The Washington times., 1915-10-26
Justice Department Will
Recommend Is New Laws
As Result of Bomb Plot

under which Robert Fay, the German
army lieutenant held at New York In
bomb plot. and others who commit
crimes AGAINST American neutrality. can
be adequately punished. the Department
OF Justice will recommend to Congress
the enactment OF twenty-five Federal
statutes at the next session.
The repeated crimes against American
neutrality, by agents and sympathizers
with belligerents In the present war
have demonstrated the weakness OF
matters concerning the relations be-
tween this country and foreign nations.
Investigation also has shown that there
has been virtually no change In Federal
laws governing the relations between
the United States and foreign nations
since the years Immediately following
the war Of 1872.
Three Important Cases.
Three Of the most important cases
arising in recent months for the pun
ishment Of which Federal laws have
been found inadequate arc:
Tho present bomb plot at New York.
In which Robert Fay. who claims to be
q German army officer: and Walter
| Schiotz are held, while the Government
Is investigating their connection with
| bomb explosions and explosions In
American munitions plants.
The case of James r. J. Archibald.
| American writer. used as a messenger
bv Ambassador Dumba and Won Bern
storff and Captain Won Papen to carry
official papers to the German and Aus
| trian governments.
The case Of a man held until recently;
charged with taking photographs OF
United States fortifications.
| These cases are cited by officials OF
the Department of Justice merely be-
cause they are typical Of a large num-
ber OF alleged crimes committed against
American neutrality for which present
laws have been found inadequate.
For instance. examination Of the
statutes thus far made reevals only one
Federal law under which Fav and
Schiotz could be tried at New York on
charges Of engineering steamship and
munition plants explosions. This stat.
ute 10 one relating to the shipment OF
explosives In commerce. The penalty
for its violation In extremely light.
considering the uses to which explo-
sives have been put during the war.
No Adequate Law.
The charges against men held on sus-
picion OF spying on American fortified
tions developed the fact that there Is
no law providing adequate punishment
of agents or sympathizers Of foreign
governments for espionage.
In the Archibald case It was found
that no matter how seriously the Uni
ted States might become Involved from
! the delivery by an American citizen OF
unneutral messages to foreign govern
ments. there is no statute upon whicf
the Government could 30 into United
States court with case on which II
could relv.
The crime OF dynamitIng munitions
plants Is one that can be Adequately
: prosecuted hv state laws, but the Fed
eral laws only relate to the transporta
tion OF explosives and not the nctua
, deed OF violence.
) Needs 25 New Laws.
In the case Of bomb explosions oi
3 steamships at sea. outside the terri
torial waters OF the United States. tn
Federal laws are even more faulty. OF
ficials declare. No matter II
3 ship should be sunk with the loss o
e lives Of all on board. the only recours
0 OF the Government. In laws SO far dis
. covered. would be to prosecute tn
guilty persons or persons for delivering
e the explosives on shipboard. and Off
cials have n grave doubt OF thei
ability to win out under this statute
h Assistant Attorney General Warre
a IL investigating the question to deter
= mime ~nat laws arc neeueu. BrcSiden
y Wilson and Secretary Lansing hav
a been advised OF the need of new legisla
4 ton and are expected to indorse tn
a request for the new laws. which will b
a planned to cover every phase OF an
situation arising between the Unite
. States and an enemy country. or tn
: belligcrents in a war In which thi
n country Is not involved. It will tax
d twenty-five new laws at least. d,
partment OF Justice officials say. I
cover the ground.
q NEW YORK. Oct. 26.-Offcials Of II
n Aetna Explosives Company. Inc. der
that the explosives confiscatcd with Il
= arrest OF the three alleged German col
8 scpirators in Weehawken SUNDAY ha
< been purchased from that company.
would have been impossible. they sal
"a for any one to buy either dynamite
- trinitrate OF toluol in the auantiti
'; found among the effects of the Ge
d mans. The company does not sell
II such small quantities. The police "a
IS they found twenty-five pounds OF u
II, INT. and twenty-five large sticks
~ dynamite.
a 1t iB an easy matter. the Aetna Con
= pany. admitted. for any one to get thr'
N or four sticks or even more at a tin
'. from contractors and others engaged
II blasting.