Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-12-11
DEPARTMENT. OF JUSTICE TO
PUSH PROSECUTIONS AL.
READY UNDER WAY.
ATTORNEY GENERALS REPORT
TELL OF SUGAR FRAU
Corruption Not Confined to Ame, 9 !,
Sugar Refining Company, Says :, :
ersham-Further Litigation Touching
Commodities Clause Land Fraud
Cases to Be Pushed.

\ Washington, Dec. 11.-That the de-
part1nent of justice intends vigorous
prosecution, in the efforts to recover
all money due the government as re-
suit Of the sugar frauds at New York
and to punish all who may have par
ticipated in them is shown by the an
nual report OF Attorney General Wick
ersham, made public today. After
which are Of public knowledge he says:
''The evidence has disclosed a net
work of corruption, not confined to the
American Sugar Refining Company.
extending over period Of years. af
fecting both importers and officers of
the government and it is as yet prem
ature to state the precise extent of the
cospiracy or the amount of the reven-
ues of which the government has been
defrauded. While it Is feared that the
statute of limitations may have run in
favor of many of the malefactors who
are responsible for these frauds, yet
no effort will be spared to ascertain
the precise amount of which the gov
ernment has been defrauded, to re-
cover all moneys due, and to punish
all those who may be found to have
participated in any respect in the
| frauds, whether as officers or agents of
the importers or as officials of the gov
ernment. / earnestly request a special
Appropriation of $4,000 to enable this
work to be effectively prosecuted"
More Litigation Promised.
Furthermore litigation touching
the commodities clause cases."
arising under the interstate COM
merce law Is promised by the
/ attorney general. Discussing the
decision of the supreme court In those
cases Mr.. Wickersham says 1t does not
i necessarily determine the application
of the sttute to cases where the COM
i modities transported are owned by a
corporation. all, or substantially ALL
Of whose stock is owned by the carrier
corporation at the time of transporta-
ton. and especially where the carrier
shall have transferred all of it's interest
in such commodities to a corporation
formed for the express purpose OF
tiles clause, and all or substantially
| Dy
the carrier.
Those question will be presented fol
determination in the courts. If the
prohibition of the statute can be sue.
: cessfully evaded by the simple device
5 of transfer of ownership of the proper
ty to corporation, all of whose stock
shall be owned or controlled by the
carrier, congress should amend tht
statute so as to make it an effectua
and not a merely illusory prohibition
or else repeal it."
As to Land Frauds.
In the matter of public land FRAUD
prosecutions, the attorney genera
makes clear his determination il
+ no respect to abate the effort to undo
, so far as may be. the frauds (which
have been for so long time perpetrat
ed in the procuring for private individ
uals of portions of thes public domain
: contrary to the conditions under whicl
y congress has authorized these lands t.
Y be patented"
v Important recommendations containe,
in the report include those Tor broad
ening of the right of appeal of the gov
ernment in criminal cases; repeal o
9 section $50 of the revised statutes re
S garding evidence In criminal cases. tn
enactment of a general immunity stat
ute to meet the conditions which aris
in the endeavor to procure testimon
4 for the government: favoring nation
n al law providing for indetermninat
y asentences and modification of tn
statute fixing the punishment for EN-
bezzlement or misapplication of tn
funds of national bank at imprison
g ment for five years.
n The attorney general refers to tn
S. unsatisfactory sanitary conditions 8
i the District OF Columbia Jail which h
:. says is a reproach to the national gov
d ernment and he earnestly recommend
e an appropriation adequate to max
l. necessary improvements.