The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-12-06

PROTECTION OF ELECTIONS.
| recommend the enactment Of a law
directed against bribery and corruption
In federal elections. The details OF such
law may be safely left 20 the wise dis
erection OF the congress. but IN should 40
az far as under the constitution IT is pos
sible TO go and should include severe
penalties against him who gives or re-
celves a bribe intended 10 influence his
act or opinion as an elector: and provi-
slons for the publication not only nf the
expenditures for nominations and cleo
tions Of all candidates but also of all con
tributions received and expenditures made
by political committees.
DELAYS IN CRIMINAL PRosEcU-
TiONS.
No subject Is better worthy the atten-
ton of the congress than that portion Of
the feeeft eff attorney general dealing
with the long delays and the great oh
struction 10 justice experienced In the
cases OF Beavers. Green and Gaynor, and
Benson.
Were these isolated and special cases
| should not call your attention 10 them
but the difficulties encountered as regards
these men who have been indictc0 for
criminal practices are not exceptional. (.
they are precisely similar I'm kind 10 what
occurs again and again In the case of
criminals who have sufficient means to
enable them 10 take advantage OF a sys-
tenn OF procedure which has grown up In
the federal courts and which amounts In
effect 10 making the law easy OF enforce
ment 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 clogged I'm the
cases above mentioned. where IL has
proved absolutely Impossible 10 bring the
accused 10 the place appointed by the con.
sttutlon for his trial. OF recent years
there has been grave and increasing COM
plant of the difficulty OF bringing TO JUS
tice those criminals whose criminality, In
stead OF being against one person I'm the
republic lis against III persons I'm the re-
public, because IL Is against the republic
itself. Under any circumstances and
from the very ma ture OF the case II lis
often exceedingly difficult to secure
proper punishment OF those who have
been guilty OF wrongdoing against the
goveS<nent.
BY he time the offender can be brought
-inta-eetiFt the f,ert1f7rr- wrHtf1- -HgHfngt
him has generally subsidized; and there Is
IN most instances very slight danger i'm
deed OF any prejudice existing in the
minds OF the jury against him. Al pres
ent the interests Of the innocent man are
amply safeguarded. but the interests of
the government. that Is, the interest of
honest administration, that is the inter.
ests OF the people are not recognized as
they should be. No subject better war
rants the attention OF the congress. In
deed no subject better warrants the at
tenton OF the bench and the bar through
out the United States,
ALASKA.
Alaska. like all our territorial acquisi-
tons, has proved resourseful beyond the
expectations OF those who made the pur-
chase. IL has become the home OF many
hardy, industrious. and thrifty American
cltzens. Towns OF permanent charac-
ter nave been Quilt. The extent of its
wealth i'm minerals, timber. fisheries. and
agriculture, while great, is probably not
comprehended yet I'm any Just measure
by our people--We do know however,
that from a very small beginning its pro-
ducts have grown until they are steady
and material contribution to the wealth
OF the Nation. Owing To the immensity
OF Alaska and its location i'm the far
north. IL is a difficult matter 10 provide
many things essential 10 it's growth and
TO the happiness and comfort Of its pco-
pie by private enterprise alone. Ii should
therefore, receive reasonable aid from the
government The government has already
done excellent work I'm Alaska in laying
cables and building telegraph lines. This
ical and efficient way by the signal corps
OF the army.
In some respects It has outgrown its
present laws, while in others those laws
have been found 10 be inadequate In
order TO obtain information upon which
| could rely | caused an official of the
department OF justice, In whose judgment
i have confidence, TO visit Alaska during
the past summer for the purpose Of as
certaning how government is admins
tered there and what legislation is act-
ually needed at present statement of
the conditions found To exist together
with some recommendations and the rea-
sons therefor, I'm which | strongly concur.
will he found i'm the annual report Of the
attorney general, In some instances |
feel that the legislation suggested ~ so
imperatively needed that / am moved
briefly TO emphasize the attorney gen
erals proposals.
Under tho code Of Alaska as it now
stands many purely administrative
powers and duties, including. by far the
most important, deVDlve upon the district
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 ThanksgiV-
ing Day proclamatons. and appoint In-
dian policemen and notaries public.
believe II essential TO good government
I'm Alaska, and therefore recommend. that
the congress diveet the district judges
and the clerks Of their courts of the adj
ministrative or executive functions that
they now exercise and cast them upon
the governor. This would not be an I'm
novation: II would simply conform the
government OF Alaska "a fundamental
principles. making the goveruorship
real instead OF merly nominal office.
and leaving the Judges free TO give their
entire attention to their judicial duties
and az the same time removing them
from great deal OF the strife that now
embarrasses the judicial office In Al
aska-
also recommend that the salaries Of
the district Judges and district attorneys
I'm Alaska be increased so az to make
them equal 10 those received by CORES
ponding officers I'm the United States af-
ter deductlng the difference in the cost
OF living: that the district attorneys
should be prohibited from engaging I'm
private practice: that United States com
missioners be appointed by the governor
OF the territory instead OF by the dis.
trict Judges. and that a fixed salary be
provided for them 90 take the place of
the disoredited fee system, which
should bo abolished I'm all offices; that a
mounted constabulary be created To po-
lice the territory outside the limits OF
Incorporated towns--a vast section now
wholly without police protection; and that
some provision be made To at least lessen
the oppressive DELAYS and costs that noy~