The Alaska daily empire., 1916-10-26
Mexico Is Now Controlled by De FactO Troops and Vigilance Is
 Paramount.
PROVIDE DEATH PENALTY
Latest Decree AbrOgateS Personal Guarantees and Provides for
 Punishment.


 ATLANTIC CITY. N. J.. Oct. 21.- Proof that Mexico is now under mar tial law and that men, women and children may be arrested and exc cuted without trial or appeal, was obtained today by the American peace commissioners.
 A copy of Carranza's decree abro- gating all personal guarantees was discovered by the Americans and laid before their Mexican colleagues. The Americans asked the Mexicans the following questions:
 "Does not this decree open the way for the most merciless and des- potic acts?
 win not the innocent as well as the guilty be made to pay the death penalty if the rights of trial and ap- peal are cnnlled?
 Although the excuse is made that the decree is simply to make poasl- ble the swift execution ot justice in crimes against the state, are not virtually all offenses included in it's provisions?
 "Therefore. does not this decree wipe out the constitutional rights of everybody whom the government may regard with disfavori"
 The Mexicans replied that drastic measures were absolutely necessary for the extermination of desperadOes who had oyerrun the country.
 Carranzas decree. in which he makes himself the absolute dictator of Mexico was issued October 9th. The decree is regarded by Americans as an astounding confession of the lawlcss conditions now existing in Mexico
 The decree declares that brigand- age has developed in tbe country. Armed bands called remnants of the civil war" are charged with footing and pillaging. wrecking of trains. burning Of bridges. telegraph and telephone lines, stations and ware houses. thus hindering railway traf- lic and rendering the country dis tricts insecure and driving the in- habitants to the larger centers Of population for protection As result Of this concentration, agriculture, commerce and other sources of ma tional income have suffered and ey- en the principal cities have felt the consequences of the bandit evil.
 The decree recies the necessity for police vigilance upon the part of all the people and the prompt ap. plication of "the judicial authority in the place in which the crime is committed upon occasion without the form or semblance of trial" when the offenders are caught in tho act "on or after" a most summary in- vestigation.
 Introducing the articles which pre- scribe penalties to be inflicted thus summarIly, the first chief says he hopes thereby to reestablish peace and give protection to the lives, honor and property of the people.
 Death Penalty Provided
 The decree provides the death pen alty for anyone attacking or iniur- ing railway trains or property, tele- graph or telephone lines, Dcendiar- ies or kidnappers, highwaymen, raiders, burglars and robbers.
 From five to ten years inprison- ment is prescribed for those who protect or aid bandits. receivers of stolen property, pickpockets and cat tie thieves.
 The final articles of the decree prescribe the procedure to be fol- lowed. IT the accused is caught in the act the judicial authority is in- structed to impose the penalty with no further formality than the draw ing up of a record giving the name of the accused, the testimony of his accusers and captors with other wit nesses. and "the execution, should there be any"
 In case the accused is not taken | in the act of committing the of- lenSe charBeu' tue JuuBe IS instruct | ed to conduct an investigation, | which shall end within seventy two l hours. and try him within the next forty-eight hours. giving the accused | the right to be heard and to have | for the Judgment rendered | immediately after the trial
 The judgments carrying condemna ton are to be executed forthwith | and shall be subject to no further appeal than that of jurisdiction"
 -e-o-o
 "AlI the News All the Time"