The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-07
IN a DEPLoRABLE STATE.

IN A DEPLoRABLE STATE.
Public Land System Needs Thor
ough overhauling.
In my last annual message, in con-
nection with the subject of the due reg
ulation of combinations of capital
which are or may become injurious to
| the public, L recommended a special ap
preparation for the better enforcement
of the antitrust law as it now stands,
to be expended under the direction of
the attorney general. Accordingly (by
the legislative, executive and judicial
appropriation act of February 25, 1908,
30 Stat, S54, 904), the congress appro-
priated, for the purpose of enforcing
the various federal trust and interstate
commerce laws, the sum of five hum
dred thousand dollars, to be expended
under the direction of the attorney
general in the employment of special
| counsel and agents in the department
of justice to conduct proceedings and
prosecutions under said laws in the
courts of the United States. I now
recommend, as a matter of the utmost
! importance and urgency, the extension
| of the purposes of this appropriation,
so that it may be available, under the
direction of the attorney general, and
until used, for the due enforcement of
the laws of the United States in general
and especially of the civil and criminal
/ ldWS I6ldl1uS " puDllC ldl1QS anu lIlS
| laws relating to postal crimes and Of
lenses and the subject of naturaliza-
| ton. Recent Investigations have shown
a deplorable state of affairs in these
three matters of vital concern. By var
| ious frauds and by forgeries and per-
juries, thousands of acres of the pub
lie domain, embracing lands of differ
ent character and extending through
various sections of the country, have
been dishonesty acquired. It is hardly
tn f11n ton f1f
| covering these dishonest acquisitions,
stolen from the people, and of promptly
and duly Furnishing the offenders.
Postal Frauds.
speak in another part of this mes
sage of the widespread crimes by which
/ the sacred right of citizenship is false
" asserted and that ''inestimable hertz
age" perverted to base ends By SIM
ilar means-that is, through frauds,
forgeries, and perjuries, and by shame
| less briberieS-the laws relating to the
proper conduct of the public service in
general and to the due administration
of the poStoffice department have been
VIGOROUSLY violated, and many indict-
ments have been found, and the conse-
quent prosecutions are in course of
hearing or on the eve thereof. For the
reasons thus indicated, and so that the
government may be prepared to enforce
promptly and with the greatest effect
the due penalties for such violations of
law, and to this end may be furnished
with sufficient inStrumentalitieS and
competent legal assistance for the in
vestigations and trials which will be
necessary at many different points of
the country, I urge upon the congress
the necessity of making the said APP
preparation available for immediate use
for all such purposes, to be expended
under the direction of the attorney gem
eral.
Need for Treaties.
| Steps have been taken by the state
department looking to the making Of
bribery an extraditable offense with
foreign powers. The need of more
effective treaties covering this crime is
manifest The exposures and prose-
cutions of official corruption in St.
Louis. Mo-, and other cities and states
have resulted in a number of givers
and takers of brides becoming fugitives
in foreign lands. Bribery has not been
included 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 eountrys history. 1t should be the
policy of the United States to leave no
place on earth where a corrupt man
fleeing from this country can rest in
peace There is no reason why bribery
} should not be included in all treaties
as extraditoble. The recent amended
treaty with Mexico, whereby this crime
was put in the list of extraditable
offenses, has established a salutary
precedent in this regard. Under this
treaty the state department has asked.
land Mexico has granted, the extradi-
ton of one of the st. Louis bride
givers.
There can be no crime more serious
than bribery. Other offenses violate
one law while corruption strikes at the
foundation of all law. Under our form
or government all authority is vested
in the people and by them delegated
to those who represent them in official
capacity. There can be no offense
heavier than that of him in whom
such a sacred trust has been reposed
who sells it for his own gain and en-
richment; and no less heavy is the
offense of the bride giver. He is worse
than the thief for the thief robs the
plumbers an entire city or state. He is
as wicked as the murderer, for the
murderer may only take one life
against the law, while the corrupt Off
cial and the man who corrupts the Off
cial alike aim at the assassination OF
the commonwealth itself. Government
of the people. by the people, for the
people will perish from the face of the
earth if bribery is tolerated The Civ
ers and takers of brides stand on al
evil prominence of infamy The ex.
posture and punishment of public cor
ruption is an honor to a nation, not {
disgrace. The shame lies in liberation
not in correction. No city or state
still less the nation, can be injured BIS
the enforcement Of law. AS long a.