The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-12-03
PRESIDnNTONR.O.FR
Wants Statute elimination Extend
ed For Government Employees.
WILL PUSH ALL PROSECUTIONS

WILL PUSH ALL PROSECUTIONS
Turning out Of Office Those Guilty
Is Not Sufficient But Wants
Them Punished to the Limit Of the
Law.
Washlncton. Nov 80. - President
Rooseyelrs comment on the postal
frauds has been made public. In it he
reviews the causes which led to the
investigation and heartily endorses AS
sistant Postmaster General Bristow's
report. After naming the 80 persons
indicted Cl3 officials in the service and
10 outsidcrsJ. the president names the
chief Offenders as James 7. Tyner.
former assistant attorney general for
the postollice department y. w.
Nachen. former superintendent of free
delivery. and George W. Beavers. for
mer superintendent Of salaries and al
lowances. In concluding. Mr. Roose-
welt says
u heartily approve Of the recommcn-
dotion of Mcssrs Conrad and Bona
p1rte that the statute of limitations be
extended I'm the case of government
servants 20 a period of at least five
years. for the persons who in such p0-
s.Ions of trust engage in corrupt prac-
tees can ordinarily conceal their guilt
for a LONGER time than is covered by the
esent short statute Of limitations.
Moreover. our experience shows that
outsiders claiming political influence
sometimes sell their influence TO can
tiates fer office. or in other words
laDkmaM these candidates. There
s0uld De legislation which will permit
G. summary dealing with such offend
crs.
However the prime need is not new
LEGISLATION, but the punishment of
those who offend against existing laws
THO postofce department is making
rtain changes in the method OF adj
uinistration, notably in the method Of
inspection. by which the service will
D. improved and the chance Of corrup-
ton existing without discovery be
ninimized. but the only way 10 meet
tie real evil is TO punish the offenders.
by removal in any event and here pos
sible by prosecution under the criminal
statutes. In any great business. public
or private. WrongdOing is certain al
times TO occur The way 20 guard
u-ainst It Is vigorously 10 scuunize
tie character of those appointe4, care
fully To- supervise their actions after
appointment and finally TO punish with
relentless severity those who 80 wrons.
All THIS is being done.
THE immediate reformation Of the
service by the turning ONT OF the Of
Tenders is pot in itself enough to meet
tho demands of justice. The cases
AGAINST both those within and those
without the post Office department, who
by their acts have brought themselves
within the grasp OF the law. Will be
pUshas with The utmost yieor Every
EFFORT must be- made TO see that both the
delinquent official ana the outsider
who shares his guilt are punished TO
the limit OF the law In pursuance OF
this policy the individuals above emu
merated have been indicted. In no
case has tho Indictment BEEN sought
save where the officials OF the govern
mont were convinced OF the mans
guilt. and in every case the govern
ment win exhaust every eypedient in
its power ia the effort 90 see that JUS
tice is meted out 10 The offenders.
Those I'm the public service whose duty
it is must ever be vicilant in the de-
torri0n of wronsdoine. fearless in its
exposure, relentless in its prosecution;
but in tho last resort when everything
which the public official whether leg
is.ator judge or executive officer, can
10 has been done. it remains for the
Jury. drawn from the people and rep
resenting the people. 10 DO even-handed
Justice. shielding the innocent. but de-
cliniug 10 be misIcd ny any plea into
refrainng from punishment OF the
guilty
No crime calls for sterner reproba-
ton than the crime Of the corruption
ist in public life and Of the man who
seeks to corrupt him. The bribe,giyer
and the bride takor are equally
guilty. Both alike sin against the
primary law OF the states safety. All
questions Of difference in party policy
sink into insignifcance when the PEG
pie Of this country are brought face TO
face with a question like this. which
lies AT the root of honest and decent
government. On this question and on
all others like II we can afford TO have
no division among good citizens. In
the last resort good laws and good adj
ministrauon alike must rest upon the
broad basis Of sound pubic opinion.
4 dull public conscience. an easy-going
acOuiescence in corruption. intallibly
means debasement in public life, and
such debasement in the end means the
ruin Of free institutions. Selfgovern-
ment becomes a farce If the representa-
tives of the people corrupt others or
are themselves corrupted. Freedom Is
not a gift which will tarry long in
the hands of the dishonest or OF those
so foolish or 50 incompetent as to toll
crate dishonesty in their public SER
wants Under our system al nowar
comes from the people and all punish
ment rests ultimately with the people.
The liberation OF the wrong, not the
exposure of the wrong. is the real Of
Tense"
Bishop scalabrini to Be Cardinal.
~, NJ, On Tho Italia cave that