The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-11-30
Current Comment on Leading Topics
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been aware of the character of his sentence.
While that sentence was blow to justice
and severe check to the efforts of the gov
eminent to put stop to a fragrant form of
rascaty and grating, it is to be hoped that
the attempt may be renewed, whenever an
other offender is detected, in the jurisdiction
of judge less susceptible to local influence,
with broader and higher view Of his own
responsibility and of his accountability il
nowhere else, at the bar of public opinion.
1t is time for the press and public opin-
ion to take up the cudgel to force more
just and rigid enforcement of the laws by
by judges and those appointed to see that
justice is fairly and fully administered. 1t
is too often true that petty thief in this
country is more severely punished than those
who commit the worst of crimes, and by rea-
son OF the power and influence of money,
practically escape punishment Here is where
England and the British provinces greatly
excel the United States in this respect We
are somewhat of the same opinion of prom
lnent writer in one OF the magazines who in
writing on the laXty of laW-enfOrcement in
this country said that a more rigid enforce
ment Of the laws already on our statute books
is needed rather than the enactment of more
laws. Every time a judge or judicial officer
OF any character renders a farcial decision
such as was rendered in the cattemen's case
by judge in Omaha, should cause such
storm of protest and indignation on the part
of the public and press as to put a stop to this
sort of thing in this country.-Hastings,
Neb., Republican.
President Roosevelt and Secretary Hitch
cock are not throwing any bouquets at Judge
the outcome of the case against Richards and
Comstock, the wealthiest cattle men in the
state for illegally fencing more than 100000
acres OF government land They fought the
case for more than two years and the govern
ment spent thousands of dollars in securing
evidence against them. When they at last
discovered that there was no escape for them
they entered plea of guilty and were SEN
fenced to pay fine of 5000 and remain in the
custody of the marshal for six hourS-Ban-
croft, Neb. News
The fining of Bartlett Richards and w. G.
Comstock $500 for fencing in 212,00O acres of
government land in this county is farce.
Richards and Comstock can afford to pay a
$500 fine several times oftener than the gov
eminent can survey their Enclosures and
grow rich while doing SO. Had some small
stockman been arrested and found to have
inclosed quarter section or two he would
have been made to pay heavy fine and spend
few hours or days in jail. The bigger thief
you are the less inconvenience you have to
suffer So don't steal quarter section of
sand hills homestead, but gobble up an entire
county.-Rushville, Neb. Standard.
Want to know why the workingmen OF
the country have growing contempt for the
courts? Well, here are a couple of cases and
when you have read them you will know.
A Few years ago poor and friendless young
man was arraigned In the United States
court at Omaha on the charge of robbing
the mails. He had held up q star route mail
carrier and secured the magnificent sum ar
Just two cents The federal Judge sentenced
him to the federal penitentiary for life. This
Is solemn fact. for the editor of the Wage
worker was right there. reported the trial
and heard the sentence inflicted Last week
Bartlett Richards, wealthy cattleman OF
northwest Nebraska. was arraigned In that
same federal court at Omaha. lie was
charged with stealing and using Gle 600 acres