Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1917-03-02
RUSH NEEDED LAWS
coNGRESSMEN PASS MEASURES
TO PROTECT OUR iNsTITL-
TONS DURING WAR.
Wit CURB SPY ACTIVITIES
legislation Proved Necessary by Elk
perience of European Countries Now
is Being Placed on Statute Books
of the United States.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

BY GEORGE CLINTON.
WaShingtOn.-Whe the first SuggeS-
ton was made> that an extra session
of congress might be necessary. the
reason given was that the amount of
the business which was in sight was
SO great that it seemed virtually i'm
possible that everything necessary
could be done before March 4, and an
extra session avoided.
Since the first word concerning fear
of the necessity of an extraordinary
meeting of congress was uttered, the
business in sight has increased at least
EhreefOld. The result has been that
the lawmakers have been working at
top speed not only to get out of the way
the ordinary appropriation bills ana
such other legislation as the majority
wishes to enact into law. but TO fOrmu-
late and pass bills and extra appro-
priations maze necessary by the break
of diplomatic relations with Germany
and by the prospect of war with that
power
There never have been on the statute
books of the United States laws ade-
QuatC to the meeting of certain war
situations. The experience of some
of the countries abroad with spies and
with alien subjects who remained in
enc or the other of the warning nations
after war began, first brought the
United States lawmakers to a realizing
sense of what mi ut happen in this
country if we should become a party
20 the conflict raging abroad.
The spy question and the subject of
possible damage to our forts ships and
ammunition plants and other necessary
defense and offense institutions never
in the past seemed TO be matters ne
ceSsitating serious consideration by
congress-. 1t is true enough that the
army and navy authorities frequently
called attention 10 seeming evils which
they thought should be corrected, but
comparatively little attention was paid
to the suggestions.
Some of the "War Measures"
Now things haye changed. Congress
As at work. or has finished work, on a
dozen measures intended to safeguard
the interest of this country in war
time. The house and senate commit
tees have framed and reported for
passage any number of emergency
measures. While the legislation is in
tended 70 meet the seeming emergency,
1t will remain on the statute books to
be of service for all time hereafter.
Among what might be called war
measures which have been passed or
oh their way to passage are the fol-
towing:
Furnishing cOnspiracies to destroy
property in a country with which the
United States is at peace.
Regulating issuance of passports
and furnishing alteration, transfer and
forgery thereof
Requiring sworn statements in addi-
tion TO the manifest.
Furnishing willful or attempted in
Jury TO any vessel engaged in foreign
commerce.
Empowering the president better to
enforce and maintain neutrality.
Providing for the issuance of search
warrants.
Furnishing the revealing of the Sc
crets of national defense.
Furnishing counterfeiting the seal of
the United States or of the executive
departments.
Regulating conduct of vessels in
either American ports or waters in
time of actual or threatened war or
inSufrection
Furnishing imperSonation of foreign
officials accredited TO this country.
Furnishing willful making of untrue
statements in order to influence acts
or conduct of foreign governments.
Regulating conduct and movements
OF interned soldiers and sailors.
Authorizing seizure. detention and
condemnation of arms and munitions
ready for export,
Huge Appropriation Bills.
Congress has had before it In the
form of emergency and regular appro-
priations. proposals to authorize the
expenditure of nearly ST ,O00000,0O0 on
defense measures. This regular naval
appropriation bill carried about $751;
100000. and this was almost doubled
when the appropriations for emergency
uses were added.
The army bin as ii was reported
originally from the house committee
on military affairs carried recon-
mendation for a large sum to be eX-
pended, not only to maintain the ex-
listing establishment. but To increase its
scope and its usefulness. To the orig
tnal appropriation have been added
$3.50 900 for the development of anti
aircraft guns to defend arsenals and
5000. 900 for ammunition for these guns.
The total army appropriation bill
amounts 10 about S2!10.000.0 600.
Chance for Extra Session.
Concerning the possibility or proba-
bilitv of an extra session of congress in
icase this country shall be at war, 1T
has been said that an extra session
does not necessarily follow because
nation is engaged in hostilities. The