Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-11

islatiye. executive and judicial appro-
pration act of February 20. 1903. 81
Stat, S54, 90D, the Congress appropriated,
for the purpose of enforcing the various
Federal trust and interstate-commerce
laws, the sum of five 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 to conduct
proceedings and prosecutions under said
laws in the courts of the United states.
l now recommend, as matter of the ut
most Importance and urgency. the extern
sion 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 I'm 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 deplorable
state of affairs in these three matters OF
vital concern. BY various frauds ana
by forgeries and perjuries, thousands or
acres of the public domain. embracing
lands of different character and extend
ing through various sections OF the coun-
try. have been dishonesty acquired. 1t
is hardly necessary to urge the import
ance of recovering these dishonest acqui-
sitions. stolen from the people. and or
promptly and duly Furnishing the Of
tenders.
Postal Frauds.
I sneak in another part of this message
of the widespread crimes by which the
sacred right of citizenship is falsely as
serted and that 'mestimable heritage
perverted to base ends. BY similar means
that is, through frauds, forgeries. and
periuries, and by shameless briberies-
To-, alaf In In the conduct
of the public service I'm general and to
the due administration of the Postoflice
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 reasons thus Indicated
and so that the Government may be pre-
pared 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 instrumentali-
ties and competent legal assistance for
the Investigations and trials which VIII
be necessary at many different points OF
the country. / urge upon the Congress
the necessity of making the said appro-
pration available for immediate use for
all such purposes, to he expended under
the direction of the Attorney-General.
Needs for Treaties Making Bribery
Extraditable.
Steps have been taken by the State
Department looking to the making OF
bribery an extraditable offense with for
egn powers The need of more effective
treaties covering this crime Is manifest
The exposures and prosecutions Oh 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-
~ ipp1 pXtr1dltlOn
treaties heretofore. as the necessity Tor
1t 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 or
our country's history. 1T should be the
policy of the United States to leave no
place on earth where 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 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 serious
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
people and by them delegated to those
who represent them In official capacity
The exposure and punishment of pubic
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 be injured by Lpe
enforcement of law. AS long as puSic
plunderers when detected can iind
haven of refuge in any foreign land ana
avoid punishment, just so long encour-
aCement is given them to continue their
practices. If 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 o. successful
government is unflinchng 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. 1t continues:
The result is satisfactory In every way.
It is of great material advantage to our
moved from the field of discussion and
possible danger question liable to be-
| come more acutely accentuated with each
passing year. Finally, 1t 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 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-
| 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 as yet
| we are near position in which 1t Will
| be 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 mixture of pru-
| dence and firmness with wisdom we think
| it Is possible to do away with much OF
| the provocation and excuse for war, ana
| at least in many cases to substitute some
| other and more rational method for the
| settlement of disputes. The Hague court