The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-08
DEPARTMENT FRAUDS.
Asks Appropriation for Purpose Of
Prosecuting Offending Officials

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. l recon-
menced special appropriation for the
better enforcement OF the antitrust law
as 1t now stands, to be expended under
the direction OF the attorney general. Ac-
corcingly (by the legislative, executive and
Judicial appropriation act of February 25
1868, % Stat, S5i, 9i), the congress appro-
priated, for the purpose OF enforcing the
various federal trust and interstate com
merce laws, the sum Of $500 600. to be ex-
pended under the direction OF the attorney
general in the employ ment of special coun-
Sc 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 matter of
the utmost Importance and urgency, the
extension of the purposes OF this appro-
priation. 50 that it may be available. under
the direction of the attorney general, and
until used, for the due enforcement OF the
laws OF the United States III general and
especially of the civil and criminal laws
relating to pubic lands and the laws rela;-
ing to postal crimes and offenseS and the
subject OF naturalization. Recent investi-
cations have shown d Geplorabie state of
affairs in these three matters of vftal con-
Germ. By various frauds and b. torSer.es
and perJuries. thousands OF ceres of the
public domain, embracing lants OF differ
ent character anG extending through vari-
Gus sections of the country. have been dis
honestly acquired II is hardly necessary
to urge the Importance of recovering these
dishonest acquisitions. stolen from the peO-
Pie, and of promptly and duly Furnishing
the offenders. ] speak in another part OF
this message of the widespread crimes by
which the sacred right Of citizenship is
falsely asserted and that 'inestimabl bic
heritage" perverted to base ends. BY sim
liar nleans-that is. through frauds. fOrger-
les anG peTjUrieS and by shameless briber-
ies-the laws relating 10 the proper con-
duct of he public service in general and
TO the due administration of the post office
n LEM = ms he n :
and many indictments have been found,
and the consequent prosecutions are in
course of hearing or on the eve thereof.
For the reasons thus indicated, ana so tEaI
the government may be- prepared to en-
force promptly and with the greatest Meet
the Que penalties for such Violations or Jaw,
and to this end may be furnished with
sutic.ert instrumentaiities and competent
legal assistance for the Investigations and
trials which will be necessary az many
different points Of the country | urge upon
the congress- the necessity of making the
said appropriation available for inme date
use Ter al such purposes. to be expended
under the direction OF the attorney genera.
New Extradition Treaties Needed.
Steps have been taken by the state de-
Partment looking 10 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 OIL
cIai corruption I'm St Louis. No. ent'
oiner cites ana StateS nave resulted IL
a number OF givers and takers OF brides
becoming fuyitVes In foreign lands.
Bribery has not been included IN extra
dtion treaties heretofore. as the reces-
s!ty for Il has not arisen While there
may have been as much official corruP-
ton in former years. there has been more
developed and brought to light II the
Immediate past than in the preceding
century OF our c0uutry's history Il
should be tire policy % the United States
to leave no place on earth where a cor
rupt man fleeing from this country can
rest in peace. There Is 10 reason Why
bribery should not be ,nclud.d IN ali
treaties as ex;radtable The recent
amended treaty with Mexico, whereby
this crime was pu, IN the list OF extra
tlitable offenses. has established salu-
tary preceden: in this regard. Under this
treaty the state department has asked.
and Mexico has granted, the exiradition
OF one of the St Louis bride sivers
There can be no crime more serious
than briber- Other offenses violate
one law. while corruption strikes a the
foundation OF aN Law. Under our form
OF government al authority IS vested in
the people. and BY an DELEGATED %
those who represent m in Official ca
pacity. There can be r0 oreuse heavier
than that Of hiTn N whom such a sacred
his own gain and enrichment, ard no less
heavy is the offense of the A-ioe c!vsr
He : worse than the thief. Tor TIE thief
robs the individual while TIRE corrupt Of
is az wicked as the murderer, fer the
murderer may only take one life against
the lav. while the corrupt official and
the man who corrupts the Official alike
I'm al the aSsassina ton % he &C rlnlSu-
wealth itself Government: % the peo-
pie b. TIE people for the people viii
perish from tha face q he earth =
bribery : tolerated The Eivers and
takers OF brides stand on al EVIL p-eer5i-
hence Of snfauy. The exposure and pun
ishment Of public corruption = an honor
70 a nation. rot disgrace The shame
lies in toie-a ten. not IN correction. No
city or state s,.ii less the nation. car be
Injured - Ire enforcement Of ia%- A
long as pubic piuudere-s when oe,ec--
ed can find z haven % refuge n arr 1u--
e.Sa Land and avoid punishment. 1uSt 50
IorE saco1ra cement = gsrcl then 10
continue their practices IL W fan % &c
all that IL Us lies 20 stamp oat co--up-