The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1907-12-03
WEALTHY OFFENDERS PUN
ishED.

WEALTHY OFFENDERS PUN
isAED.
enforcement o. the Law.
A few years ago there
was loud complaint that tho iAW
could not be invoked against
wealthy offenders There d. no
such complaint nov The course
~ the department 81 Justice during
the last few yrara has been such aa
90 make q evident that no man
stands above the law. that 40 COR
pnrntion iH Hn wealthy that Il can
NOT be held 90 account Tho de-
partment ~ Justice has been a.
prompt 60 proceed against the
wcaithieat maivfactar whose crime
was one OF greed and cun-
uina az 90 proceed against thr nEis
tator who ineitea to brutal violence.
Every thing that can be- done under
che existing law. and with the ex-
listing state 81 public opinion.
which nn profoundly Influences
both the eourtn aud iuFleH has
been done nat tn laws them.
srivca need strengthening in more
than ono important point they
should be- made more definite. 40
that no honest man could be- ted
uuwittinalY % break them. and 30
that tho real wrnnsdpcr can be
fradlly punished
Need % Public Opinion.
Moreover there must b. ne pub
liV opinion back ~ the lawa or the
iama themselves will be- nf 40 avail
~ pFrHHnt whiie the average Jury
uRu undoubtedly wtahsa So see
trusts broken up and Be- quite ready
Co fine thr corporation ifHeif be- "a
0ery reluctant go find che facts
proved beyond a reasonable doubt
hen q camrs 90 sending 90 iaii a
member uf tne business community
fur induiRinE iu practices which
are profoundly unhealthy but
Nhieh unfortunately. the business
community has nfuwu ta recognise
~ vel. uiEh normal nnth the
present runultiuu ~ the las and
the present temper ~ inFi~a render
IS a task ~ extreme difficulty 60
SGT at thn real WrUuKdaer im any
such case. especially By impfiaun
meet fef ii b. from every stand
point far preferable 90 punish ghr
prime offender By Imprisonment
rather than % Fine The corporation
wiih she attendant damaKr %
stnekholdefh
TIE tpn great evils iu the rxrru-
ton ~ eur criminal iawn today are
trnfimenfaNtF ard technleailtv
For the latter the remedy must
ramc fraus che hands 10 the leRias
iaturrs the courts. ard the iaNYvra
7 be- uthcr must depend for itH cure
upon che gfaauat growth 90 "a sound
public opinion witch shall insist
that regard for the Law and thr
demands q reason nfau control at
other influences and emotions a.
the jury huA Both ~ these evils
must - removed or public dlacnn-
tent with the criminal iaW VII con
tinue
ABUSE or fNJuNcTtoNs.
Instances ~ abuse 81 ghs grant
ing uf intuuctigna in labor aif.
uutea continue e. occur. and the
resentment in the minds ~ those
who feel that their rights are ha-
ing invaded and their liberty n
action AID ~ 1grerh unwarranthhis
restrained continues likewise 20
grow Nucu ~ the attack on the
use ~ The process pf injunction ~
wholly without warrant. bat ! am
constrained Co express the belief
& AfNaNN NHff MtHNNsF NN Nh tINffNH ~ MMf
rant This question 81 becoming
more and more one ~ prime im-
purfnnec. and unless the courts
win themselves deal with it IN ~.
factlVe manner. Sc ~ certain uiti.
mafeiy O. demand some form uf
legislative action II would BE-
most unfortunate for our social
welfare IN we should permit many
honest and iawahidinw citizens 60
feel that they had just cause Tor
regarding our courts with hostility
J earnestly commend O. the nttau
tiun ~ thc congress this matter. -
that some way b. devised which
win ilwlt che abuse 81 lmlumrtiuuH
and protect those rights which
from time e. time % uuwarrautahly
invadeH Moreover. discomfort ls
often expressed with the use % the
process ~ Injunction by the courta
not only in labor disputes. but
where state laws are concerned Z
rofrnin from discussion ~ this
question as I am Informed that o.
viii soon receive the confederation
uf the supreme court
PROTECTION OF LIFE.
The loss of llfe ana limb from
railroad accidents IN this country
has become appalling tf ia q SUBJ
leci ~ which the national govern
mcni should take supervision a.
might BE wen to begin by providing
for federal inspection of inter.
state railroads somewhat along tho
lines ~ federal inspection nf steam.
boats. although not going go far
perhaps ga first aii That h would
bee necessary To- have would De
some officer whose duty would bo
90 Investigate an accidents on ln-
terstafe railroads and report in de-
fHil the causes thereof Such nu
officer should make % his business
to get into close touch with railroad
operating mon so Ha to become
Thoroughly familiar with ctery
side uf enc question. thr idea being
to work along Che lines OF the prose
eut steamboat inspection law
Tho national government should
he r. model employer % should dc-
w1nd ihe highest quality pf service
should care zoe ail or thom prop
CITY la return
Congress should adopt legislation
providing limited but definite com
penHHtlon for accidents to Rll wurt-
mon within thc scope of tbe fodcrll
power, Including employees of navy
yards aud aracnula.
Eight Hour Law.
Tho congress should CON
aidrr the extension of tho eight
hour iaW The CouWituuouallty of
thr present l8W hna recently hoeu
called into question and tho sue
promo court haa decided thnt the
oKiHtiug legislation la unuuestion