The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1917-03-17
RUSH NEEDED LAWS
coNGREssMEN PASS MEASURES
TO PROTECT OUR iNsTiTu-
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.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

| Washington. When 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
SD great that II 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 I'm sight has Increased at least
ihreefOld. The result has been that
the lawmakers have been working ut
top speed not only to get out of the way
the ordinary appropriation bills and
| such other legislation as the majority
wishes to enact into law. but 10 f0rmu-
late and pass bills and extra apprO-
printions 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-
qunle Ia 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
a;trr war began. first brought the
United States lawmakers TO Il realizing
sense of what might happen in this
country If We should become n 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. 1t is true enough thar the
army and navy authorities frequently
called attention TO seeming evils which
they thought should he corrected but
comparatively little attention was paid
TO the suggestions.
Some Of the "War Measures"
Now things have changed Congress
is al 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 10 meet the seeming emergency.
IL will remain on the statute books to
be OF service for all time hereafter.
| Among what might be called war
mea sures which have been passed or
| lowing:
Furnishing coDspracies to destroy
! property In country with which rhe
| United States is at peace.
Regulating issuance Of passports
and furnishing alteration, transfer and
| forgery thereof.
Requiring sworn statements ia addl
| zion 10 the manifest.
Furnishing wIllful or attempted in
jury 10 any vessel engaged In foreign
commerce.
Empowering the president better ia
enforce and maintain neutralityG
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
insnrrection.
Furnishing lmpersonation or 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 II In the
form of emergency and regular appro-
priations. proposals 10 authorize the
expenditure Of nenrly 81, 600. 900 900 on
defense measures. The regular naval
hDDfOlVIWIlOn Ulll 'HITi'u dDOUt NbDI. =
600. 900. and this was almost doubled
when the appropriations for emergency
uses were added.
The army hill as II was reported
originally from the house committee
on military affairs carried recon-.
mendation for large sum To he ex-
| pended. not only to maintain the ex-
listing establishment. but 10 increase its
scope aud It's usefulness. TO the orig
inal appropriation have been added
S25O.OOO for fhe development of anti.
aircraft guns to defend arsennls and
500. 900 for ammunition for these guns
The total army appropriation bill
amounts to about $3.50 900 900.
Chance for Extra Session.
Concerning the possibility or proba-
bility Of an extra session OF congress in
case this country shall be Mt war. II
has been said that an extra session
does not necessarily follow because a
nation is engaged In hostilIties. The
chances are. however. that congress.
will be called together In extraordinary
session II war shall come.
william Mckinley was president Ia
1893 when the battleship Maine was