Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1909-12-11
WICKERSHAM'S
ANNUAL REPORT
Attorney General is Bent on
Vigorous Prosecution of
Sugar Frauds
REMARKABLE STATEMENTS
Network of Corruption Not Con-
fined to American Refining
Company.

Washington, d. c.. Dec. 11.-That
the department of justice intends a
vigorous prosecution in the efforts to
recover all money due the govern
ment as a result of the sugar frauds at
New York and to punish all who may
have participated in them is shown
by the annual report of Attorney Gen
eral Wickersham made public today.
After briefly reciting the facts in the
cases 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 a period of years, af-
fecting both importers and officers of
the government it is as yet premature
to state the precise extent of the con-
spiracy of the amount of the revenue
of which the government has been de-
frauded
while it is feared that the statute
OF limitations may have run in favor of
many of the malefactors who are re-
sponsible for these frauds yet no ef-
fort will be spared to ascertain the
precise amount of which the govern
ment has been defrauded, recover 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 government officials. earnestly
request special appropriation of $780,
600 to enable this work to be effective
ly prosecuted"
Further litigation touching the com
modities clause cases" arising under
| the interstate commerce law is prom
ised by the attorney general. Discuss
ing the decision of the supreme court
in those cases Mr.. Wickersham says
| it does not necessarily determine the
| application of the statute to cases
where the commodities transported
are owned by corporation, ALL or sub
| stantially all, of whose stock is owned
! by the carrier corporation at the time
! OF transportation and especially where
| the carrier shall have transferred all
corporation formed for the express
purpose of evading the prohibition OF
the commodities clause and all or sub
stantially all of the stock in which
is owned by the carrier.
Those questions will be presented
| for determination in the courts. If the
prohibition of the statute can be sue
cessfully evaded by the simple device
of transfer of ownership of the prop
| erty to a corporation, all of whose
stock shall be owned or controlled by
the carrier, Congress should amend
the statute so as to make it an eff
fectual and not merely illusory pro
hibitiOn or else repeal it."
In the matter of public land frauC
prosecutions the attorney genera
makes it clear his determination in nj
respect to abate the effort to undo
SO far as may be, the frauds "Whicl
have been for so long 4 time perpe
trated in the procuring for private in
dividuals of portions of the public
domain contrary to the conditions I'm
der which Congress has authorized
1 these lads to be patented"
Important recommendations contain
ed in the report include those for
broadening of the right of appeal 0
the government in criminal cases;
repeal of Section $50 of the revise
statutes regarding evidence in Grim
nal cases, the enactment of a genera
immunity statute to effect the cond
tions which arise in the endeavor t
|procure testimony for the government
; favoring a national law providing fo
indeterminate sentences and a mod
| fication of the statute fixing the pur
ishment for embezZlement or misappl
} cation of the funds of national ban
at Imprisonment for five years. 'Th
attorney general refers to the unsat
lisfactory sanitary conditions at tn
District of Columbia Jail which h
says is a reproach to the national goN
! ernment and he earnestly recommend
an appropriation adequate to max
necessary improvements.