Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-18
Proposed Extension of the Extradi-
tion Laws.
BILL OF ATTORNEY GENERAL GRIGGS
Cases Of Nicely and Others Con-
sidered in Committee.
AN INTRICATE QUESTION


tee of the House Of Representatives today
considered means of dealing with the Neely
case and like offenses arising in Cuba. The
need of action was explained by the Attor-
ney General in a letter to Chairman Ray
CT the committee, in which he said:
Recent Offenses Of criminal nature
committed by an employe of the postal
service in Cuba, who has fed from justice
there and taken refuge in the United States
make it my duty to call your attention to
the fact that the application of the present
extradition laws of the United States to
such cases IS in a condition of doubt and
uncertainty which makes it embarrassing to
the Department of Justice to secure the
prompt return of such offenders to the
Jurisdiction in which the crime is commit
ted. and in which they should be tried.
1T is obvious that the laws of the United
States ought to provide sure and speedy
return of fugitives from justice who flee
from Cuba and seek refuge in the United
States / have drafted an act which Will
make the course of procedure in such mat
ters sure and certain. and l respectfully
ask that it be considered by your commit
tee, and. if found expedient, that 1t oe in
trcduced and passed as speedily as pos
sible.'
The Attorney Generals Bill.
Inc AttoiHty Htueidl 10 Si'eAeASN
AN act for extradition and rendition IN
certain cases." and provides:
Section l. That sections 5210. 5211 52I2,
5273 and 5274 Of the Revised Statutes and
all other statutes of the United States con-
corning extradition to foreign countries. in
pursuance of treaties, shall apply to and
govern extradition to the Island of Cuba
while occupied by the United States and
during the continuance of the government
established and maintained In said lsiano
by the United States. In the same manner
and to the same effect as though 1. Supa
were a country with which treaty exist
ed STIMULATING and providing for eXtradl-
ton in the case of all felonies ana o'heT
crimes past and future. against the pehal
code or the laws in force on the lSland OF
Cuba. and in the same manner as II me
governor or other chief officer of Cuba
were the head Of an independent govern
ment thereof.
knowingly and wilfully obstructs, reslsts
or opposes any agent person or ofncer VINO
has q prisoner in custody under the proVi-
sion Of the foregoing section in the eXecu-
ton of his duties or who rescueS OF at
tennis to rescue such person whist IN
custody as aforesaid. shall be punlshed py
a fine of not more than 1000 ana by I'M
prisonment for not more than one year.
A third section applies to sections oZio
and 52I9 of the Revised Statutes. to the
rendition Of fugitives between the states
and territories and the ISLANDS IN t,e pJs.
session Of the Unlteo osa'es " "
treaty of Paris.
DiscussiOn In Committee.
The discussion before the committee took
a wide range, covering the status OF those
officials who are performing civil functions
while the island is under military control.
Some of the members regarded this mill
itary authority as SO complete that II COW
cred the cases of Neely and others and
would permit the military branch to take
Neelv In this country and return MIN 10
Cuba.
The view was general that the situation
in Cuba was most extraordinary ana CUM
pljcated as Spain had relinquished SOW
ereignty. the United States had not as
sumed sovereignty and Cuba had not Or
ganized sovereign government
j. G. Ray, the chairman, laid pe1ore the
committee a brief bill he had drawn, having
but one section, and providing for the sur
render of offending officials of Cuba when
fleeing into the United States. This and
the Attorney Generals bill were CONSIDERED
at length.
Matter Referred to Committee.
It was finally determined that the ques-
ttons involved were of such a far-reaching
character. touching our authority In Cuba,
that it would be desirable to secure CO.
operation with the Senate and the execu-
tive branch of the government, and SUBJ
committee was appointed, consisting OF
REPRESENTATIVES Ray of New York. Jen-
kins of Wisconsin, Littlefeld OF Maine, De
Almond of Missouri and Clayton or Ala
bama to confer with the other branches
and report on the whole subject next Tues
day.
The insular committee also considered
other phases of the Neely and like cases
The resolution of Representative Hay OF
Virginia calling for information as to
whether Director of Posts Rathbone had
reported the Cuban postal accounts all
right went to a subcommittee consisting OF
REPRESENTATIVES Cooper of Wisconsin, Loud
Of California and ]. r. Williams of Illinois.
Representative Bromwell of Ohio made an
earnest speech in favor Of Immediately re-
imbursing to the Cuban postal fund the
amounts misappropriated He said good
faith required this to be done, and that
the Cubans and the rest OF the world should
be made to understand at once that Cuba
was being dealt with in the strictest hon
esty Mr.. Cromwell believed such a course
would speed the day Of annexation, If such
was to be the outcome, by giving the Gu
bans confidence In our fair dealings
Pending the Inquiries by the subcommit
tee, no action was taken on the Bromwell
resolution and the subject will come up
again next Tuesday.
Chairman Rays Bill.
Later Chairman Ray Of the judiciary COM
mittee perfected his bill and introduced 1t
in the House. 1t adds to section $40 Of the
statutes the following:
provided, that whenever any foreign
country or territory any part thereof Is
under the control or temporary govern
ment Of the United States and the United
States by act of Congress, through its
military power or otherwise, has estab-
Hshed or authorized governmental control
over the same in whole or in part, any
person who commits an offense and fees
to the United States shall be surrendered
to the authorities of the United States and
returned and surrendered to the authorities
in control of such foreign country or ter
ritory for trial under the laws recognized
and in force in the place where such crime
was committed"
Bill Sent to Senator Hoar.
Senator Hoar, chairman of the Senate
committee on the judiciary, has received
from Attorney General Griggs copy of
his bill. Senator Hoar today said he had
not considered this bill, but that 1t would
come before his committee next Monday.
Senators disagree as to the power Of the
government to extradite Neely.
II it should be decided by the judiciary
committee that the government already has
this power, of course, they will not report
the bill proposed by Mr.. Griggs. but should