The San Francisco call., 1909-12-12
WILL PROSECUTE
THE SUGAR FRAUDS
Attorney General Will Try tt
Recover Revenue Which Was
SwindIed From Government
Special Appropriation of $780,
600 Asked For TO Carry On
Inquiry Now Under Way

WASHINGTON. Dec lL-That the de-
partment OF justice intends a vigorous
prosecution in the Efforts to recover all
money due the government as result
OF sugar frauds al New York and to
punish all who may have participated
IN them is shown by the annual report
OF Attorney General Wickersham.
After briefly reciting the facts in the
cases. which are OF public knowledge
he says:
The evidence has disclosed a network
OF corruption. not confined TO the Amer
icsn sugar refining company. Extend
ing over a period Of years, affecting
both Importers and officers Of the gov
trnment, IL is as yet premature 70 state
the precise extent OF the conspiracy or
ire amount Of the revenues of which
the government has been defrauded-
While III IS feared that the statute OF
limitations may have run i'm favor Of
many Of the malefaCtOrs who are re-
spOnSible for these frauds, vet no eff
fort viii he spared 10 ascertain the
precise amount Of which the govern
lneDt has been oeIrs uced. TO recover all
moneys due ana TO punish all those who
may he found 70 nave participated IN
any respect in the frauds. whether as
officers or agents OF the importers, or
as officials OF the gov ernment earn
eStlE request special appropriation Of
S5O.00o 10 enable this work TO be effec-
V-vely prosecuted.
COMMODITIES CLAUSE CASES
Further litigation touching the com
modities clause cases. arising under
The interstate commerce law Is prom
iEed by the attorney general. Discuss
ing the decision Of the supreme court
in those cases Wickersham says
II does not necessarily determine the
application OF the statute to cases
where The commodities transported are
~, ned oy a corporation. an or substan-
tally an OF whose stock is owned by
The carrier corporation at the time Of
tranSporTaf and especially where
the carrier shall have transferred all
81 it's interest I'm such commodities 10
corporation formed for the express pur-
pose OF eNading the prohibition OF the
c"mnooltles clause and al or substan
TaliN an of the stock in which is
cWned ba- lue carrier.
SHOULD BE EFFECTIVE
Those caestions viii be presented
5or QeueTnl mai tlon Ia the courts II the
Prohibition Of the statute can be sue
Ccssfuliy sVaded by the simple device
o. transfer OF ownership of the prop
ertA To corporation. all Of whose
stock shall be owned or controlled by
the carrier. congress should amend the
statute SO as 10 make il an effectual
and NOT merely liusOry prohibition,
CT else repeal H.
IN Tire matter of public land fraud
prosecution. the attorney general makes
Gear his determination in no respect
10 abate Tho effort 10 undo. so Tar as
may be. the fra udS which have been
3or SO long a time perpetratcd in the
procuring for private individuals of
portions Of the public domain contrary
. the con iitions under which congress
has authorized these lands to be pat
ented
GOVERNMENT SEEKS NEW POWER
Important recOmme contained
In the report include those for broad
ening OF the right Of appeal Of the
government in criminal cases; a repeal
of section $50 of the Revised Statutes
regarding evidence in criminal cases;
the enactment OF a general immunity
statute To meet the conditions which
arise in the endesvor TO procure testi-
mony for the government; favoring
a national law providing for indeter-
inmate sentences. and modification Of
the statute fixing the punishment for
embezzlenaent or misapplicatiOn of the
funds OF 4 national bank at imprisOn-
ment for I've years.
The attorney general refers to the
unsatisfactory sanitary condition at
The district OF Columbia Jail which. ne
SAYS. is a reproach To the national gov
ernment and he earnestly recommends
an appropriation adequate to make the
necessary improvements