El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-03-13
MAY
BE SHOT BY
CAPTORS
Continued from page one.l


ures in contemplation" he was asked
The countenance Of To- warrior pres
ident became stern again.
Il have my i,4o..-, SAID, anu
have faith in their results, but since
they are military plans, cannot dis
cuss them except as they are exc
cuted"
TT is reported that the government
is about to suspend the personal guar
anteesp was suggested. "Ts it true?"
~There are extraordinary infirmi-
ties" he replied, which cannot De
cured with ordinary remedies and an
arehy Is an extraordinary social IN
trinity"
In further explanation of the aeces-
sity of the plan proposed, Gen Dlaz
said: Many years ago the theIt OF
railway spikes was frequent, putting
in very grave danger the safety OF the
passengers. The law OF suspension OF
guarantees was applied and the crimes
soon ceased"
The Martial Law Order.
Resurrecting a provision OF the
Mexico constitution not used IN 10
years and acting under its authoriza-
ton. the government will set aside for
six months certain personal guaran-
tees Those detected in the act OF
highway robbery. of raiding village
or farm, of train wrecking or cutting
telegraph or telephone wires or even
of removing a spike from a railroad
track or throwing a stone at train
will be summarily shot by those max
ing the arrest.
Wish of President.
The bill providing for this drastic
measure is signed by Miguel Macedo.
sub-secretary of the department OF
the interior, and clearly states that
its enactment is the wish Of the pres
ident.
That the measure did not Immediate
" become a law IS due solely to Off
cial form The permanent commits
sion is a body endowed with power to
act during that period when congress
is not in session. The members I'M
animously approved the measure, but
under the law It is necessary that the
bill come up for a second reading.
Tt was referred to a committee
and this was instructed to report it to
the commission today at special
session, TO be passed.
The decision to ask for the suspen-
sion Of personal guarantees provided
for by the constitution was reached
by the president in conference with
the members of his cabinet. This pro-
vision is one calculated to permit the
federal government 10 put into effect
at times of extraordinary conditions
form of government approaching that
Of martial law. Under the constitu-
ton the government may go further
and declare martial law. but the pro-
vision invoked does not abrogate the
powers Of the civil authorities but does
deny IN cases Of certain crimes the
right of formal trial to the accused.
Possibly the nearest approach in the
constitution Of the United States is
that which permits, under certain con-
ditions. the withdrawal of the habeas
corpus.
Dfaz Explains.
Explanatory of the measure sent to
the congressional commission there ac-
companied it a note also signed by
Mr. Macedo. In this the sub-secre-
tary reviews the growth Of the rail-
road systems Of the republic and calls
attention to the part they have played
IN the development of the country.
Since the inauguration of the revolu-
ton on November 20, the note says,
the lawless element has destroyed in
parts of the republic railroad property
as well as other property, has endan-
gered the lives of individuals and pro-
duced such a state Of affairs that the
president considers it advisable for
the government to avail itself Of it's
constitutional right TO suspend certain
guarantees.
An analogous condition prevails. ac-
cording to this note. in the manner IN
which telephone and telegraph wires
and transmission lines have been cut
Attention is called to the Importance
Of the lines carrying electricity. ap-
plying light and power to many of the
country's larger cities, and says that
the criminal element has at times in
terfered seriously with them.
To Prevent Anarchy.
The growing prevalence of highway
robbery, pillage and the raiding Of viii
lagos and plantations is discussed and
the assurance given that the president
wishes the measure adopted to pro-
vide drastic means for dealing with
those who also commit these offences.
In this note Mr. Macedo indirectly
quotes president Diaz as saying he
regrets profoundly the necessity Of re-
sorting to means so extreme. The
conditions now. however, are such that
he considers the safeguarding Of prop
erty Of such great Importance that it
justifies recourse to the extreme pro-
visions of the constitution.
Under the terms of the measure
crimes specified as those which will
take from the accused the ordinary
right of formal trial include interfer-
ence with telegraph. telephone and
transmission wires, KIDNAPPING. high
way robbery and assault or raiding of
/ villages and farms.
To BE Punished By Death.
It is specified that for the crime of
interference of trains, cutting Of
wires highway ROBBERY and under GER
tain conditions raiding, KIDNAPPING and
assault shall be punished by death.
It Is provided that in cases where
the offender is detected and arrested in
the commission Of his act the man
making the arrest shall ask no other
proof than the fact of the offence and
the fact that he has a personal knowl-
edge that the man arrested committed
the act, to shoot him.
In cases where proof of guilt is not
so apparent the accused shall be given
eight days for trial This shall be
! verbal and conducted by the authori.
/ ties making the arrest. The first seven
4 days shall be devoted to hearing such
evidence as may be produced and or
the eighth day sentence shall be pro-
nounced. If the penalty be death-and
the authorities are left no other choice
in most cases-the execution must not
| bel delayed except for the purpose OF
seeking executive pardon. This right
is granted
uar~ Even Stone Tbroxvs,~