The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1906-12-06

AuC 1OlIOW Willy ID tAO SuOotdllCC Va
the annual message of President
Roosevelt to Congress, as read in bot
houses:
Introductory.
To the Senate and House of Repres-
entatives:
AS a nation we still continue to en- :
JOY literally unprecedented prosper
ity; and it is probable that only reck-
less speculation and disregard of ligi-
innate business methods on the part
of the business world can materially
mar this prosperity.
No Congress in our time has done
more good work of Importance than
the present Congress. There were
several matters left unfinished at
your last session, however, which I
most earnestly hope you will COM
plete before your adjournment.
Corporation Campaign Contributions.
again recommend a law prohib-
lting all corporations from contribu-
ting to the campaign expenses of any
party. Such bill has already past
one House of Congress- Let indivi-
duals contribute as they desire; but
let us prohibit in effective fashion all
corporations from making contribu-
lions for any political purpose, di.
rectly or indirectly.
Government s Right to Appeal in
Criminal Cases.
Another bill which has past one
House Of the Congress which it is
urgently necessary should be enacted
into law is that comforting upon the
Government the right of appeal in
criminal cases on questions Of law
This right exists in many of the
States; it exists In the District of
Columbia by act of the Congress. 1t
Is of course not proposed that in any
case verdict for the defendant on
the merits should be set aside. Re-
Gently In one district where the Gov
eminent had indicted certain person
for conspiracy in connection with re-
bates, the court sustained the defen-
dant's demurrer; while in another al.
indictment for conspiracy to obtain
rebates has been sustained by the
court, convictions obtained under it,
ard two defendants sentenced to i'm
prlsonment. The two cases referred
tc may not be In real conflict with
each other, but it is unfortunate tina:
there should even be an apparent
conflict. At present there is 40 way
by which the Government can cause
such a conflict, when it occurs, to be
solved by an appeal to higher court
and the wheels of justice are blocked
without any real decision of the ques
ton. | can not too strongly urge
the passage of the bill in question.
A failure to pass it will result in
seriously hampering the Government
IN its effort to obtain justice, espec-
tally against wealthy individuals or
corporations who do wrong; and ma
also prevent the GoYernmcdt from OBJ
tanning justice for wageworkers who
are not themselves able effectively to
contest a case where the Judgment of
an inferior court has been against
them. | have specifically in view a
recent decision by a district judge
leaving railway employees without
remedy for violation of certain So
called labor statute. It seems an ab-
surdlty to permit a district iuedg
against what may be the judgment
OF the immense majority of his col
leagues on the bench, to declare :
policy Of resorting to the criminal
law solemnly enacted by the CONGRESS
to be unconstitutional" and then
to deny the Government the right to
have the Supreme Court definitely
decide the question.
1t is well to recollect that the real
efficiency Of the law often depends
not upon the passage of acts as to
which there is great public excite
ment, but upon the passage Of acts of
this nature as to which there is not
much public excitement, because there
is little public understanding Of their
Importance, while the interested par
ties are keenly alive to the desira-
bility of defeating them. The impor-
lance Of enacting into law the par
ticular bill in question is fureher In
creased by the fact hat the Govern
ment has now definitely begun a
law In those trust and interstate
commerce cases where such course
offers a reasonable chance Of success
Setting Aside Of Judgments and
Granting Of New Trials.
In connection with this matter,
would like to call attention to ths
very unsatisfactory state Of our cirm
inal law, resulting in large part from
the habit Of setting aside the judg
ments of inferior courts on technical
tiles absolutely unconnected with tn;
merits Of the case, and where there
is 10 attempt to show that there ha
been any failure Of substantial jus
iice. It would DO well to enact Law