The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-12-01
SUGAR TRUST INVESTIGATIONS.

The New York Journal Of Commerce
believes that better results can be Sc
cured in the prosecution OF the sugar
trust by the federal officials-than by
a congressional investigation. 1t says:
4 - If The government win pursue a con-
Fsistent and energetic course in expos
ing and prosecuting frauds upon the
revenue and in cleansing the customs
| service from dishonesty and bribery,
there win be no present occasion for a
congressional investigation. Such an
| investigation into the frauds of the SUI.
gar trust, and the collision therein of
| custom house employees at this port
would be more likely to do harm than
| good. Nothing but signs of neglect
on the part of the administrative and
prosecuting officers would justify iC,
and they appear at present to be zeal
ously intent upon doing their duty.
The reason for not intervening now
with a congressional investigating com
| mittee is quite obvious. AS the United
! States district attorney and the special
attorney general in charge OF the pros
ecuticns now under way have said,
committee could get no substantial re-
suits without calling officials OF the
sugar company and of the govern
ment charged with the wrongdoing to
| testify to facts. It could not compel
them to testify to the essential facts
without granting them immunity from
| prosecution. Not only could their tes-
timony not be used against them, but,
according to the decision in the case
of the beef trust, in the suit for vio-
lating the antitrust law, the fact that
they had furnished evidence which
could be got from no other source
would render them immune. That
might defeat the purposes of the pres
-ent, prosecution.
There is danger that an investigation
by a congressional committee would
have some such purpose, or would be
Intended to discriminate between Of
tenders and to prevent disclosures
deemed undesirable. There would al
most inevitably be suspicion of 1t, and
lit is as we'll to avoid that, so long as
the work of exposure, prosecution of
offenders and reforming the customs
service is going on with apparent zeal.
! Apart from the particular case of the
sugar trust or any prosecutions that
may be in hand or contemplated, an
overhauling of the customs service may
be needed. II would be well to have a
committee investigate it with view
to improvement, If it could be Animal
ed by the proper spirit and with pur-
pose OF instituting q thorough reform
OF the system.
But there is no ground for ex-
pecting that just now. We may as
well wait until we have congress. or
the display OF a spirit in such congress
as we have, that would be disposed to
do thorough work. Corruption will not
be got out or the customs service so
long as it is closely allied with political
machines and party policy which
contributes to private profit and is sup
ported BY receiving part Of 1t back
in contributions for carrying elections.
The existing tariff system is a breeding
place for all manner of corruption, po-
liticai, official and private. and the
service cannot be kept clean and hon.
est until a different policy Is adopted,
one whose chief purpose Ia to raise
the needed revenue In the most eco-
nomical manner.