The Red Cloud chief., 1903-12-11

Il s'hh'h y = ~" - -" t ~ ~
| expended under the direction Of the At
| torney-General. Accordingly Thy the leg
| ~islative. executive. and judicial appro-
~priation act Of February %. 1908. 20
stat. $50. gO4). 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-
ton OF the Attorney General in the en-
| ployment OF special counse and agents
In the Department Of Justice to conduct
proceedings and prosecutions under said
laws In the courts Of the United States.
I now recommend. as "A matter OF the ut
most Importance and urgency, the extern
sion of the purposes of this appropria-
| ton, so that II 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 public lands and the laws
relating to postal crimes and ofenscs and
the subject OF naturalization Recent In
vcstigations have shown a dcplorable
state OF affairs In these three matters OF
vital concern. by various frauds and
by forgeries and perjuries. thousands of
acres of tho public domain, embracing
lands of different character and extend
Ing through various sections OF the coun-
try. nave been dishonesty acquired. 1t
is hardly necessary to urge the import
ance of recovering these dishonest acaui-
sitions, stolen from the people. and of
promptly and duly furnishing the Of
tenders.
Postal Frauds.
/ speak in another part OF this message
OF the widespread crimes by which the
sacred right OF citizenship IL falsely as
serted and that ''incstimable heritage''
perverted to base ends. BY similar means
that Is. through frauds. forgeries, and
perjurics. 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 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 he 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 will
be necessary at many different points OF
the country. | urge upon the Congress
the necessity OF making the said appro-
priation available for Immediate use for
all such purposes. to be expended under
the direction OF the Acknowledgement.
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
eign powers The need OF more effective
treaties covering this crime is manifest.
The exposures and prosecutions of Of
ficial corruption In st. Louis. Mo-. and
other cities and states have resulted in
a number OF givers and takers OF brides
becoming fugltives In foreign lands. Brib-
cry has not been Included In extradition
treaties heretofore. as the necessity for
II has not arisen. While there may nave
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 IL M 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 ofenses.
has established a salutary precedent In
this regard. Under this treaty the State
Department has asked. and Mexico has
granted. the extradltion 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-
. vi III INV OuT WITH VI 8ON-
nme 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 ar honor to a nation. not
a disgrace. The shame lies In federation.
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 so long encour-
agement Is given them to continue their
practices. IL 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 la v 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. II continues:
The result IL satisfactory In every way.
II Is OF great material advantage to our
people In the far Northwest. 1t has re.
moved from the field OF discussion and
possible danger a question liable to be-
cOIHc iIofe dCut'iy dCCeHtudteu Win eaCn
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 a 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 a real growth
among the civilized nations of a senti-
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 a position In which 1t will
he possible wholly to prevent war. or
that a just regard for national interest
and honor will In all cases permit of
the settlement of International disputes
by arbitration; but by a mixture of pru-
dence and frmness with wisdom we think
II Is possible to do away with much OF
the provocation and excuse for war, and
at least In many cases to substitute some
nfhar nd mara rational Vnathnl for Htha