Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 171, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1914 — TO WIPE OUT GIFT [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TO WIPE OUT GIFT

CamDaions Aoainst Bribery in England and Germany. ‘ p Measures Taken to Promote Honest Dealing in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Africa—Convictions In Britain. “There seems to be a wave of bribery passing over the civilized world. No one has any idea of the amount of corruption that goes on entirely out of sight, and some people seem to nn _ a ■oKniit if ** This startling statement was made the other day at the annual meeting of the Hbery Prevention league, which WSB~ formed six years ago to combat and, if possible, to root out a canker that has eaten deeply into the commercial integrity of the country, London Answers remarks. That the league has exercised a powerful influence, not only in spreading a knowledge of the prevention of corruption aet, but in investigating cases of alleged bribery, may be judged by the fact that since it came ' into existence no fewer than 150 prosecutions have been commenced at its instigation, and that at least 60 convictions have been obtained, either upon indictment or under summaryprocedure. ? Nor is the war against -bribery -con* fined to this country. It has been said that British trade is retarded in certain countries because our merchants will not countenance —at any rate, on such a wholesale scale—the corrupt practises of some of their foreign competitors. The campaign has to be fought on international lines. In Germany there is already a flourishing organization modeled on the Secret Commissions and Bribery Prevention league. It was founded In May, 1911, and in a little ovgr a year had on its roll the names of 1.000 members. There is also in Germany a law •gainßt bribery, although it is not directed at persons in private life. The members of the German league have on their stationery a device to illustrate the object of their organization. Such a symbol hah been adopted by the British league, but as yet only a few British Arms have availed themselves of it Pour yea re ago the Swedish government sent one of its judges to England to study on the spot the prevention of corruption act and the operation of the British league, and although there has as yet been no practical outcome there is reason to believe that before long there will be a law in Sweden on the lines of either the British or the German act. The commonwealth of Australia, before the British act had come into force, set an example" by passing the secret commission act in 1905, a federal measure which applies equally to all the pix Australian states. , By this act a fine of £I,OOO may be imposed on indictment upon any corporation which, as ah agent, accepts any secret gift, or uses a false account, or gives a gift or misleading document to any agent; and in the case of any person the penalty is two years’ Imprisonment or a fine of £ 500, or both. In the dominion of New Zealand an act came into force on January 1, 1911. In South Africa and in Canada steps have been taken to enforce a law against bribery, but as yet without result; and in several of the states of America there are anti-bribery laws, though no federal act. So much for the international as pect of the question. What has been done in this country to wipe out the reproach of us being a corrupt nation ? Bir Edward Fry, one of the stalwarts of the movement for purity of commercial life, some time ago made this astounding declaration: “To cleanse the Augean stable required the strength of a Hercules; to cleanse our commercial and professional life of the foulness of bribery and corruption will require the cooperation of all men who love, pure <m rtloon hflndß " * The first practical step toward eradicating “the malignant canker” of bribery was the passing of the act of 1906. ‘S Briefly stated, the provisions of the measure make it a misdemeanor, punishable, on summary conviction or on indictment, with fine or lmprison—lhlßtr —‘ -'i -<S) For any agent corruptly to re-

ceive any gift or consideration for doing or not doing any act, or showing or not showing favor or disfavor, in relation to his principal’s affairs. “(2) For any person corruptly to offer such gifts or consideration to ftfiw nrrr-nf —— 1 ———— tmyiigciHii . r? -=——==== “(ST For any person to give to an ageritTor for any agent to use, any false or defective receipt S»r other business document with intent to deceive the principal.” Two important points must be kept in mind: The bribe or commission must be given or received “corruptly," and the false document must be used “with intent to deceive.” Then, again, "any “person employed by or acting for another" comes within the scope of the term "agent.” The one fact standing out clearly and -boldly is -that the Secret Gommissions and Bribery Prevention league has already more than justi»tn ~~~~~~ Ttn committee ~ has investigated a large number of cases which have been brought to their knowledge; they have given advice freely to membersand others interested in the working of the act,- they have Issued thousands of letters and circulars, and they made representations to the war office and other public bodies as opportunities have arisen and circumstances have warranted action being taken. „ In one case a buyer for a certain foreign government, placing an order in England, proposed a secret commission of £IOO for himself. The seller replied that, as a member of the secret commissions league, he could not give it. But he got the order without paying the commission!