The Elbert County tribune., 1903-12-10

torney- General. Accordingly fby the leg
islative. executive. and judicial appro-
priation act OF February IS. 1908. 81
Stat. s54. eoi). the Congress appropriated.
for the purpose OF enforcing the various
Federal trust and interstate-eommerce
laws. the sum OF 1--WE hundred thousand
dollars. to be expended under the direc-
tion OF the Attorney General In the en-
ployment OF special counsel and agents
In the Department OF Justice 10 conduct
proceedings and prosecutions under said
laws in the courts OF the United States.
| now recommend as a matter OF the ut
most Importance and urgency. the extcn-
sion OF the purposes OF this appropria-
tion. so that II may be available. under
the direction OF the Attorney-General.a and
until used. for the due enforcement OF
the laws of the United States In general
and especially of the civil and criminal
laws relating to public lands and the laws
relating to postal crimes and offenses and
the subject OF naturalization. Recent In
vestigations have shown depiorable
state of affairs In these three matters OF
vital concern. py various frauds and
by forgeries and perjurics. thousands Of
acres OF the public domain. embracing
lands of different character and EXTEND
ing through various sections OF the coun-
try. have been dishonesty acquired. II
IL hardly necessary to urge the import
ance Of recovering these dishonest acqui-
sitions. stolen from the people. and of
promptly and duly panishing the Of
IenutIs.
Postal Frauds.
I speak in another part OF this message
OF the widespread crimes by which the
sacred right of citizenship is falsely as
serted md that ''inestimnhle heritage"
perverted to base ends. BY similar means
that is, through frauds. forgeries. and
per)uries. and by shameless briheries-
the laws relating to the proper conduct
OF the public service in general and to
the due administration Of the Postofiice
department have been notorlously vio-
lated. and many indictments have been
found. and the consequent prosecutions
are in course nf hearing or on the eve
thereof. For the reasons thus indicated.
and so that the Government may De pre-
pared to enforce promptly and with the
greatest effect the due penalties for such
violations OF law. and 10 this end may
be furnished with sufficient instrumentall-
ties and competent legal assistance for
the Investigations and trials which Will
be necessary at many different points of
the country. ! urge upon the Congress
the necessity Of making the said nppro-
prlation available for immediate use for
all such purposes. TO be expended under
the direction OF the Attorney-General.
Needs for Treaties Making Bribery
ENtraditsble.
Steps have been taken by tho State
Department looking to the making OF
bribery an extrndifable offanse with for
treaties covering this crime Is manifest.
The exposures and prosecutions OF Of
ficlal corruption In st. Louis, Mo. and
other cities and states have resulted In
"A number OF givers and takers OF bribes
becoming fugitlves In foreign lands. Brib-
cry has not been included in extradltion
treaties heretofore. as the necessity for
II has not arisen. While there may have
been as much official corruption In former
years. there has been more developed
hrDmnlI IN n Ia Inn Ia 10
past than in the preceding century OF
our country's history. IL should tie the
policy OF the United States to leave no
place ON earth where IA corrupt man
fleeing from this country can rest In
peace. There Is no reason why bribery
should not be included IN all treaties as
extraditable. The recent amended treaty
with Mexico, whereby this crime was
put In the list OF extraditable offenses.
has established "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 bribe eivers.
There can be no crime more serious
than bribery, Other ofrenses violate one
law. while corruption strikes at the foun-
dalton Of all law. Under our form of gov
ernment all authority is vested in the
people and by them delegated to those
who represent them In official capacity
The exposure and punishment OF public
corruption is an honor TO nation. not
a disgrace. The shame lies in liberation.
not In correction. No city or state. still
less the nation, can he injured by the
enforcement OF law. AS long us public
plunderers when detected can find
haven OF refuge in any foreign land and
avoid punishment, Just so long encour-
asement Is given them to continue their
practices. II We fail to do all that in us
lies to stamp out corruption we can not
escape our share OF responsibility for the
guilt. The first requisite OF successful
self-government Is unninching enforce.
ment of the la " 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 II continues:
The result is satisfactory In every way
IL 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 TO be-
come more acutely accentuated with each
passing year Finally, IT has furnished
a signal proof OF the fairness and good
Will with which two friendly nations can
approach and determine issues involving
national sovereignty and by their nature
incapable OF submission to a third power
for 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 real growth
among the civilized nations of sentl-
Tnent which will permit a gradual sub
stitutlon OF other methods than the
method Of war in the settlement OF dis.
putes. II Is not pretended that as yet
we are near position in which IL Will
he possible wholly TO prevent war. or
that 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-