The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-12-16
ASKS NEW LAWS t.
PUNISH PLOTTERs
Attorney General Makes Plea to
. 9t44 Congress.
WANTS TO PROTECT NATION
Gregory Seeks Increased Facilities for
Keeping v. S. From Being
Drawn Into the MaeIstrom
a Of European War.

Washington, Dec. 11.-Increased
facilities for keeping the United
States from being drawn into the
maelstrom of the European war and
more specific authority for the pun
ishment of persons who jeopardize
American neutrality are the principal
needs of the arm of the government to
be met by the present congress. &C
cording to the recommendations con-
tanned in the annual report of Attor-
ney General Thomas w. Gregory
which was laid before congress today.
The attorney general lays especial
stress on the many dangers to our
neutrality which lie in wait around
every corner and emphasizes the pres
ent helplessness of the government In
putting a stop to the conspiracies.
r-conspiracies, bomb plots. fiji.
clustering expeditions and the score OF
other crimes, the repeated commission
OF which by foreigners and agents of
foreign governments, he says, has
harassed the United States since the
outbreak Of the European conflict.
Also Have Internal Problems.
The added burden of neutrality wor-
ries has not lessened internal prob
lens, however, the attorney general
says. His report urges that the laws
against monopolies and the statutes
as to other business matters be tight
ened, and recommends reforms in con.
nection with the judiciary, and with
the operation of federal prisons.
An unmistakable outgrowth OF the
Fay bomb plot which government
agents unearthed at New York is the
attorney generals recommendation
that 1T should be specifically made a
crime against the United States to
place bombs or other explosives on
vessels sailing from the ports of the
United States"
Arising out of the breaking of their
parole by interned German officers
and men of the informed German war
ships, Prinz Eitel and Kronprinz Will
helm at Norfolk, Va, comes the rec
Ommendation in the report that ut
should be made a crime against the
United States for any person to escape
or attempt to escape from an interned
warship Of belligerent nation; and
in any event, authority should be
given to some department of the gov.
eminent to arrest and return any such
person to the place of internment."
Reports of thefts of plans of for
titiCations and Of data of military
value prompted the attorney general
to ask legislation to punish spies en-
gagged upon this work. The present
statutes are vague and of little force
he says.
The work of the federal bureau OF
investigation in connection with neu-
trality cases, says the report, has
steadily increased and 1t Is still in.
creasing."
Asks for $11, 1o7, 54s.
The attorney general asks appropri-
atoms for the next fiscal year to the
amount of $11,107,546. an increase of
$437.227 over last years supply.
In reporting on the work of the
supreme court, the attorney general
points out that the highest tribunal
gradually is falling behind in its work.
In 1904 there were 282 supreme court
cases not disposed of at the close of
the term; in 1914 the number had in
creased to sos.
Attorney General Gregory especial.
ly urges the enactment Of an amend.
ment to the commodities clause of the
interstate commerce act which will
prohibit a railroad from transporting
in interstate commerce articles which
it manufactured or produced, or which
were manufactured or produced by
any corporation controlled by 1t or
affiliated with it by having the same
controlling stockholders, irrespective
of whether such railroad or such con.
trolled or affiliated corporation has an
interstate in the articles at the time OF
transportation" The attorney general
says the railroads and big coal COM
panies now have little difficulty in
eVading the commodities clause.