Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-02-21

War Power for the President |,
8 Sought by Lansing-vote on
Spy Measure Was
60 to 10,

Washington, Feb. 21.-The admins
tration espionage bill, providing Sc
we're penalties for spying on matters
Of national defense and Furnishing con-,
spiracies to violate American neutral
ity, was passed by the senate by a
vote of 60 to 10.
The bill as passed takes in Ia sep
arate measures suggested by the de-
partment of justice and was put
through virtually unchanged. It has
not passed the house. III /. 81
Secretary Lansing and Assistant Att
torney General Warren spdrred the
senate judiciary committee to pass,
four other bills, one empowering the
president to use the army and navy
to enforce neutrality.
Too Drastic, Charge.
Those voting no on, the espionage
bill were Senators Borah, Cummins,
Gronna, Kenyon. LaFollette, Norris
and Works, Republicans, aud Lane,
Lee and Vardaman, Democrats.
Cummins led the opposition. de-
claring the bill too drastic. He sub
mitted II amendments, which were
killed. He said the government could
suppress newspapers, prevent debate
in congress-it might even be crime
for two citizens to discuss military
information.
s,a Spy Section Far-Reachino.
The spy section is far-reaching in
character, making 1t crime, punish
able with two years of imprisonment
or $4,000 fine, to approach or enter
any place connected with the national
defense, unlawfully, obtain informa--
ton, or to make photographs, blue
prints, plans, etc, Of things connect
ed 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
foreign government in time Of peace,
whether recognized or unreeognized"
by the United States, the penalty is
increased tQ e years Imprisonment,
lnd IN time Of war for life. Any per-
son who, in war time, with the intent
that it shall be communicated to the
enemy, shall collect, record, publish
or communicate or attempt to elicit
any information" with respect to the'
movement numbers. atc., Of the asmeg
forces Of the United States orsits war
materials or its plans Of military or
naval operations, cor any other infor-i
nation relating to the public defense
or calculated to be, Y shall be punished
with death, or by fine and not more
than 30 years imprisonment IaIss
This penaltYsd& reduced 'ot6 three1
yeaEsd Imprisonment where there is
no intent that the information be COM
to an enemy. but where 1t
might be useful to such enemy.
PRECEDENT Can Widen Scope.
The president is given arbitrary
power to designate things and places
In addition to those specifically named
which shall be included in the term
defense.
Another important section author
ICES the president to seize, detain or
condemn munitions of war and ships
or about to- carry them, des-
tined to an enemy, to a nation with
which the United States is at peace,
and in so doing he Is empOWered to
use the army and navy.
Regulation Of the anchorage and
Of foreign ships in the Wa
ters of the United States in case Of
national emergency is provided in an
other section. with power given to
place guards on such ships to prevent
damage.
It is made punishable with two
years Imprisonment for any person
or in charge of any pri-
rate foreign or domestic ship to de-
,troy or injure it or to permit it to be
lsed as place Of resort by coDspira-
.ors sgainst the United States or its
.reaties or obligations.
HorkrH GaEE nm