crime;" second,
'The He'll of War and Its Penalties" and
third Criminal Aggression, by Whom
Committed" Mr.. Atkinson said the re-
port which had come from Washington was
too ridiculous to call for comment on his
part, but he talked at length in regard to
the pamphlet. He said in part:
II am satisfied with the position taken
by the administration, which l still doubt,
to suppress free speech and prohibit free
mails to the people of the United States, in
their correspondence with citizens of the
United States in the Philippines. No fur.
| Their comment would be suitable.
THE record will be found in the Con.
gressional Record. have not sent for q
copy of the second pamphlet until today
l hope to receive it,
The position taken by the postmaster
| general, if sustained, is to the effect that g
private edition of public document of the
United States is not to be sent through the
United States mails to Admiral Dewey
President Schurman, Prof. Worcester
Gen. Otis, Gen. Lawton, Gen. Miller anC
the correspondents of Harper's Weekly
the only persons to whom l sent copies.
! THE first documents were made up from
the debates of the House and Senate and
have been forwarded to all who receive tn,
Congressional Records. The second docu
ment called attention to points overlooked
in debate, and by action of the Senate botl
compilations were published as Senate doc
uments. They are now public documents
of the United States.
Therefore, if any action is taken abou
! keeping them out of tine mails IL must Do.
. held that the Congressional Records an,
official documents Of the United States arr
u....- r" ...