New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-08
LAND And p. O. FRAUDS.

In my last annual Message. in connection Win
the subject of the due regulation of combinations
of capital which or may become INJURIOUS
to the public, 1 recommended special appro-
priation for the better enforcement OF the anti
trust law as it now stands TO be expended under
the direction of the Attorney General. ACCORD,
ingly (by the legislative executive ana ~ Ct
appropriation act of February 20 1903, o. stat
SJ4 904) the Congress appropriated Tor the pur5
pose OF enforcing the various Iedefdl lIuSC o d
Interstate commerce laws. the sum OF $0Oo,OOU'
to be expended under the direction or the AtloI-
nev General in the employment of special coun-
sci and agents in the Department OF Justlce ~
conduct proceedings and prosecutions under SAID
laws in the courts of the United states. 1 no"
recommend, as a matter of the utmost nnpor-
lance and urgency, the extension or the PURPOSES
Of this appropriation, so that II may De avail
able under the direction Of the Attorney GeLeI a.
and until used, for the due enforcement VI INC
laws of the United States in general ana espeC-
tally of the civil and criminal laws relating 70
public lands and the laws relating to postal
crimes and offences and the subject OF naturall-
cation. Recent Investigations have shown a oe-
plorahe state of affairs in these three matters
of vital concern. BY various frauds and by
forgeries and perjuries thousands OF acres VI
the public domain, embracing lands OF dlferent
character and extending through various sec
tons of the country, have been dlshonesty &C
qured. It is hardly necessary to urge the I'M
portance of recovering these dishonest acqulsl-
tons stolen from the people, and of promptly
and duly Furnishing the offenders. l speak IN
another part of this Message OF the widespread
crimes by which the sacred right of cltizenshlp
age perverted to base ends by sliiildE ileShlLo
that is through frauds. fOrgeries and perfumes
and by shameless briberieR-the laws relating
to the proper conduct Of the pubic service III
general and to the due administration or the
Postofice Department have been VIGOROUSLY Vlo-
lated and many indictments have been found
and the consequent prosecutions are IN course
of hearing or the eve thereof. For the red-
sons thus indicated 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 FUR
nished with sufficient instrumentahtles ana cohh-
petent legal assistance for the Investigations ana
trials which will be necessary at many diHerent
points of the country, urge upon the Congress
the necessity of making the said appropriation
available for Immediate use for all such pur-
poses, to be expended under the direction OF the
Attorney General
EXTRACTION FOR BRIBERY.
Steps have been taken by the State Depart
ment looking to the making of bribery an eX-
traditable offence with foreign powers. Inc
need of more effective treaties covering this
crime is manifest. The exposures and prosecu-
lions in official corruption in st. Louis, Mo, and
other cities and States have resulted in a num-
Der Of giveTs and takers of brides becoming
fugitiveS in foreign lands Bribery has not been
included in extradition treaties heretofore, as
the necessity for it has not arisen. While there
may have been much o icial corruption in
former years, there has been more developed
and brought to light in the immediate past than
in the preceding century of our countrys his
tory 1t should be the policy of the United
States TO leave no place on earth where a cor
rupt man fleeing from this country can rest in
peace. There is no reason why bribery should
not be included in all treaties as extraditabe-
The recent amended treaty with Mexico, where
by this crime was put in the list of eXtradita BILE
Offences has established a salutary precedent in
this regard Under this treaty the State Depart
ment has asked, and Mexico has granted, the
eXtradition of Of the st. Louis bride givers-
There can be no crime more serious than
bribery. other offences violate law while
corruption strikes at the foundation of all law.
| Under form of government all authority is
vested in the people and by them delegated to
: those who represent them in official capacity.
There can be no offence heavier than that of
him in whom such a sacred trust has been re-
posed, who sells it for his gain and enrich
ment; and no less heavy is the offence of the
bride giver. He is worse than the thief, for the
thief robs the individual, while the corrupt
! official plumbers entire city State He is
! as wicked as the murderer for the murderer
/ may only take one life against the law, while
I the corrupt official and the who cOrrupts
the official alike aim at the assassination of the
/ commonwealth itself. Government of the peo-
! pie. by the people for the people will perish
from the face Of the earth If bribery is tolerated
/ The givers and takers of brides stand evil
! pre-eminence of infamy. The exposure and pun
/ ishment of public corruption is honor to a
nation, not disgrace. The shame lies in tolera-
| ton, not IN correction. No city State still
! ment of law. AS long public plunderers when
! eign land and avoid punishment, just long
! encouragement is given to them to continue
/ their practices. If fail to do all that in us
! lies to stamp out corruption we cannot escape
! our share Of responsibility for the guilt. The
first requisite Of successful self government is
| un1inching enforcement of the law and the cut
| ting out Of corruption.