Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-20
DRASTIC Spy" BILL !
PASSEDBY SENATE
The Administration Espionage
Measure Approved by a Vote
of sc to 10.
DEATH TO AID U. S. ENEMY

The administration espionage bill.
providing severe penalties for spying
on matters of national defense and
Furnishing conspiracies to violate
American neutrality. was passed today
by the Senate by vote of 60 to 10.
The bin. as passed. takes in fourteen
separate measures suggested by the
Department of Justice. and was put
through virtually unchanged, despite
the opposition of several senators. who
declared its terms so stringent as ~
imperil American liberty of speech and
of the press. 1t has not passed the
House.
The spy section is far-reaching in
character, making it crime. punish
able with two years Imprisonment or
10000 fine, to approach or enter any
place connected with the national de-
fense unlawfully to obtain information
or to make photographs. blue prints,
plans. etc. of things connected with
such defense or to dispose of a code O.
signal book or model or anything else
of national defense value.
Death Penalty for Aiding Enemy.
Where these things are done for a
foreign government in time of peace
whether recognized or unrecognizcd"
by the United States. the penalty is In
creased to twenty years imprisonment
and in time of war to life.
Any person who. in war time. with
the intent that it shall be communicat-
ed to the enemy, shall collect, record.
publish or communicate OF attempt 10
elicit any information with respect TO
the movement, numbers, etc. OF the
armed forces Of the United States or its
war waterfalls or its plans OF military
or naval operations. "or amy other in
formation relating 20 the public de-
Tense or calculated to he" shall be pun
ished with death, or by fine and hot
more than thirty years imprisonment
This penalty is reduced to three
years Imprisonment where there is no
intent that the information be COM
municated to an enemy, but where IL
might be useful to such enemy.
The President is given arbitrary
power to designate other things and
places in addition to those specifically
named which shall be included in tho
term national defense"
Other Penalties Provided
The bill includes sections making IL q
crime to make untrue statements under
oath to influence the conduct of a for
eigI, government in any dispute o. coA.
troversy with the United States; 10
punish the impersonation of foreign
eoy,srnment officials: to regulate tho
issuance of passports and punish their
forgery, and the conduct ana move
ments of interned soldiers or sailors
Another important section authorizes
the President to seize, detsin or con-
denim munitions of war and ships car
rying or about to carry them to any
enemy of a nation with which the
United States is at peace and in so do
ing he is empowered to use the army
and navy.
movements of foreign ships in the wat
ers of the United States in case of n7-
tional emergency is provided in an
other section, with power given to
place guards on such ships to prevent
damage. 1t is made punishable with
two years Imprisonment for any per-
son commanding or in charge OF any
private foreign or domestic ship to de-
stroy or injure it or to permit it to be
used as a place of resort by conspira-
tors against the United States or its
treaties or obligations.
No Quorum Present.
vote was taken last night. and a
large majority of the thirty-five sena-
tors present favored the bill, but efforts
to get a quorum failed.
Senator Cummins continued his at
tack yesterday upon the language en-
ployed in the bill. and was answered
by several democratic members of the
judiciary committee.
Senator Cummins said the measure
was the most stringent and drastic
ever proposed to curb a free people In
time of peace war. He declared that
~ ha would
absolute power in war time to suppress
and prevent debate In Con.
gress and that it might even be held
a criminal offense for two citizens to
discuss with each other questions OF
military information or policy
The senator objected particularly to
a portion making il crime to spread
any report that might Interfere win
this language he said. he wondered
whether under such law the agitation
would ever have taken place in Eng.
land which led to the assumption OF
the premiership by David Lloyd George.
Senator Walsh Explains.
Senator Walsh insisted that the Iowa
senator Inisconstrued the language of the
hill He said under its terms debate
would not be shut off in Congress nor
criticism of military operations by other
persons, but that the pfoVisicts "eio
intended to prevent spreading Of reports
that might interfere with the military
by causing disaffection.
The American Union Against Mlitaris1
in statement last night
declared that certain sections of the bill
were 80 loosely drawn as 10 be aimed
directly at the pacifist movement. and
that special meeting OF tho
union would be held in New York toda-
TO consider the situation. The clause
objected to is the one I'M
Messing heavy penalties on persons who ia
- = 81. 3. rnrxnd r.,norfs or irlfnrma IIou