The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-12-10

the representations of Central Ameri-
can Republics, as due from the Unit
ed States on account Of its relation to
the Washington conventions, have
been at all times conservative and
have avoided, SO far as possible, any
semblance of interference, although
1t is very apparent that the considera-
tions of the geographic proximity to
the canal zone and of the very sub
stantial American interests in Cen
trail America give to the United
a special position in the zone of these
republics and the caribbean sea.
Il need not rehearse here the pa
tient efforts of this government to
promote peace and welfare among
these republics, efforts which are fsl-
ly appreciated by the majority OF
them who are loyal to their true in
terests. 1t would be less unnecessary
to rehearse here the sad tale of un-
speakable barbarities and oppression
alleged to have been committed by
the Zelaya government. Recently
two Americans were reported put to
death by order of President Zelaya
himself. They were supposed to have
been regularly commissioned officers
in the organized forces Of revolu-
tion which had continued many
weeks and was proceeding in an or
derly fashion in control of about half
of the republic, and as such according
to the modern enlightened practice
of civilized nations, they would be
entitled to be dealt with as prisoners
of war.
AT the date when this message is
printed this government is proceeding
with deliberate circumspection to de-
termine the exact truth in relation to
the reports and upon the course in
the premises most consistent with its
dignity, its duty to American inter
ests and its moral obligations to Cen
tral America and to civilization.
RELATION WITH JAPAN.
sOur traditional relations with the
Japanese Empire continue cordial as
usual. AS the present representative
of Japan, His Imperial Highness
Prince Kuni, visited the Hudson Full
ton celebration. The recent visit of
a delegation of prominent business
men as guests of the chamber of COM
merce of the Pacific slope, whose rep
resentatives had been so agreeably re-
ceived in Japan, will doubtless con-
tribute to the growing trade across
the Pacific, as well as to that mutual
understanding which leads to mutual
appreciation.
TREASURY DEFICIT.
'sThe report of the secretary of the
treasury shows that the ordinary ex-
penditures for the current fiscal year
ending June 30, 1910, will exceed the
estimated receipts hy 1874, ,o75, ,62O. If
to this deficit is added the sum TO be
disbursed for the Panama canal,
amounting to s3s, 100000, and $780,
0o0,00 to be paid on the public debt,
the deficit of ordinary receipts and
expenditures will be increased to a
total deficit of $73,075,620 This de-
ficit the secretary proposes to meet
by the proceeds Of bonds issued to pay
the cost of constructing the Panama
canal. | approve this proposal.
CUSTOM FRAUDS.
81 regret to refer to the fact of the
discovery of extensive frauds in the
collection of the customs revenue at
New York City, in which a number
of the subordinate employees in weigh
ling and other departments were di-
rectly concerned, and in which the
beneticiaries were the American Sug-
ar Refining company and others. The
frauds consisted of payment of duty
on underweigLts of sugar. The gov
ernment has recovered from the
American Sugar Refining company all
OAAOO ~ 40 o1lOWIA W AidNS UCSu uG-
frauded of. The sum was received in
full of the amount due, which might
have been recovered by civil suit
against the beneficiary of the fraud,
but there was an express reservation
| in the contract of settlement by
which the settlement should not in
terfere with, or prevent the criminal
prosecution of everyone who was
found to be subject to the same.
Criminal prosecutions are now pro-
ceeding against number of the gov
ernment officers. The treasury depart.
ment and the department. of Justice
are exerting every effort to discover
all the wrongdoers, including the of.
ficers and employees of the companies
who may have priyy to the fraud. II
would seem,to me that an inyestipa
tion Of the frauds by congress at pres
ent, pending the probing by the treas
uary department and the department,
Of justice, as proposed, might by Civ
ing immunity and otherwise, prove
an embarrassment In securing tn,
i conviction Of the guilty parties.