Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-12-05

certificates. fees to be charged, and pro.
cedure.
Third.-More exacting qualifications
for citizenship.
Fourth-The preliminary declara ton
Of intention TO be abolished and no
alien to be naturaliZed until at least
uinety days after the filing of his petit
, ton.
F'ifth-Jurisdiction to naturalize
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 I'M
limited; in cities of over 100000 inhab-
.tants the United States district courts
! to have exclusive Jurisdiction in the
naturalization of the alien residents of
such cities.
Criminal Laws.
| In my last message / asked the atten-
ton of the congress to the urgent need
of action TO make our criminal law
more effective, and l most earnestly re-
quest that you pay heed to the report
of the attorney general on this sub
ject. Centuries ago il was especial
ly needful 10 throw every safeguard
round the accused. The danger then
was lest he should be wrOnged by the
state. The danger is now exactly the
reverse. Our laws and customs tell i'm
mensely in favor of the criminal and
against the interests of the public he
has wrOnged. Some antiquated and
outworn rules which once safeguarded
the threatened rights of private citizens
now merely work harm to the general
IL
United States stands in urgent need of
revision. The criminal process of any
court of the United States should run
throughout the entire territorial extent
of our country. The delays of the GRIM
inal law no less than of the civil now
amount to Il very great evil.
Breaches of Trust In Public Service.
There seems to be no statute of the
United States which provides for the
punishment of United States attor-
ney or other officer of the government
who cOrruptly agrees to wrongfully DO
or wrOngfully refrain from doing any
act when the consideration for such
corrupt agreement is other than one
possessing money value. This ought to
be remedied by appropriate legislation.
cover explicitly. unequivocally and be
yond question breach of trust in the
shape of prematurely divulging official
secrets by an officer or employee of the
United States and to provide Il suitable
penalty therefor. Such officer or en-
ployee owes the duty to the United
States to guard carefully and not to
divulge or in any manner use pre-
maturely information which is acceSsi- |
bic to the officer or employee by reason |
of his official position. Most breaches |
of public trust are already covered by !
the law. and this one should be. 1t is |
impossible. no matter how much care |
is used, to prevent the occasional APP
pOintmcnt to the public service of Il |
man who when tempted proves unfaith- |
full. but every means should he provid- |
ed to detect and every effort made TO
punish the wrOngdoer. So far as in
my power lies each and every such
shall be relentlessly hunted
down. In no instance in the past has
he been spared; in no instance in the
future shall he be spared. His crime
is a crime against every honest man i'll
the nation for ii is a crime against the
W uOlt bttlN Doilllc. let III uWtlilIlS on
such misdeeds it is unjust not to add
that they are altogether exceptional
and that on the whole the employees of
the government render upright and
faithful service to the people. There
are exceptions, notably in one or two
branches of the service, but at no time
N the nations history has the public
service of the nation taken as Il whole
stood on Il higher plane than now, alike
IS regards honesty and as regards eff
.iency.
Public Land Laws.
Once again / call your attention TO
he condition of the public land laws.
Recent developments have given new
Urgency TO the need for such changes
Is will fit these laws to actual present
conditions. The honest disposal and
light use of the remaining public lands
5 of fundamental Importance The in
quitOus methods by which the monop-
'lizing of the public lands is being
'rOught about under the present laws
re becoming more generally known.
nut the existing laws do not furnish
Elective remedies. The recommends
ions of the public lands commission
pon this subject are wise and should
e given effect.
The creation of small irrigated farms
nder the reclamation act is Il power
I'll Offset to the tendency Of certain
Their laws 10 foster or permit monop-
ly of the land. Under that act the ,
obstruction of great irrigation works
as been proceeding rapidly and sue /
essfully, the lands reclaimed are I
agerly taken up, and the prospect that I
le policy Of national irrigation will
ccomplish all that was expected of it
bright. The act should he extended
} include the state of Texas ,
The reclamation act derives much Of .
5 value from the fact that it tends to T
ecure the greatest possible number of 9
ONES on the land and to create com 9
.unities of freehOlders, in part by set Z
.n.N.s.