p. 9 | Due Process of Law

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 29, 1902

Due Process of Law

The Chicago Public, referring to the judicial power conferred on the post-office department, often used unjudicially, gives this as an illustration: “Only a week or so ago the news dispatches told of orders issued by the post-office authorities at Washington to stop the mail of thirteen investment companies doing business at Louisville, Ky., upon charges of carrying on business under false pretenses. Now it may be that all these people are swindlers and ought to be denied the use of the mails. But that is not the question. The question is whether the prerogative of deciding that they are swindlers, and of denying them the use of a public service which has come to be a necessity of social and industrial life, shall be summarily and irresponsibly exercised by an administration officer at Washington. Is due process of law obsolete?”