New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-05
POSTAL ROGUES In FEAR.
M4NY NAY BE CAUGHT.
Progress of Bill to Amend Statute
of Limitations.

Washington March 4.-Considerable alarm
among former officials and employees of the
Postoffice Department is certain TO be caused
by the action OF the House COmmittee-on Ju-
dietary which has favorably reported bill
whereby the statute Of limitations restricting
the time within which prosecutions may be In
stituted to three years Is extended TO five years
when applied to officials or employees Of the
government. and made to apply to offences al
ready committed where indictments have
been found.
The committee reported favorably the meas
ure introduced by Representative Jenkins, Of
Wisconsin. providing that no officer. agent or
employc of the government of the United States
shall be prosecuted, tried punished for any
offence not capital unless the indictment Is
found the information instituted within five
years next after such offence shall have been
committed" but so amended il that prosecu-
tions may be instituted and indictments found
for offences committed by government officials
OF employees within period OF FIVE years.
Representative Powers, of Massachusetts.
member of the committee. declares that there IS
no good reason why the new legislation should
not apply to offences already committed. where
no indictments have been found" 1t is ex-
planned that such a law could not be considered
rttroactiye in any sense OF the word. Congress
could not at some future time make a law de-
claring to be crime al act that was lawful
at the time It was committed and prescribe
punishment for the perpetrator. but 1t can with
propriety extend the time for prosecuting per-
son who committed an act that was when COM
mtted a crime.
In the course Of the investigation Of the post
office frauds 1t openly charged that not a
few persons escaped prosecution by reason OF
the application of the statute of limitations.
VIII hat fha one
transactions Of postal officials antedated the
three-year limit prescribed by the statutes. in
vestigation IN such directions Immediately
ceased Sufficient evidence was unearthed,
however to incrminate. IL is reported. certain
officials formerly connected with the Postoftice
Department If the statute of limitations were
extended to five years.
The proposed legislation is in thorough accord
with the attitude of the President on the ques-
ton In his memorandum Of November "A. 1908
the President said:
I heartily approve Of the recommendation Of
Messrs. Conrad and Bonaparte. that the statute
OF Limitations be extended in the case of govern
ment servants to period of at least hve years
for the persons who, In such positions OF trust
engage in corrupt practices can ordinarily con-
ceal their guilt for longer time than Is COW
cred bv the present short statute of limitations
our experience shows that outsiders claiming
political influence sometimes sell their influence
10 candidates for office, or. In other words
backmail these candidates. There snould De
legislation which will permit of summary deal
ing with such offenders
Attorney General Knox Is in favor Of extend
ing the statute OF limitations TO five years He
said:
The very fact that such offenders stand In
relation Of trust 10 the government that public
service should elicit the highest standards OF
patriotism. honor and honesty, and that gov
eminent officers and employees. by reason OF
their positions are often enabled 20 conceal for
years a course OF dishonest and criminal deal
ings I'm which they are participating directly or
IudIrectly-au these considerations, ! say, call
for an extension Of the period Of limitation.
earnestly recommend the passage OF appro-
object.