Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-12-07

the words recently USED by the SUI
preme court of the United States, an
'inestimable heritage" whether it pro-
ceeds from birth within the country
or is obtained by naturalization, and
we poison the sources of our national
character and strength at the fountain
IL the privilege is claimed and exer-
cised without right and by means Of
fraud and corruption.
The federal grand jury lately in ses-
sion in New York city dealt with this
subject and made q presentment which
states the situation briefly and forcibly
and contains important suggestions for
the consideration of the congress. This
presentment is included as an appendix
to the report Of the attorney general.
Public Land and Postal Frauds.
In my last annual message, in con-
nection with the subject Of the due
regulation of combinations Of capital
which are or may become injurious to
the public, recommended special ap-
preparation for the better enforcement
Of the antitrust law as 1t now stands,
to be expended under the direction of
the attorney general. Accordingly (by
the legislative, executive and judicial
appropriation act Of Feb. %, 1903 80
Stat, S54, 90D, the congress appro-
priated for the purpose OF enforcing the
various federal trust and interstate
commerce laws the sam of 100000, to
be expended under the direction of the
attorney general in the employment OF
special counsel and agents in the de-
partment of justice TO conduct proceed
ings and prosecutions under said laws
in the courts of the United States |
now recommend, as matter OF the ut
most Importance and urgency, the ex
tension of the purposes Of this appro
priation, so that it may be available,
under the direction of the attorney
general and until used, for the due en-
forcement of the laws of the United
States in general and especially Of the
I civil and criminal laws relating to pub
lie lands and the laws relating to postal
naturalization. Recent Investigations
have shown q deplorable state of af-
fairs in these three matters Of vital
concern. BY various frauds and by
forgeries and perjurles thousands OF
acres of the public domain, embracing
lands Of different character and ex-
tending through various sections Of the
country, have been dishonesty acquir-
ed. 1t is hardly necessary to urge the
Importance Of recovering these dishon-
est acquisitions, stolen from the people,
and of promptly and duly Furnishing
the offenders.
Through frauds, forgeries and per-
jurles and by shameless briberies the
laws relating to the proper conduct Of
the public service in general and to the
due administration of the postofice
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 indicat-
cd and so that the government may
be prepared to enforce promptly and
with the greatest effect the due pen
alties for such violations Of law, and
to this end may be furnished with suffi-
cient instrumentalities and competent
legal assistance for the investigations
and trials which will be necessary at
many different points Of the country, i
urge upon the congress the necessity
of making the said appropriation avail
able for immediate use for all such
purposes, to be expended under the d.
rection of the attorney general.
Need For Treaties Making Bribery
Extraditab1e.
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, |
Mo-, and other cities and states have
resulted in a number Of givers and TAX
ers Of brides becoming fugitiyes in for
eign lands. Bribery has not been in
cluded in extradition treaties hereto |
fore. 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. 1t should be the
policy Of the United States to leave no
place on earth where corrupt man
fleeing from this country can rest in
peace.
Alaskan boundary.
After unavaillng attempts to reach an
on the Alaskan bound
airy question through joint high COM
followed by prolonged negotia-
lions, conducted in an amicable spirit,
A convention between the United States
and Great Britain was signed Jan. "a,
1903, providing for an examination Of
the subject by a mixed tribunal Of six
three on side, with view
to its final disposition. Ratifcatons
we're exchanged on March 3 last
whereupon the two governments APP
pointed their respective members.
Those on behalf Of the United States
we're 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 Hon.
Lord Alverstone, lord chief justice OF
England: Sir Louis Apable Jette. K