Evening star., 1917-02-03
Bills Would Safeguard
Interests of the u. S.
in Its Present Crisis

One OF the btlIS TO Sale8uaro the
United States in the present crisis IN
troduced in Congress today would au-
thorize collectors Of customs "at any
time during war between foreign ma
tions," to inspect any private vessel
within United States jurisdiction to de-
tect any attempts to violate the
statutes Of the United States or the
law Of nations. Another would regu-
late the issue of passports and provide
Ave years Imprisonment for their for
gerry or for falsely obtaining one.
One bill would authorize the arrest and
return to the proper place OF any off1cer
Ssonsns sas lett his paee q
ment in this country, and makes M
crime for any one to aid or entice an
interned person to leave
Another measure makes 1t crime
punishable with five years imprison-
ment for any person to "willfully and
knowingly make any untrue statement,
either orally or in writing. under oath
before any person authorized and en-
powered to administer oaths. which the
afflant has knowledge or reason to be-
lieve will or may be used to influence
the measures or conduct OF any foreign
government. or Of any officer or agent
of any foreign government. in rela-
tion to any dispute or controversy with
the United States, or with a view or In
tent to defeat any measure OF or ac-
tion by the government of the United
States, in relation to such dispute or
controversy.
Seizures Provided For.
One of the more important bills re-
lates to the issue and service and
search warrants and seizure and deten-
tion of property SO as to permit such
warrants to any authorized civil. naval
or military officer of the United States
upon proper application to a court or
the United States commissioner where
the facts show ground for belief that
the law of nations or treaty obligations
or United States statutes are violated.
Other bills authorize the use by the
President of the land and naval forces
to enforce "the obligations of the
United States under the law of ma
tions." to restrict aliens in the United
States from acting as the diplomatic
agent Of q foreign government, except
duly accredited diplomats and consuls.
without prior notification and consent
of the President, and Furnishes with
five years Imprisonment any person
who falsely assumes or pretends to be
a diplomat, consular or other official
of a foreign government in order to
defraud any person or obtain from any
person any paper, document or other
Other bills are designed to make more
stringent the prohibitions against ex-
port of arms to be used against
friendly nation, and those against
revolutionary conspiracies against
friendly nation Matched in this country.
Still Other Measures.
Still other bills would empower the
President to withhold clearance from
any vessel. domestic or foreign. or to
forbid it's departure, where there is
reasonable cause to believe such vessel
is carrying fuel, arms, etc. to foreign
belligerent in violation of the obliga-
tions Of the United States; would punish
with ten-year Imprisonment any per-
son setting fire to. tamperfng with the
motive power or placing bombs on any
ship within the United States or IL of
American registry on the high seas
with intent to injure the vessel or her
cargo or Of persons on board"
Another would give the same punish
ment for willful interference with COM
merce by injury or destruction to places
| where the instrumentalities of such
commerce are stored. produced or
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