Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1917-02-23
RUSH NEEDED LAWS
CONGRESSMAN PASS MEASURES
TO PROTECT our lNsTlTu-
TIoNS DURING WAR.
WILL CURB SPY ACTIVITIES
Legislation Proved Necessary by Ex-
perience of European Countries Now
Is Being Placed on Statute Books
of the United States.
81 eEoRGE cLiNToN.

6y GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington.-Whe the first sugges-
ton was made that an extra session
| of congress might be necessary, the
reason given was thar the amount of
the business which was in sight was
so great ina. 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 las increased at least
threefold. The result has been that
the lawmakers have been working at
top speed not only to get cut of the way
the ordinary appropriation bills and
such other legislation as the majority
wishes TO enact into law, but To formu
late and pass bills and extra appro-
priatiOns made 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-
| quate to the meeting of certain war
| situations. The experience of some
of the countries abroad with spies and
with alien subjects who remained in
one or the other of the warning nations
after war began, first brought the
| United States lawmakers to realizing
| sense of what might happen in this
| country if we should become a party
| TO 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 he matters ne
| cesSitating serious consideration by
| congress. It is true enough that the
army and navy authorities frequently
called attention to seeming evils which
they thought should be corrected, but
comparatively little attention was paid
I'D the suggestions.
Some of tn. "War Measures"
Now things ha changed. Congress
| is at work. or has finished work, on
| 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 to meet the seeming emergency,
ii will remain on the statute books to
be of service for all time hereafter.
Among what might be called war
YRon xr,1f oh
on their way to passage are the fol-
| lowing:
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-
ton 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.
PunlSnlnE the revealing or 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
Instruction.
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 informed 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
exppDditurp of nearly 81 ono 000 900 or,