Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1904-12-09

cases. I 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 to enable them to take advantage
OF system of procedure 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 enforcement,
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 its
borders. The wheels of justice should
not be clogged. as they have been c!ogged
in the cases above mentioned, where it
has proved absolutely impossible to bring
the accused to the place appointed by the
constitution for his trial. OF recent
years there has been grave and increas-
ing complaint of the difficulty of bring
ing to justice those criminals whose
criminalfty, instead of being against one
person in the republic. is against all per-
sons in the republic, because 1t is against
the republic itself. Under any circum-
stances and from the very nature of the
case it is often exceedingly difficult to
secure proper punishment of those who
have been guilty of wrongdoing against
the government By the time the Of
fender can be brought into court the pop
ular wrath against him has generally
subsidized; and there is in most instances
dice existing in the minds of the jury
against him. At present the interests
of the innocent man are amply safe
guarded; but the interests of the govern
ment, that is, the interests of honest
administration, that is the interests OF
the. people. are not recognized as they
should be. No subject better warrants
the attention of the congress. Indeed, no
subject better warrants the attention of
| the bench and the bar throughout the
United States.
Alaska, like all our territorial acquisi-
lions. has proved resourceful beyond the
expectations Of those who made the pur-
chase. 1t has become the home of many
hardy, industrious and thrifty American,
| citizens. Towns of a permanent charac-
| ter have been built. The extent of its
wealth in minerals, timber, fisheries and
| agriculture. while great, is probably not
| comprehended yet in any just measure
| by our people We do know, however,
| that from a very small beginning its
products have grown until they are a
! steady and material contribution to the
wealth of the nation. Owing to the i'm
mensity of Alaska and its location in the
| far north, it is a difficult matter to pro-
| vide many things essential to its growth
and to the happiness and comfort OF its
! people by private enterprise alone. 1t
| should therefore, receive reasonable aid
from the government. The government has
already done excellent work for Alaska in
laying cables and building telegraph lines.
! This work has been done in the most
economical and efficient way by the sig
mar corps of the army.
In some respects it has outgrown its
| present laws, while in others those laws
| have been found to be inadequate. In or
| der to obtain information upon which I
| could rely I caused official of the de-
partment of justice, in whose judgment
I have confidence. to visit Alaska during
| the past summer for the purpose Of as
certaining how government Is admins
i tered there and what legislation is ac-
tho ma dod a
the conditions found to exist. together
with some recommendations and the rea-
| sons therefor. in which 1 strongly con-
i cur, will be- found in the annual report Of
| the attorney general. In some instances
! I feel that the legislation suggested is SO
| imperatively needed that I am moved
briefly to emphasize the attorney gener-
| ais proposals.
| Under the code of Alaska as 1t now
stands many purely administrative pow
ers and duties, including by far the most
| important. devolve upon the district
J judges or upon the clerks of the district
| court acting under the direction of the
| judges, while the governor. upon whom
| these powers and duties should logically
| fall, has nothing specific to do except to
make annual reports, issue Thanksgiving
| day proclamationS and appoint Indian po-
licemen and notaries public. believe it es-
Sent1al to good government IN Alaska,
and therefore recommend that the con-
gress divest the district judges and the
clerks of their courts of the administra-
exercise and cast them upon the gov
ernor. This would not be an innovation;
it would simply conform the government
of Alaska to fundamental principles,
making the governorsh;p a real instead
of merely nominal office, and leaving
the judges free to give entire attention
| to their judicial duties and at the same
time removing them from a great deal
of the strife that now embarrasSes the
judicial Office in Alaska
I also recommend that the salaries Of
the district judges and district attorneys
in Alaska be increased SO as to make them
equal to those received by corresponding
officers in the United States after deduct
ing the difference in the cost of living:
that the district attorneys should be pro-
| hibited from engaging in private prac-
tee; that United States commissioners
be appointed by the governor of the ter
ritory instead of by the district judges.
and that a fixed salary be provided for
them to take the place of the discredited
''fee SYSTEM" which should be abolished
in all offices; that a mounted constabu-
larry be created to police the territory
outside the limits of incorporated towns
"a vast section now wholly without po-
lice protection; and that some provision
be made to at least lessen the oppressive
delays and costs that now attend the
prosecution of appeals from the district
court of Alaska. There should be diyi-
sion of the existing judicial districts,
and an increase in the number of judges
A Delegate in Congress.
Alaska should have delegate in the
congress. Where possible, the congress
should aid in the construction of needed
wagon roads, Additional lighthouses
should be provided. In my judgment, it
is especially important to aid in such
manner seems just and feasible n the
construction of trunk line OF railway
to connect the Gulf of Alaska with the
Yukon river through American terri tory.
This would be most beneficial to the de-
velopment OF the resources of the terri
tory. and to the comfort and welfare Of
its people.
| Salmon hatcheries should be established