Evening journal., 1903-11-30
PRESIDENT TALKS
ON POSTAL FRAUDS
Wants the Statute OF Limita-
ton Extended tor Gov
ernment Employees
WILL Push ALL PROSECUTIONS

Washington, No7. 30. President
Roosevelt's 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 (lS officials in the service and
10 outsiders). the president names the
chief offenders as James 7. Tyner.
iormer assistant attorney general for
the postofhce department A. w.
Machen, former superintendent OF free
delivery. and George w. Beavers. for
mer superintendent of salaries and al
lowances. In concluding. Mr.. Roose-
velt says
Il heartily approve Of the recommen-
dation Of Messrs. Conrad and Bona
parte that the statute of limitations be
extended in the case of government
servants to a period of at least five
years. for the persons who in such po-
sitions of trust engage in corrupt prac-
tices can ordinarily conceal their guilt
for a longer time than is covered by the
present short statute OF limitations
Moreover, our experience shows that
outsiders claiming political influence
sometimes sell their influence to can
didates for Office. or in other words
blaokmail these candidates. There
should be legislation which will permit
of summary dealing with such Offend
ers.
However. the prime need Is not new
legislation, but the punishment Of
those who offend against existing laws.
The postoffce department is making
certain changes in the method of ad-
ministration. notably in the method of
inspection, by which the service will
be improved and the chance Of corrup-
tion existing without discovery be
minimized; but the only way to meet
the 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 at
1 times to occur. The way TO guard
against it is vigorously to scrutinize
the character Of those appointed, care
fully to supervise their actions after
appointment and finally to punish with
relentless severity those who go wrong.
All this is being done
The immediate reformation of the
service by the turning out Of the Of
tenders is not in itself enough TO meet
the 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 b.
pushed with the utmost vigor EVER
effort must be made TO see thar both thu
delinquent ohicial and the outside
who shares his guilt are punished q
the limit Of the law In pursuance o
this policy the individuals above emu
merated have been indicted. In nj
case has the indictment been sought
save where the officials of the govern.
ment were convinced OF the mans
guilt; and in every case the govern
ment will exhaust every eXpedient In
It's power in the effort to see that JUS
tice is meted out to the offenders
Those in the public service whose duty
it is must ever be vigilant in the de-
lection Of wrongdoing, fearless in its
exposure. relentless in its prosecution
but in the last resort. when everything
which the public official. whether leg.
islator. judge or executive officer. car
do has been done. it remains for the
jury, drawn from the people and rep
\ Iresenting the people. TO do even-handec
justice, shielding the innocent but de-
clining to be misled by any plea into
refraining from punishment of the
guilty
mo crime calls for sterner reproba-
tion than the crime Of the corruption-
= list in public life and Of the man who
seeks to corrupt him. The bribe givel
and the bribe taker are equal,
guilty. Both alike sin against th'
primary law of the states safety. Al
questions of difference in party policl
sink into insignificsnce when the peo
( pie Of this country are brought face t
! face with a question like this. whicl
. lies at the root of honest and decen
e government. On this question and oI
e all others like it We can afford to hav
no division among good citizens Il
D the last resort good laws and good ad
ministration alike must rest upon tn
broad basis of sound public opinion
A dull public conscience, an easy-goinl
acquiescence in corruption, infallibl!
means debasement in public life. AM
such debasement in the end means tn
ruin Of free institutions. Self-govern
, ment becomes a farce il the representa-
i tives OF the people corrupt others o
+ are themselves corrupted. Freedom
not a gift which will tarry long il
the hands Of the dishonest or Of thos
so foolish or so incompetent as to tol
crate dishonesty in their public ser
, wants. Under our system all powe
comes from the people and all punish
ment rests ultimately with the people
The liberation Of the wrong. not tn
exposure of the wrong, is the real Of
n fense."
= British Ambassador Arrives.