The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-21

that every person guilty OF
fraud in the employ of the United
States government, whether in Cuba
Or elsewhere, should be punished to
the furthest limit of justice. For the
moment this is especially true of the
former postal agent Neely, who is
wanted in Cuba, but whose attorney
resists eXtradition, on the technically
correct ground that under the exist
ing conditions there is no warrant in
law for such eXtradition as between
the United States and a territory like
Cuba whose people have been declared
independent by congress but which is
under American control temporarily.
There is, however, some ground for
the opinion that to pass a law per-
hitting the eXtradition of an Ameri
can citizen to a country where the
common law does not prevail would
be to do an act requiring to be very
cautiously safeguarded. The attorney
general has submitted to congress a
bill specially drafted to fit the Nicely
case. 1t provides that the statutes
relative to eXtradition between the
United states and countries with which
the United States has treaties ofeXtra'
dition shall apply to the eNtradition OF
fugitives from justice from Cuba
while the government of that island
is exercised under the authority of
the United States. 1t also provides
that eXtradition powers in force be-
tween the various states shall be eX-
tended to the Philippines, Guam, Ha-
waii and Porto Rico. To this bill the
objection has arisen that it opens pos
sibilities of great annoyance of ciu-
Zens pursued, let it be supposed, with
spiteful purpose by representatives of
the Latin or other foreign race. How
fair this objection is We do not know.
The subject is one for thorough eX
animation before final action is taken.
A measure with the same purpose
which seems safe is proposed by Con-
gresham Ray as follows:
Whenever any foreign country or territory, or
anv part thereof is under the control or tenn
poraTy government Of the United States, and the
United States by act of congress or through its
mlltarN power OF OliClNlSt ndS tSlaDllsltu OF
authorized government control over same, in
whole or in part, any citizcn OF the United
States appointed to any place, position or office
in the control government Of such foreign
territory or country, or any part thereof, by
authority Of the United States or any of its
officers or departments, or any other person, who
shall offend against the criminal laws, orders,
rules or regulations regularly established by the
United States or its officers or any department
thereof for the control or government of such
foreign country or territory, or against the
criminal laws recognized by the United States,
its officers and departments as in force in said
foreign country or territory, and who shall de.
part flee thercfrom into any one of the United
Slatcs and be found therein, shall be surrendered
to the authorities in control of such foreign
country or territory for trial under the laws re.
cognized and in force in the place where such
crime was committed.
If there is now no law by which
Neely can be taken to Cuba for trial
the Ray bill would make a good one
and il would be one under which the
| liberty of the good citizen would be at
all times under American protection.
More than this cannot be asked. Less
than this will not be accepted.