Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-11
Government Will Sue for Money
Due it and Punish Par
tlcipants in Them.
A NETWORK OF CORRUPTION.
Atts'-Gcn. wiekershnm Says 1t Is Too
Soon I" State Precise Ex-
tent of Conspiracy.

Washington. Dec. 11.-That the de-
psi'ineht III Justice intends a vigorous
prosecution, in the efforts to recover
d'i money due the government as ro-
suit OF sugar frauds at New York and
10 punish all who may have participat-
cd In them, is shown by the ANIMAL
report of Atty, Gen Wickcrsbam made
public today After briefly rccitlnp tho
iacts in the case, which are of public
knowledge. he says:
NETWORK OF CORRUPTION
The evidence has disclosed a moi
work OF corruption, not confined to the
american Sugar Refining COMPANY
Extending over period of wears ar
iectlng both importers and officers of
the government. 1t is as yet premature
10 state the precise extent of the con-
spiracy or the amount of the reyenues
VI "nich the government has been de-
frauded.
While 1t is feared that the statute
o, limitation may have run in favor OF
many OF the malefactors. who are re-
sponsible for these frauds, yet no ef
Tort will be spared to ascertain thc
precise amount of which the govern
ment mas been defrauded. to recover
all moneys due and 10 punish all those
VINO may be found to have participated
IN any respect In the frauds. whether
as oI'icers or agents of the importers.
OF as officials OF the government
earnestly request special appropria-
tion or $4,000 to enable this worl, Ia
be effectively prosecuted"
INTERSTATE COMMERCE. ACT
Further litigation touching Tho
commodities clause cases" arising
under the Interstate commerce law.
Is promised by the attorney general
Discussing the decision of the supreme
court in those cases, Mr. Wickersnam
says II does not necessarily deter
mine the application of the statute To
cases where the commodities trans
ported are owned by a corporation
all. or substantially all. of whose
STOCK Is owned by the carrier corpora
uon at the time of transportation and
especially where the carrier shall
nave transferred all of its interest In
such commodities to n corporation
formed for the express purpose of
cyadlng the prohibition of the COM
modlties clause. and all or substantial
~ an OF the stock in which Is owned
by the carrier
Those questions will be presented
for determination in the courts III
the prohibition of the statute can be
successfully eyaded by the simple de-
vice OF transfer of ownership of the
property TO a corporation all Of whose
stock shall be owned or controlled by
the carrier. Congress should amend
= In a 20
fectual and not a merely illugory
prohibition, or else repeal it"
PUBLIC LAND FRAUDS.
In the matter of public land fraud
prosecution the attorney general makes
clear his determination in no respect
TO abate the effort to undo, so far az
may be. the frauds (which have been
for 30 Ions time perpctrated in the
procuring for private individuals OF
portions of the public domain contrary
to the conditions under which Congress
has authorized these lands to be pa
tented"
Important recommendations con-
tanned in the report include those for
a broadening for the right of appeal
OF the government I'm criminal cases. n
repeal OF section $50 of the revised
statutes regarding evidence in criminal
cases; the enactment OF q general i'm
munity statute to meet the conditions
which arise in the endeavor to procure
testimony for the government; favor
ing national law providing for in
determinate sentences. and a modiflcn-
tion OF the statute fixing the punish
ment for embezzlement or misapplica-
tion of the funds of national bank ut
Imprisonment for flvc years.
The encouragement refers TO the
unsatisfactory sanitary conditions at
tine District of Columbia jail. which he
says is n reproach to the national gov
ernmcnt and he earnestly recommends
an appropriation adequate 10 make
necessary improvements.