The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-12-10
States, an wnestimable heritage

States, an "inestimable heritage, +,
whether it proceeds from birth within
the country or is obtained by naturali-
zation; and we poison the sources Of
our national character and strength at
the fountain, if the privilege is claimed
and exercised without right, and by
means of fraud and corruption.
Public Land Frauds.
In my last annual Message, in con-
neotion with the subject Of the due
regulation Of combinations Of capltal
which are or may become injurious TO
the public, l recommended special ap-
preparation for the better enforcement
of the antitrust law as it now stands,
to be expended under the direction Of
the Attorney-General. Accordingly
(by the legislative, executive, and ju-
dicial appropriation act of February 25,
1903, 80 Stat, S54, 904), the Congress
appropriated, for the purpose of en-
forcing the various Federal trust and
nterestate-commerce laws, the sum OF
five hundred thousand dollars, to be ex-
pended under the direction Of the At
torney-General in the employment of
special counsel and agents in the De-
partment of Justice to conduct procee1-
ings 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 eX-
tension Of the purposes OF this appro-
priation, so 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 in general and especially OF the
civil and criminal laws relating to pub
lie lands and the laws relating to postal
crimes and offenses and the subject or
naturalization. Recent investigations
have shown a deplorable state OF at
fairs in these three matters Of vital
concern. BY various frauds and by for
geries and perjuries, thousands of
acres of the public domain, embracing
lands Of different character and eX-
tending through various sections OF the
country, have been dishonesty acquir-
ed. 1t is hardly necessary to urge the
Importance of recovering these dishon-
est acquisitions, stolen from the people
and Of promptly and duly punishing
the offenders. l speak in another part
of this Message of the widespread
crimes by which the sacred right CT
citizenship is falsely asserted and that
'inestimable heritage perverted to
base ends. BY similar means-that is,
through frauds. forgeries, and per-
juries, and by shameless briberies-the
laws relating to the proper conduct o.
the public service in general and 10 The
due administration Of the Post-Ofice
Department have been notorio,ls.y vio-
lated, and many indictments have been
found, and the consequent prosecutions
arc in course of hearing or Oh the eve
thereof. For the reasons 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, ana to this end
may be furnished with sufficient inst-u-
mentalities and competent legal ass!s-
tance for the Investigations and trials
which will be necessary ai many diff
ferent points Of The country. urge up
on the Congress che necessity of max
ing the said appropriation available for
immediate use for all such purposes, "
be expended under the direction OF the
Attorney-General.
Need For Treaties Making Bribery Ex-
traditabIe.
Steps have been taken by the state
Department looking to the making OF
bribery an extraditable offense with
foreign powers. The need Of more ef-
fective treaties covering this crime is
manifest The exposures and prosecu-
tions Of official corruption IN st.
Louis. Mo-, and other cities and States
in, hnr Of pivprS
and takers of bribes becoming fugi-
tives 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
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 OF
our country's history. 1t should be the
policy of the United States to leave no
place on earth where a 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.
Alaskan Boundary.
The Alaskan boundry dispute has
| UCSu olC VI iohS otoioiA6. AC J. lSoi-
dent congratulates the country on its
amicable settlement, and incidentally
remarks upon the great development Of
this valuable area Of our possessions.
The President calls attention at
length to the settlement Of claims
against Venezuela held by Great
Britain, Germany and Italy, and re-
marks upon the important part played
by our government in the just settle
ment of the same. He remarks upon
the growing sentiment Of the nations
favoring peaceable settlements in such
cases.
international Arbitration.
Last year the Interparliamentary
Union for International Arbitration
met at Vienna, six hundred members
Of the different legislatures Of civilized
countries attending. 1t was provided
that the next meeting should be in
1904 at st. Louis, subject to our Con-
gress extending an invitation. Like the
Hague Tribunal, this Interparliamen-
tary Union Is one Of the forces tending
towards peace among the nations Of