The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-04-20
Statement by Payne.

grand jury. The fact that government
may not or will not prosecute if indct-
ments are found does not prevent consid'
GRAFTON by grand jury
Fear Political Effects.
washington, April 17-(Specnl.)- 1.-The
discovery that high officials of the admin
istration have lent their support to an
attempt to influence the Porto Rican
courts and prevent the prosecution Of Of
flcers implicated IN smuggling is the
latest chapter in the saturnalia OF crook
edncs5 which has developed under this
administration
The ACKNOWLEDGING has been forced
from the department Of justice that the
attorney general Of the United States,
evidently with the approval of the pres-
den. sent peremptOry orders to the United
states attorney a san Juan to dismiss
the pending smuggling cases and present
no new cases until otherwise directed.
That such an order should have been
sent from Washington is regarded by
many officials as most extraordinary.
1nat The disclosure of this proceeding
should have come just at time when
the attention of the country is directed
to the charges Of rottenness in other
departments is considered by republican
poiiticlans as most uir0rtuuate
Conditions of moment not confined to
Porto Rico or to individuals involved
have moved administration, after full in
NestiSauon and deliberation. to the course
directed. which will be adhered to" This
is the reason given by the attorney gen
eral OF the United States for his instruc-
ton 10 the legal authorities in Porto
Rico that it is their duty TO obey my in
struction to dismiss pending smuggling
cases ana present no new case until
otherwise directed.
TAX \
the instance of Secretary Moody, who is
ma turally anxious 10 prevent disclosures
rejecting upon officers of the navy, and
of Postmaster General Payne. the chief
politician of the administration, who is
even more deelp concerned. TO prevent
any disclosures which can be construed
as rejecting upon the officials of the
adminiStra tiop-especiatly those hoidlng
positions in tho colonial dependencies =
since it is feared that such disclosures
may have a serious political effect When
the republican party IS called upon in
the presidential campaign to uphold It's
insuar administration.
The explanation given by Postmaster
General Payne cannot but be construed
as weak defense of persons guilty of
breaking the laws These persons are
themselves officials of the government
and officers of the army and navy-the
men sworn to support the law and TO aid
its execution and who, beyond all others,
should be severely punished Wh&l guilty
Of mira ctions of the law.
Postmaster General Payne shifts the
blame or credit for this solution of the
difficulty upon the shoulders of the sec
rotary of the treasury. Just at the time
when the secretary of the treasury was
uecreeine this condign punishment for the
offending officers Of the government, he
and his customs officials were contisCdt-
ing three thousand dollar pearl neck
lace which an American woman brought
into New York from Paris. and on which
she failed to make declaration for GUS
tens duties because she had been told
that so long as the article was for her
own use she would not have to pay duty
upon it, In this case there was no sneak
ing by the customs officials. as was the
case in San Juan. The officers of the
army and of the navy and the officials
Of the civil government in Porto Rico
who were implicated in this disgracefui
affair knew that their act was plain and
deliberate attempt at smuggling and
could give no excuse whatsoever for it,
They are let off with slight fines and the
department of Justice lends it's aid to the
whitewashing by sending instructions 10
the law officers at San Juan to stop all
criminal prosecutions
Conditions of Moment.
The only explanation vouchsafed is that
this action has been taken because Of
conditions of moment not confined 10
Porto Rico or to the individuals in
Volved"
The question is naturally being raised
e.Vhat are these conditions of moment?'
There can be but one answer That is
the desire to souelch the Investigations
for political reasons.
Postmaster General Payne fears that
the facts disclosed upon such trial
would he highly embarrassing to Prcai-
dent Roosevelts administration. Secre-
tary Moody is as much interested as is
the postmaster general in a whitewash-
ing for political purposes and he has the
further interest OF desire to prevent the
implicit ton in this disgraceful affair of
officers of the navy and army being made
Public Some high officers of the navy
arc involved The secretary of the treas
ury appears on the scene to suggest the
easy way out Of it.
Judge Could Not Be Handled.
All would nave been Well with this par
ticular whitewash had ii not been that
the presiding Judge in Porto Rico seems
to have the peculiar conviction that
breakers of the law should be brought
to the bar of justice no matter what Of
fetal position they may occupy. The
judges charge to the grand jury IN
which he instructed that body TO proceed
with it's investigation Of the smuggling
cases even in the face of the instruc-
tons from Washington, threw the fat
il the fire. So plain and outspohen was
the Judge in these instructions mat there |
was large sensation in of1cia circles
i'll Porto Rico and explanations We're
forced from the administration officials. |
These explanations, as has been stated, !
disclosed the fun extent of admlnlstrat ion |
responsibility for the effort to hush up the
prosecution.
Viewed from any standpoint these Porto |
Rican developments form disGraccful |
chapter in contemporary history. They !
are bound to figure in q congressional in |
vestigation. 1t is inevitable that as soon |
as congress assemblies, resolutions of in- |
vestigatioa will be introduced This VIII |
however be but one of many efforts of
democratic leaders to have the full light |