Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-12-06
of state at stated periods
all naturalizations conferred.
n roorarptno rifiyanehtn

rotary of state at stated periods Of
all naturalizations conferred.
Laws Concerning Citizenship.
Nor only are the laws relating to
naturalization now defective, but
those relating to citizenship Of tne
United States ought also to be made
the subject Of scientific inquiry with
a view to probable further legislation.
BY what acts repatriation may be as
sumed to have been accomplished,
how long an American citizen may
reside abroad and receive the protec-
ton Of IL passport, whether any de-
gree OF protection should he extended
to one who has made the declaration
Of intention 10 become a citizen of the
United States but has not secured
naturalization, are questions of ser.
ious import, involving personal rights
and often producing friction between
this government and foreign govern.
mcnts. Yet upon these questions our
laws are silent, | recommend that
an examination be made into the sub
ieets Of citizenship expatriation, and
protection of Americans abroad, with
a view TO appropriate legislation.
Protection of Elections.
The power of the government TO
protect the integrity of the elections
nf It's own officials Ii inherent and
has been recognized and affirmed by
repeated declarations OF the supreme
court. There is no enemy Of free gov
eminent more dangerous and none so
insidions az the corruption Of the cleo
torate. No one defends or excuses
corruption. and 1t would seem TO fol
low that none would oppose vigorous
measures to eradicate IL | recon-
mend the enactment of a law directed
against bribery and corruption In fed
eral elections. The details of such a
law may be safely left 10 the wise dis
erection Of the congress. but 1t should
80 as far as under the constitution It
is possible TO go, and should include
severe penalties against him who
gives or receives a bribe intended { o
influence his act or opinion as an
e%leetor: and provisions for the publ
cation not only of the expenditures
for nominations and elections OF all
candidates but also Of all contribu-
tons received and expenditures made
by political committees.
Delays Ia Criminal Prosecutions.
No subject In better worthy the at
tention Of the congress than that por.
ton Of the repotx. Of the attorney gen.
eral dealing with the long delays and
the great obstruction 70 justice ex.
perienced 10 the cases Of Beavers.
Green aud Rynor. and Benson. Were
these isolated and special cases, II
should not call your attention to
them; but the difficulties encountered
as regards these men who have been
indicted for criminal practices are not
exceptional, they are precisely SINH
lar In kind 10 what occurs again and
again In the case OF criminals who
have sufficient means to enable them
To take advantage OF a system of pro-
cedurc which has grown up In the
federal courts and which amounts In
effect TO making tire Law easy OF en-
forceMent against the man who has
no money, and difficult of enforce
ment, even to the point of sometimes
securing immunity. as regards the
man who has money. In criminal
cases the writ of the United States
should run throughout It's borders,
The wheels of justice should not be
clogged, as they have been clogged in
the cases above mentioned. where it
has proved absolutely impossible TO
bring the accused TO the place ap-l
pointed by the constitution for his
trial. OF recent years there has been
grave and increasing complaint OF
the difficulty o Infringing TO Justice
against him has generally subsidized.
stead of being against one person in
the republic. is against all persons in
the republic, because il is against
the republic itself, Under any cir
cumstance and from the very nature
ri tie ease 81 IS eftcn exceedingly 3lf.