The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-12-08

IHl1ADIG ODDOlGIlI. JGF the result CCuIC
only be that they woi-i be either sunk
or captured. The Workmanship OF
our Navy is o on the whole in a
gratifying condition. and there has
been a great Improvement In fleet
practice. We need additional sea men
we need a large store Of reserve guns:
We need sufficient money for ample
target practice. ample practice OF
every kind at sea. We should substi-
tute for comparatively Inefficient
types--the old third-cIass battle shin
Texas. the single-turreted monitors
above mentioned. and indeed all the
monitors and some of the old cruisers.
efficient. modern. seagoing vessels.
Seagoing toroedo-boat destroyeds
should be substituted for some of the
smaller torpedo boats. During the
present Congress there need be no adj
ditions to the aggregate number of
units of the Navy. Our Navy. though
very small relatively to the navies of
other nations. is for the present suf-
fcient in point Of numbers for our
needs. and while we must constantly
strive to make it's efficiency higher.
there need be no additions to the total
number of ships now built and build
ing. save in the wav of substitution as
above outlined. 1 recommend the re-
port Of the Secretary of the Navy to
the careful consideration Of the Con-
gress. especially with a view to the
legislation therein advocated.
Naturalization Laws.
During the past year evidence has
accumulated to confirm the expressions
contained in my last two annua Mes
sages as to the Importance of revising
bv appropriate legislation our system
Of ~naturaliZing aliens. / appointed last
March a commission to make a care
full examination Of our NATURALIZATION
laws and to suggest appropriate meas
ures to avoid the notorious abuses re-
sultfng from the improvident Or I'M
lawful granting of citizenship. This
commission. composed Of an officer of
the Department OF State. of the De-
partment of Justice. and Of the De
nartment of Commerce and Labor. has
discharged the duty. mposed upon it
and has submitted a reDOrt, which will
he transmitted to the Congress for it's
consideration. and. [ hope. for it's fa-
vorable action.
The distinguishing recommendations
of the Commission are:
First. a Federal bureau of natural
ization. to be established IN tho De-
partment of Commerce and Labor. to
SUPERVISE the administration oe the
naturalization laws and to receive re-
turns of naturaliZat'ons nending and
ACCOMPLISHED.
Second. Uniformity Of haturaliza-
ton certificates. fees to be charged.
and procedure.
Third. More exacting qualifications
for citizenship.
Fourth. The preliminary declara-
ton Of intention TO be abolished and
IL. - l. Nod ,r~4:I ~ ooe
ninety DAYS after the fling OF his pc
titiOn.
Fifth. Jurisdiction to n~aturalize
aliens TO be confined to United States
district courts and to such state courts
as have jurisdiction in civil actions in
which the amount in controversy is
unlimited: in cities of over 100. O0O in
habitants the United States district
courts to have exclusive jurisdiction
in the naturalization of the alien resi-
dents of such cities.
Criminal Laws.
tention Of the Congress to the urgent
need of action to make our criminal
law more effective: and [ most earn
estly requested that o BAY heed to
the report Of the ATTORNEY General on
this subject. Centuries ago it vas es-
pecially needful to throw every safe
guard round the accused. The danger
then was lest he should be wrOnged
by the state. The danger is now exact
~ the reverse. Our laws and customs
tell immensely in favor Of the criminal
and against the interests Of the public
he has wronged. Some a~ntiuuated and
outworn rules which once safeguarded
the threatened rights of private c;ti-
zens. now merely work harm TO the
$500 TI I@:,~ low
of the United States stands in urgent
need Of revision. The criminal process
of any court of the United States
should run throughout the entire ter
ritori2l extent of u country. The
DELAYS Of the criminal law. no less than
of the civil. now amount to A very
great evil.
Breaches Of Trust IN Public Service.
There seems to be no statute of the
United States which rrovtdes for the
punishment of a United States attorney
or other officer Oe the Government
who corruptly agrees tn . DO
or W~rOnefully refrain from doing n
act when the consideration for such
corrupt agreement IS other than one
possessing money value. This ought to
he remedied by appropriate legislation.
Legislation should also be enacted to
cover explicitly. intentionally and be
yond question, breach of trust in the
shape of permaturelv divulging official
secrets by an officer Or employee Of
the United States. and to provide a
suitable penalty therefor. Such officer
or employee owes the duty to the
United States to guard carefully and
not to diyulge or in any manner use.
prematurelv. information which is &C
cessible to the officer Or emploee bv
reason of his official position. Most
breaches of public trust are already
covered b. the law. and this n should
be. It is impossible. no matter how
much rare is used. to prevent the oc-
casional appointment to the public ser
vice of a man who when tempted
proves unfaithful: but every means
should be provided to detect and every
effort made to punish the ~wrongdoer.
So far as in nv power lies each and
every such wron~doer shall be relent-
lesslv hunted down: in no instance in
the nast has he been shared: in no
instance in the future shall he be
spared. His crime is n crime against
every honest man in Tire Nation. for it
is a crime against the whole body poll