The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-08

ready-made tools of corrupt politicians, or
the desire TO evade certain labor laws Gre
ating determinations against alien labor.
All good citizens whether naturalized or
native born, are equally interested in pro-
tecting our citizenship against fraud in any
form, and, on the other hand. in according
every facility for naturalization, to those
who in good faith desire to share alike
our privileges and our responsibilities.
The federal grand jury. lately In session
in New York city, dealt with this subject
and made presentment which states the
situation briefly and forcibly, and contains
important suggestions for the consideration
of the Congress. This presentment is In
cluded as appendix to the report of the
attorney general.
To Enforce the Laws.
In my last annual message, in connection
with the subject of the due regulation OF
combinations of capital which are or may
become injurious to the public, 1 recon-
mended a special appropriation for the bet
ter enforcement OF the antitrust law as 1t
now stands. to be expended under the di-
rection of the attorney general Accord
ingly (by the legislative, executive, and ju-
dicial appropriation act Of Feb. Is, 1903, 81
Stat, S5490D, the Congress appropriated.
for the purpose Of enforcing the va
rious federal trust and nterstate-commerce
under the direction of the attorney general
In the employment of special counsel and
agents in the Department of Justice to
conduct proceedings and prosecutions under
said laws in the courts or the United
States. / now recommend, as a matter Oh
extension of the purposes of this appropria-
ton, so that 1t may be available, under the
direction of the attorney general. and until
used, for the due enforcement of the laws
of the United States in general and es-
pecially Of the civil and criminal laws re-
lating to public lands and the laws relating
to postal crimes and offenses and the sub
ject of naturalization Recent Investigations
have shown a deplorable state or affairs In
these three matters of vital concern.
Public Land Frauds.
BY various frauds and by forgeries and
perjuries, thousands of acres of the public
domain, embracing lands of different char
acter and extending through various sec
tons OF the country. have been dishonesty
acquired. 1t is hardly necessary to urge the
Importance of recovering these dishonest
acquisitions, stolen from the people. and OF
promptly and duly. Furnishing the Offenders.
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 and that 'fnestimable heritage" per-
verted to base ends. BY similar means-that
is. through frauds. forgeries and perjuries.
and by shameless briberies-the laws re-
lating to the proper conduct of the public
service in general and to the due admins
tration of the Postoffice Department have
been VIGOROUSLY violated, and many indict-
ments have been found. and the consequent
prosecutions are in course of hearing or
on the eve thereof For the reasons thus In
dicated, and so that the government may
be prepared to enforce promptly and with
the greatest effect the due penalties for such
violations of law, and TO this end may be
furnished with sufficient instrumeptalitieS
and competent legal assistance for the In
vestigations and trials which will be nee
essary at many different points OF the coun-
try, urge upon the Congress the necessity
of making the said appropriation available
for immediate use for all such purposes, To
be expended under the direction OF the at
torney general.
Bribery should BE ExtraditabIe.
Steps have been taken by the State De-
partment looking to the making of bribery
an extraditable offense with foreign powers.
The need of more effective treaties cover
| ing this crime is manifest The exposures
and prosecutions of official corruption in
| st. Louis, Mo-, and other cities and States
having resulted In a number of givers and
takers of brides becoming fugitives in for
| eign lands. Bribery has not been included
| in extradition treaties heretofore, the
necessity for il has not arisen. While there
may have been as much official corruption
| In former years there has been more de-
veloped and brought TO light in the imme-
date past than in the preceding century OF
policy of the United States to leave no place
| on earth where a corrupt man fleeing IRON
this country can rest In peace. There is nc
| reason why bribery should not be included
| in all treaties as extraditabie. The recent
amended treaty with Mexico, whereby this
crime was put in the list of extraditable Of
| lenses has established a salutary prece-
| dent 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 serious thar
bribery Other offenses violate one law
while corruption strikes at the foundation
of all law; Under our form of government
| them delegated TO those who represent then
| in official capacity. There can be no onens,
heavier than that of him in whom such Z
sacred trust has been reposed. who sells 4
| for his own gain and enrichment; and M
| less heavy is the offense of the bribe-giver
| He is worse than the thief, for the THE
| robs the individual, while the corrupt Off
| cial plumbers an entire city or State. III,
is as wicked as the murderer, for the muir
derer may only take one life against tn,
| law, while the corrupt official and the mar
who corrupts the official alike aim at tn,
assassination OF the commonwealth itself
Government OF the people. by the people
| for the people will perish from the face o
| the earth If bribery is tolerated. Tn,
| givers and takers of brides stand on al
| evil pre-eminence OF infamy. The exposure
| and punishment OF public corruption Il
| an honor to a nation. not disgrace. TIL
| shame lies in federation, not in correction
! No city or State. still less the Nation, cal
| be injured by the enforcement OF law. A
| long as public piunderers, when detected
| can find a haven OF refuge In any foreign
| land and avoid punishment, just so Ion,
| encouragement Is given them to coutinu
their practices IL we fail TO Go all tina
| I'm US lies 10 stamp out corruption we can