The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-04-16
SUPERVISION OF
AMERICAN TRAVEL
UNDER new LAW
Bill Proposed in House To
Enable Country to Pro
tect Borders.
PRESSING NEED OF
THE LEGISLATION
Restrictions Would Prevent
Spies From Entering or
Leaving the Country.

" ~~'hdISIoH, April transportation
of travel of American citizens so as
TO guard the country against opera
tons Of spies and other enemv agents
is to be provided under the broad
powers conferred by a bill pending
in the House. with the administra-
ton and the foreign affairs commit
tee as its sponsors. 1t is intended to
give necessary supplemental AUTHORITY
10 the government to watch its Dor
ders and act quickly where present
laws are inadequate and to follow in
principle, at least the precautions
taken by the warning governments of
Europe.
Need of legislation is considered
pressing. Recently there have been
numerous suspicious departures for
| Cuba which it was impossible for this
government to prevent. Other indi-
vidual cases of entry and departure
at various points have excited the
| greatest anxiety. This is particularly
! true, according to the government, in
respect of the Mexican border, pas
sage across which cannot legally be
restricted for many types of persons
reasonably suspected of aiding Ger
many's purposes. The bill will be
urged in both houses as an emer-
gency war measure. It is intended to
stop what Chairman Flood, of the
House foreign affairs committee, calls
IAN important gap in the war legisla-
ton of the United States"
AS soon as this country entered the
lamation, that German alien enemies
might not enter or leave the United
Estates without securing permission.
When the war was declared against
Austria-Hungary similar regulations
were promulgated concerning Austro-
Hungarian alien enemies
This measure of Limitation of for
eign travel was far from sufficient, -
the House foreign affairs committee
reports. 1.-THE Trading with the En-
envy Act leaves American citizens and
neutrals perfectly free to come and
60 No argument is necessary to in
hicate the probability that Germany
will, wherever possible, employ rene
gade Americans or neutrals as her
agents instead Of employing Germans
about whom suspicion would easily
be excited. The danger of the trans
ference of important military infor-
nation causes the government great
anxiety, particularly as the attorney
general has ruled that neither the
President nor the executive depart
ments have power to curb the general
departure and entry of travellers
New legislation is the only rem
edy. In his address to Congress or
: December 4, 1917, the President en-
phasized the necessity of creating 6
: very definite and particular contro
[ over the entrance and departure Of
all persons into and from the United
I States. The Department of Justice
drafted the bill now under. discussion
1t was introduced in Congress on Feb
ruary 26, 1913"
Citizens need not secure such per
, mits as are required of aliens, bu
must bear valid passports. Passports
will continue to be issued as at pres
ent bv the Department of State, am
II there is no reason to believe, accord
ing to the trainers of the bill, tina
( any American citizen will he undul.
i inconvenienced by these restrictions.
u While the power vested in the Pres
Il ident is broad and comprehensive, tn
9 bill defines all the infringements
d it's terms which may be criminal tn
e bill places a maximum limit beyon
which its penal provisions may no
} be carried and requires that all rules
y regulations, and orders shall be rea
le sonaGble.
'eNo one" says Mr. Flood, "ca:
foresee the different means whlc
may be adopted by hostile nations t
secure military information or sprea
# propaganda and discomfort. 1t is oh
viously ippracticable to appeal
Congress for further legislation l
s each new emergency. Swift execu
a tive action is the only effective coun
~ ter stroke