Arizona republican., 1916-10-22
DECREE IF GEN.
 CARRANzA LAID
 BEFORE ENVOYS
IReoublIcan A. p. Leased WIreI

ATLANTIC CITY, N. J., Oct. 2l.- General CarranZas decree of October 9, suspending constitutional guarantees throughout Mexico, as translated and laid before the American representa- tives of the Mexican American joint commission today, provides that for nearly all offenses not covered by the civil code, summary punishment may be inflicted by the military authorities. Interference with railway traffic, rob- bery, incendiarism and assault in it's various forms are characterized as crimes punishable by death without the formality of trial when the evidence is apparent. In no case has the accused the right to appeal
 The preamble of the decree. which sets forth the reasons for the suspen- sion of guarantees and which was of special interest to the American com missioners, follows:
 Whereas Brigandage has been de- veloping in the country as an inevit- able consequence of public upheavals which have taken place during recent years, produced by the struggle which it was necessary to carry out: First, to overthrow the power which had usurped the government of the repub- lie and later to suppress the insubord- . nation of the division of the north and to exterminate the horde which has in- vaded the state of Morelos
 Whereas. The armed bands which still remain in various parts of the re- public. remnants of civil war. no longer have any political significance. stand ard or pretext which can justify them in their footing expeditions and raids. since it is the sole purpose of such bands to attack villages and hamlets xarf4ta l.r ..lss committing outrages and assassina- tons. or to shoot up attack or dyna- mite moving trains for the purpose of robbing the cars, or burning bridges. stations. warehouses. and so forth. and to tear up the tracks or destroy the telegraph and telephone lines of fed r. eral companies and corporations. Whereas. Railroad traffic Is hin- dered ir this was os Haany occasions. or Is rendered uncertain since although the government takes the greatest care to protect the running of trains and to give all possible protection to travel CTS. 1t is impossible to avoid these criminalities because Of the large num- l her of railway lines and the facility 1 with which the malefactors elude the oppressive action Of the authorities. as . much because of the great extent of the national territory as because of it's ! broken character and because Of the protection which these bands ire 1 Guently find among the rural popula . ton. which is due particularly to the fear inspired by them.
 Whereas, Brigandage in all it's man i ifestations has brought insecurity in l the country districts, forcing the in habitants of haciendas, ranches. ham, lets and other small communities tc leave them and seek safety in the reg l ular centers of population, which is ! notably injurious to agriculture, com i merce and other sources of national wealth, and since the consequences ol | the evil which have appeared recently l even In the principal cities. for even in i the capitals persons who were work ! Ing in the streets have been attacked i at night; suburban trains have been 1 held up and the passengers robbed { burgiaries accompanied by violence have been of frequent occurrence ir l priYate residences; all of which has 1 greatly alarmed the people SO that il IS an urgent necessity that such a seri- 1 ons state of affairs be put an end tc | bV an extreme meaure which may he l effacious in this instance and wbicf 1 in fact had excellent results in analo. . gous circumstances in other periods of the nations history. as was the cae after the three year war in the time nj l President Bonita JuareZ
 Whereas, Measures of this kind al. ways have consisted in the application ] of the death penalty to all offender, taken in fragrant delicto' or whose gull is sufficiently proven.
 Whereas, The extraordinary pro.
 visions of this law are also applicabl, to accomplices and accessories aftel the fact as well as to cut purses picl pockets and petty thieves. and f1rthe establishes the obligation under sever, penalties of a great number of peonI, to report these acts to the authorities
 Whereas, In order that the meas
 ures embodied in this law may be ef ficacious. it is indispensable that the,
 be applied promptly by the judicial au
 thority in the place in which the crim
 Is committed, upon occasion evei
 without the formal semblance of a tria
 when the offenders are taken in .fla
 grant delicto,' or after a most summar
 investigation when such is not tn
 case.
 Whereas, By these measures. I in
 first chief, hope soon to re-establj
 peace and give protection to the live,
 honor and property of the inhabitant,
 again giving birth to safety, conf
 dence and work
 Therefore, I have seen fit to issu
 this decree"
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