The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-02-20
Administration Measure Provid-
ing Harsh Penalties for Spying
on Matters of National Defense
Is Put Through Upper House.
TERMS TOO STRINGENT,
SEVERAL SENATORS SAY
Declare Its Terms Arc such as TO
Imperil American Liber.y Of
Speech and OF the Press; Presi-
dent Given Wide Authority.

by Atsociated Prsss.
Washington. Feb. s0.--The adrninis-
tration espionge bill. providing severe
penalties for spying on matters OF ma
tionai defense and punishinE conepira-
cies To violate American neutrality was
passed today by the senate. sixty 20
ten.
The bin as passed takes lis fourteen
separate measures suggested by the
department OF justice and was put
through virtually unchanged despite
the opposition OF several senator's who
declared It's terms 10 stringent as u
imperil american liberty of speech ana
or the press. II has not passed the
house.
The spy section IL far reaching in
character. making II crime. pun
ishable with two years Imprisonment
or $4,000 fine. TO approach or enter
any place connected with the national
defense, Ia unlawfully obtain infor-
nation or To- make photographs. blue
prints plans. etc, uf thing, connected
with such defense or TO dispose OF a
code or signal book or model or any
thing else Of national defense value.
Where these things are done for a for
eign gONernment Ia time OF peace.
whether recognized or unrccognized"
by the United States the penalty Is In
creased tu twenty years imprisonment
and In time of war 10 life. Any person
II shall be communicated or attempt
TO elicit any information with respect
tn the movement. numbers etc. OF tho
armed f.rcss of the United States or
Its war materials or its plans OF mill
ltarv or nayaf operations sor any
other information relating to the pub
lie defens, or calculated 10 be-" shall
be punished with death or by a fine
and not more than thirty years Inn
prisonmcnt This penalty II reduced 10
three years Imprisonment where there
Is no intent that the information be
communicated 10 an enemy hut where
1, might be useful TO such enemy.
The presiden n given arbitrary
power TO designate other things and
places In addition 20 those specifically
named which shall be Included In tho
term national defeuse.
The bill includes sections making Il
a crime To make untrue statements un-
der oath 20 influence the conduct OF
foreign government IN any dispute or
controversy with the United States; To
punish the iupcrsonation OF foreign
government officials; 90 regulate the
Issuance % passports and punish their
forgery aud the conduct and move
mcnts OF interned soldiers or sailors
Another important section author
ICES the president ~ seize, detain or
condemn munitions of war and ships
carrying or about to etrry them, der-
tined 20 an enemy of nation with
which the United States u at peace
ard In so doing he II empowered 70
use the army and navy.
Regulation of the anchorage and
movements ot foreign ships IN the wat
ers of the United states In case Of ma
tional emergency ls provided In am
other section. with power given To
place guards on such ships 10 prevent
damage II Is made punishable with
two years imprisonment for any per
son commanding or IN charge OF any
private foreign or domestic ship 20 de-
stroy or injure II or To permit IL TO be
used as a place of resort 6y cOnspirn-
tors against the United States OF it,
| treaties or obligations