Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1903-12-12

promptly and duly Furnishing the Of
tenders.
Postal Frauds.
I speaRsfn another part OF this message
Of the Tidespread crimes by which the
sacred right of citizenship IS falsely as
perverted to base ends. BY similar means
that is. through frauds. forgeries. and
perjuries. and by shameless briberies-
the laws relating to the proper conduct
of the public service in general and to
the due administration of the Postoffice
department have been VIGOROUSLY vio-
lated. and many indictments have been
found. and the consequent prosecutions
are in course of hearing or on the eve
thereof. For the 1easons thus indicated.
and so that the Government may be pre-
pared to enforce promptly and with the
greatest effect the die penalties for such
violations of law. and TO this end may
be furnished with sufficient instrumentali-
ties and competent legal assistance for
the Investigations and trials which will
be necessary at many different points OF
the country. I urge upon the Congress
the necessity OF making the said appro-
priation available for immediate use for
all such purposes. to be expended under
the direction OF the Attorney-General-
Needs for Treaties Making Bribery
Extraditabie.
Steps have been taken by the State
Department looking to the making of
bribery an extraditable offense with for
eign powers. The need of more effective
treaties covering this crime is manifest.
The exposures and prosecutions of Of
fetal corruption in St. Louis. Mo, and
other cities and states have resulted in
a number of givers and takers of brides
becoming fugitives in foreign lands. Brib-
cry has not been included in eXtraditiOn
treaties heretofore. as the necessity for
it has not arisen. While there may have
been as much official corruption in former
years there has been more developed
and brought to light in the immediate
past than in the preceding century of
our country's history. 1T should Lee the
policy of the United States to leave no
place earth where a corrupt man
AeeinG from this country can rest in
peace. There is no reason why bribery
should not be included in al treaties as
extraditable. The recent amended treaty
with Mexico. whereby this crime was
put in the list of eXtraditable offenSes
has esta blished a salutary precedent in
this regard. Under this treaty the State
Department has asked and Mexico has
granted, the eXtradition of one OF the St
Louis bride giverS.
There can be no crime more serlons
than bribery Other offenses violate one
law. while corruption strikes at the foun-
dalton OF all law. Under our form of gov
eminent all authority is vested in the
who represent them in official capacity.
The exposure and punishment of public
corruption Is honor to nation not
a disgrace. The shame lies in tolera tion
not in correction. No city or state, still
less the nation. be injured by the
enforcement of law. AS long as public
plunde-ers when detected can find a
haven of refuge in any foreign land and
avoid punishment. just so long encour-
agement is given them to continue their
lies to stamp out corruption we can not
escape our share of responsibility for the
guilt The first requisite OF successful
self-government is unf1inching enforce
ment of the law and the cutting out of
corruption.
Alaskan Boundary.
The message gives in detail the
causes which led to the appointment
of the Alaskan boundary commission,
and congratulates both countries on
the satisfactory termination of the
sessions of the tribunal. It continues:
The result is satisfactory in every way
1t is of great material advantage to our
people in the far Northwest 1t has re-
moved from the field of discussion and
possible danger question liable 70 be-
come more acutely accumulated with each
passing year. Finally it has furnished
Il signal proof of the fairness and good
will with which two friendly nations can
approach and determine issues involving
national sovereignty ard by their nature
incapable of submission to a third power
Tor adjudication.
Claims Against Venezuela.
Referring to the success which
crowned the efforts of the United
States to have the Venezuelan dis
pute submitted to impartial arbitra-
tors the President says:
There seems good ground for the be-
lief that there has been a real growth
among the civilized nations of a senti-
ment which will permit a gradual sub
stitution of other methods than the
method of war in the settlement of dis
putes. 1t is not pretended that yet
We are near a position in which it will
be possible wholly to prevent war, or
that a just regard for national interest
and honor will in all cases permit of
the settlement of International disputes
by arbitration; but by a mixture of pru-
dence and tirmneSS with wisdom we think
it is possible to do away with much of
the provocation and excuse for war, and
at least in many cases to substitute some
other and more rational method for the
settlement of disputes. The Hague court
offers so good example of what can
be done in the direction of such settle
ment that it should be encouraged in
every way.
President Mckinley, in his mes
sage OF Dec. ., 1893, urged that the
Executive be authorized to correspond
with the governments of the principal
maritime powers with a view of in
cooperating into the permanent law of
civilized nations the principle of the
exemption of all private property at
sea, not contraband of war, from cap
ture or destruction by belligerent
powers.
President Roosevelt says he cor
daily renews this recommendation. as
a matter of humanity and morals.
Consular Service.
call your attention to the reduced cost
in maintaining the consular service for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1903. as
shown in the annual report of the Aud
flor for the State and other departments,
as compared with the year previous. For
the year under consideration the excess
of expenditures over receipts account
of the consular service amounted to $26,-
1852 as against 96.S725 80 for the year
ending June 80. 1902. and S147. 040.16 for the
year snGing June 80. 1901 This is the
best showing in this respect for the con-
sular service for the past fourteen years.
and the reduction in the cost of the serv-
ice to the Government has been made in
spite of the fact that the expenditures for
the year in question were more than
$50. 00o greater than for the previous year.
ErAA-nali.karu