Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-08

"
orlSfhal names ana the InscTuon or tine
names of other persons not entitled to
the same.
Naturalization Frauds.
1t IS not necessary for me to refer
here at large to the causes leading to
I this state OF affairs. The desire for
, naturalization is heartily to be COM
, mended where it springs from sim
| cere and permanent intention to be-
come citizens and a real appreciation
of the privilege, but it is a source OF
untold evil and trouble where it is
traceable to selfish and dishonest mo-
tives, such as the effort by artificial,
! and improper means in wholesale fash
ion to create voters who are ready
made tools of corrupt politicians. or the
desire to evade certain labor laws Gre
ating determinations against alien la
, Dor. All good citizens, whether natu-
rallied or native born, are equally in
terested in protecting our citizenship
against fraud in any form and, on the
other hand, in affording every facility
for naturalization to those who in good
faith desire to share alike our privi-
leges and our responsibilities.
The federal grand jury lately in ses-
sion in New York city dealt with this
subject and made a presentment which
states the situation briefly and forci-
/ bly, and contains important suggestions
for the consideration of the congress.
This presentment is included as an APP
! pendiX to the report Of the attorney
general.
In my last annual message in connec-
ton with the subject of the due regula-
ton of combinations of capital which
are or may become injurious to the
public l recommended a special appro-
priation 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 judicial ap-
preparation act of Feb %, 1903, 80 Stat,
S54, 904) the congress appropriated for
the purpose of enforcing the various
federal trust and interstate commerce
laws the sum of 100000, to be eXpend-
ed 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 of the United States.
Public Land and Postal Frauds.
Of
the utmost importance and urgency,
the extension of the purposes Of this
appropriation SO that it may be avail
able, under the direction of the attor-
ney 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 Of
naturalization. Recent Investigations
have shown a deplorable state of af-
fairs in these three matters of vital
concern. By various frauds and by
forgeries 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 ac-
quired. 1t is hardly necessary to urge
the importance of recovering these dis
honest acquisitions, stolen from the
people, and of promptly and duly pun
ishing the offenders. 1 speak in an
other part of this message of the wide
spread crimes by which the sacred
right of citizenship is falsely asserted
and that "inestimable heritage" per-
verted to base ends. By similar means
that is, through frauds, forgeries and
perjuries and by shameless briberies-
the laws relating to the proper conduct
of the public service in general and to
the due administration of the postoffice
department have been VIGOROUSLY VIC
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 indicat-
ed 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
Gnu ultiy De lufHlSncu Will SuluCleHl
instrumentalities and competent legal
assistance for the investigations and
trials which will be necessary at many
different points of the country l urge
upon the congress the necessity of max
ing the said appropriation available
for immediate use for all such pur-
poses, to be expended under the direc-
ton of the attorney general.
Steps have been taken by the state
department looking to the making of
bribery an eXtraditable offense with
foreign powers. The need of more eff
fective treaties covering this crime is
manifest. The exposures and prosecu-
tons of official corruption in st. Louis
and other cities and states have result
ed in a number of givers 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 as much
official corruption in former years,
there has been more developed and
brought to light in the immediate past
IN, tJ,n Of