The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-05-19
LIN AGAINST N[E[EY
Congressmenlntent on Mend
ing Extradition Law.
PROPOSAL TO REIMBURSE
Cuba as an Evidence of Uncle
Sans Good Faith.

with the request of Attorney General
Griggs the judiciary committee OF the
house today considered means Of dealing
with the Neeley case and like ofonses
arising in Cuba. The need OF action was
explained >by the attorney general IN
letter to Chairman Ray Of the commit
tee, in which he said:
.sRAcent offenses of a criminal nature
committed by an employe OF the postal
service in Cuba, who has fed from JUS
tice there and taken refuge in the CIliteo
States, make it my duty TO cali your al
tention to the fact that the application
of the present extradition laws OF the
United States to such cases Is IN conot-
ton of doubt and uncertainty when
makes it embarrassing TO the depart
ment of justice to secure the prompt re-
turn of such offenders to the Jurlsdlcuon
in which the crime is committed and IN
which they should be tried. 1t Is OBVIOUS
that the laws of the United States
ought to provide a sure and speedy re-
turn Of fugitives from justice who hee
from Cuba and seek refuge in the United
States. have drafted an act which will
make the course of procedure in such
matters sure and certain, and l respect
gully ask that it be considered by your
committee and if found expedient, that
it be introduced and passed as speedily
as possible.
The attorney generals bill is entitled:
"An Act for Extradition and Rendition
in Certain Cases. and provides:
Section THAT sections $40, 527, 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 main
tanned in said island by the United
States, in the same manner and to the
same effect as though Cuba were a coun-
try with which a treaty existed stipulat-
ing and providing for extradition in the
case of all felonies and other crimes past
and future, against the penal code or
the laws in force on the island of Cuba
and in the same manner as If the gov
ernor or other chief officer of Cuba were
the head Of an Independent government
thereof
Section 2-That every person who
knowingly and willfully obstructs. resists
or opposes any agent, person or officer
who has prisoner in custody under the
provision of the foregoing section in the
execution Of his duties, or who rescues or
attempts to rescue such person whilst in
al ha
by fine of not more than $1,000 and by
Imprisonment for not more than one
year"
A third section applies to sections 527S
and 5279 of the Revised Statutes to the
rendition Of fugitives between the states
and territories and the islands in the pos
session Of the United States under the
treaty of Paris.
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 military authority as so
complete that it covered the cases of
Neeley and others and would permit the
military branch to take Neeley in this
country and return him to Cuba The
view was general that the situation in
Cuba was most extraordinary and come
plicated. as Spain had relinquished SOW
ereignty, the United States had not as
sumed sovereignty and Cuba had not
organized sovereign government.
J. c. Ray. chairman. laid before the
committee a brief bill, having but one
section. and providing for the surrender
of offending officials of Cuba when flee
ing into the United States. This and the
attorney generals bill were considered
at length. It was finally determined that
the questions involved were of such a far
reaching character. touching our author
fty in Cuba, that it would be advisable
to secure cooperation with the senate
and the executive branch of the govern
ment. and Subcommittee was appoint