The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-07

tary of State at stated periods of all
naturalizations conferred.
Laws Concerning Citizenship.
Not only are the laws relating to
natura lization now defective, but those
relating to citizenship of the United
States ought also to be made the sub
ject of scientific inquiry with view
to probable further legislation. BY
what acts expatriation may be assum-
ed TO have been accomplished, how
long an American citizen may reside
abroad and receive the protection of
our passport, whether amy degree OF
protection should be extended to one
who has made the declaration of in
tentiOn to become a citizen of the
United states. but has not secured
naturalization, are questions of Seri-
Gus import, involving personal rights
and often producing friction between
this Government and foreign govern
ments Yet upon these questions our
laws are silent. I recommend that an
examination be made into the sub
jects of citizenship, expatriation and
protection of Americans abroad, with
view to appropriate legislation.
Protection of Elections.
The power of the Government to
protect the integrity of the elections
of it's own officials is inherent and
repeated declarations of the Supreme
Court. There is no enemy ne
free government more dangerous and
none SO insidious as the corruption of
the electorate. No one defends or
excuses corruption, and it would seem
to follow that none would oppose Wig
orous measures TO eradicate it. L
recommend the enactment of a law
directed against bribery and corrup-
ton in Federal elections. The de-
tails of such Il law may be safely
left TO the wise discretion of the Con-
gress but it should go rs far as under
the Constitution ii is possible to go,
and should include severe penalties
against him who gives or receives a
oribe intended to influence his act
or opinion as an elector; and pro-
visions for the publication not only
OF the expenditures for nominations
and elections of all candidates. but
also of all contributions received and
expenditures made by political COM
mittees.
Delays in Criminal Prosecutions.
No subject is better worthy the at
tention OF the Congress than that por-
ton of the report of the Attorney
General dealing with the long delays
and the great obstruction TO justice
experienced i'm the cases of Beavers,
Were these isolated and special cases,
/ 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 similar
in kind to what occurs again and
again in the case of criminals who
have sufficient means 10 enable them
to take advantage of a system of pro-
cedure which has grown up in the
Federal courts and which amounts
in effect to making the law easy OF
enforcement 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 " hi els of justice should not be
clogged as they have been clogged in
the case above mentioned, where it
was proved absolutely impossible to
bring the accused to the place APP
pointed by the Constitution for his
trial.
Alaska.
Alaska, like all our territorial ac-
QUESTIONS, has proved resourceful be-
yond the expectations of those who
the home of many hardy, industrious
and thrifty American citizens. Towns
of a permanent character have been
built The extent of its wealth in
minerals timber, fisheries and agri-
culture, while great, is probably not
comprehended yet in any just measure
by our people. We do know, how
ever that from a very small begin
ming its products have grown until thee
are a steady and material contribution
to the wealth of the nation. owing
to the immensely of Alaska and its
location in the far north, it is a diff
cult matter to provide many things
essential to its growth and to the hap
piness and comfort of its people by
private enterprise alone. 1t should,
therefore, receive reasonable aid from
has already done excellent work for
Alaska in laying cables and building
telegraph lines. This work has been
done in the most economical and etti-
cient way by the Signal Corps of the
army.
Alaska should have Delegate in
the Congress. Where possible, the
Congress should aid in the construc-
ton of needed wagon roads. Addi
final light houses should be provided.
In my Judgment, it is especially inn
portant to aid in such maner as seems
Just ana feasible in the construction
of a trunk line of railway to conect
the Gulf of Alaska with the Yukon
River through American territory
This would be most beneficial to the
development of the resources of the
Territory, and to the comfort and well
fare of it's people.
Salmon hatcheries should be estab-
lished in many different streams, so
as to secure the preservation of this
valuable food fish. Salmon fisheries
and canneries should be prohibited on
certain of the rivers where the mass
of those Indians dwell who live al
most exclusively on fish.
Hawaii and Porto Rico.
The Alaskan natives should be
given the right to acquire, hold, and
dispose of property upon the same
conditions as given other inhabitants
and the privilege of citizenship should
be given to such as may be able to
meet certain definite requirements.
In Hawaii Congress should give the
governor power to remove all the