Gilpin observer., 1903-12-10
President Rooses Message Second Session the Eighth Congress-

the country, urge upon the Congress
the necessity of making the said appro-
all such purposes, to be expended under
the direction of the Attorney-General.
Needs for Treaties Making Bribery
Extradtabie.
Steps have been taken by the State
Department looking to 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 Of
fetal corruption in ST. Louis, NO.. and
other cities and states have resulted in
a number of givers and takers of bribes
becoming fugitives in foreign lands. Brib-
cry 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. it should be tine
policy of the United States to leave no
place on earth where a corrupt man
heeins 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, whereby this crime was
put in the list of extraditable offenses,
has established a salutary precedent in
Department has asked, and Mexico has
granted, the extradltion of one of the ST.
Louis bribe givers.
There can be no crime more serious
than bribery. Other offenses violate one
law. while corruption strikes at the foun-
dation of all law. Under our form of gov
ernment all authority is vested in the
people and by them delegated to those
who represent them in official capacity.
The exposure and punishment of public
corruption is an honor to a nation. not
disgrace. The shame lies in liberation,
not in correction. No city or state, still
less the nation, can be injured by the
enforcement of law. AS long as public
plunderers when detected can find a
haven of refuge in any foreign land and
avoid punishment, just long encour-
agement 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 of successful
self-government is unfiinching enforce
ment of the law and the cutting out OF
corruption.
Alaskan Boundary.
For several years past the rapid devel-
opment of Alaska and the establishment
of growing American interests in re-
sions heretofore unsurveyed and inn
perfectly known brought into promi-
nence the urgent necessity OF a prac-
tlcdl QendTcAtiOn Oh tne boundaries De-
tween the jurisdictions OF the United
States and Great Britain. Although the
treaty of 1925 between Great Britain and
Russia, the provisions of which were
copied in the treaty of 1867, whereby Rus
sia conveyed Alaska to the United States.
was positive as to the control, first by
Russia and later by the United States,
of strip of territory along the conti-
mental mainland from the western shore
of Portland canal to Mount st. Elias. fol-
lowing and surrounding the indentations
of the coast and including the islands to
the westward. its description of the land
ward margin of the strip was indefinite,
resting on the supposed existence of a
continuous ridge or range of mountains
skirting the coast. as figured in the
charts of the early navigators. It had
at no time been possible for either party
in interest to lay down. under the author
ity of the treaty. a line so obviously ex-
act according to its provisions as to COM
mand the assent of the other. For nearly
three-fourths of century the absence
of tangible local interests demanding the
exercise of positive jurisdiction on either
side of the border left the question DOR
mant- In 1878 questions of revenue ad-
ministratfon on the Stikine river led to
the establishment of a provisional de-
marcation, crossing the channel between
two high peaks on either side about twen-
ty-four miles above the river mouth. In
1899 similar questions growing out of the
extraordinary development of mining in
terests in the region about the head of
Lynn canal brought about a temporary
modus vivendi by which n convenient
separation was made at the watershed
divides of the White and Chilkoot passes
and to the north of klukwan, on the
Klehni river. These partial and tentative
adjustments could not. in the very ma
ture of things. be satisfactory or last
Ing. permanent disposition of the mat
ter became imperative.
After unavailing attempts to reach an
understanding through a joint high COM
mission. followed by prolonged negotia-
tions. conducted in an amicable spirit, a
convention between the United States
and Great Britain was signed. Jan. "a.
1908 providing for an examination of the
subject by mixed tribunal Of six MEM
bers. three on a side. with a view to its
final disposition. Ratifications were ex-
changed on March 3 last, whereupon the
two governments appointed their respec-
tive members. Those on behalf Of the
United States were Elihu Root Secretary
Of War. Henry Cabot Lodge, a Senator
Of the United States. and George Turner.
an ex-senator Of the United States. while
Great Britain named the Right Horor-
able Lord Alverstone. Lord Chief Justice
of England. Sir Louis Amable Jette, X.
c. M. c.. retired Judge Of the Supreme
Court OF Quebec. and. A. B. Aylesworth.
X. c., Of Toronto. This tribunal met in
London on Sept. 8. under the presidency
Of Lord Alverstone. The proceedings
were expeditions. and marked by
friendly and conscientious spirit. The re-
spective cases. counter cases, and argu-
ments presented the issues clearly and
fully On the Goth OF October a majority
Of the tribunal reached and signed an
agreement on NIL the questions submitted
by the terms of the convention. BY this
award the right of the United States to
the control of n continuous striD or bOr-
der Of the mainland shore. skirting all the
tide-water inlets and sinuosities Of the
coast is confirmed: the entrance to Port
land canal concerning which legitimate
doubt appeared) Is defined as passing by
Tongass Inlet and to the northwestward
of Wales and Pearse islands; line is
drawn from the head OF Portland canal to
the hfty-sixth degree OF north latitude:
and the interior border line Of the strip
is fixed by lines connecting certain noun