The Washington times., 1903-04-17
Smuggling in Porto Rico.
The Administration ul-Advised IN Sus-
pending Prosecutions.

has erred on the SIDE Of undue len
iency in directing tine United States
district attorney to drop the crimi-
nal proceedings pending in the courts
of Porto Rico against certain alleged
violators of the customs laws. As is
well known, charges OF smuggling, or
Of counivanee with smuggling, were
brought some time ago against a mum
Der Of army and navy officers and
evil officials stationed al San Juan.
\ test case against one Of the of
tenders was prepared by the United
States district attorney and was
scheduled for trial.
As the prosecution threatened to
uncover a disagreeable scandal, at
tempts were naturally made by the
officials implicated 10 effect d compro-
mise. Appeals to Washington led the
President to commission Secretary
Moody and Postmaster General Payne
while on their recent trip to Porto
Rico to investigate the charges and
recommend either the continuance or
discontinuance OF criminal proceed
ings.
The two Cabinet officers returned TO
this city a few days ago, and as q re
snIt of their representations and
counsel, the Attorney General teIe-
eraphed TO Porto Rico ordering Dis
tIiet Attorney Pettingill to dismiss
the test case pending and to present
no others Of the same character to the
Porto Rican grand jury. At the same
time It was announced that the Treas
ury Department had accepted from
the officials accused OF smuggling
fines equal to double the duties which,
1t IS charged, they should originally
have paid.
Porto Rican opinion seems out
ragged by this decision and naturally
50. The United States district Judge
has boldly instructed the grand jury
to consider the evidence offered III the
remaining eases and to bring true
bills, II they see ground for dong 80, /
against the other evaders Of the Gus
toms laws. But the administration,
though not disputing the propriety OF
the judges action, now frankly init
mates that the district attorney viii !
not be allowed to bring any Of these
smuggling cases to actual trial
We can seeno valid reason for this
with the ordinary course /
of Justice IN the Porto Ricau courts. /
This Government owes It to It's dignity /
and self-respect 10 enforce against It's
own agents and servants in Porto /
Rico the laws it enforces against the /
poorest and humblest Porto Ricau /
Ii should err on the side OF rigor /
rather than on that Of partiaIity III /
prosecuting charges against offenders I
using the safe shelter Of their Federal +
commissions to defraud the customs
revenues. In the punishments 1t /
metes out If should make d warning
example Of It's own self-indulgent or
unscrupulous employees.
The Treasury Department has done I
everything IN It's power TO make /
smuggling odious in our own home
ports. 1t has imposed on lie Ameri-
.an travelling public vexations and
OF the most harassing sort.
1t has turned The pier TO which q re
turning transatlantic steamer ties up /
INTO a chamber Of inquisitoriaI hor-
r0rs.
But with what show Of equity or
ogic can the Federal Government
thus exercise the seventies Of its IN
spectiou system on the private Amer
can citizen. while il condonps in far
1tf Porto Rico the confessed SNUG
cling OF officers VINO wear It's uniform /
and represent among a dependent
people It's authority and lis prestige2