Evening star., 1918-04-20

Furnishing BILL
OPPOSED BY BORAH
Plan to Delegate Authority to
Military to Meet Further
Objection.
JUDGE RAPS "SENATOR"

The Chamberlain bill to permit the
military authorities to deal directly
with spies and German propagandists
in this country. if reported from the
military affairs committee to the Sen
ate, promises 10 bring about conflict
among the legislators.
Testimony has been given before the
Senate committee that such legislation
is the only way to curb lynch law
against diloyalty and enemy agita-
ton. The Department of Justice. it
was claimed. has failed to handle the
situation as it requires handling to put
down sedition and thus avoid lynch
ings.
Senator Borah of Idaho has de-
nounced the bill as unconstitutional
and unnecessary. He sought TO enlist
in opposition to the measure Senator
Overman of North Carolina. acting
chairman of the judiciary committee,
and others. He said:
Called Unconstitutional.
THE bill as it is presented is, it
seems to me. clearly in conflict with
some o. the plainest and most funda-
mental principles of the Constitution.
and l do not see how 1t could be
changed and accomplish what they
its being clearly and unmistakably un-
constitutional. Furthermore. there is
no necessity for such measure at
this time, even assuming we had the
power 10 pass it. There is practically
no indication whatever that the courts
and the machinery of the courts of this
country are not able to apprehend
criminals and punish crime.
II think il we keep our poise and
hold on to our faith in our institutions
he
and vigorously exercise the powers
which are clearly ours under republi-
can form of government there would
be no necessity for laws of this kind.
At the hearing yesterday delay in the
civil courts in prosecuting cases in
volving espionage and German propa-
Eanda and seditious utterances were
criticised by Norman H. White andCol.
r. H Van Deman. botk of the military
Intelligence section. Capt McCauley.
assistant director Of the naval intelli-
Rence service. also Endorsed the Cham
berlain bill.
alone, Mr.. White said, have refused to
give their finger prints to the federal au-
thorities, as required by law. and no ef-
fort is being made to compel them. owing
to the rush of work due to the war no"
facing the Department Of Justice. There
are also hundreds Of cases. he asserted, in
which hsroin is being sold American SOL
6iiers by Germans and others in the the
atrical district of New York. but under
the present laws 1t can be stopped only
with difficulty.
Efforts "Ghastly Failure"
Judge John F. MCGEE Of Minneapolis.
Mimi, a member Of the powerful public
safety commission organized by citizens
Of that state to aid the government in
the prosecution Of the war. declared the
Department of Justices efforts have been
a "ghastly failure" In Minnesota and that
the I. W. w. is not half as dangerous as
the Non-partisan League members. whom
he characterized ''as traitors" He also
termed socialists traitors and said they
should be interned. Judge McGee advo-
Gated organizing of firing squads and
working them overtime in order to make
up lost time"
Justices efforts have been a "ghastly fall
10 not half as dangerous as the Non-par-
tisan League members. whom he char
acterized "as traitors" He also termed
socialists traitors and said they should be
ising Of firing squads and working them
overtime in order to make up lost time"
Speaking of tho attempt Of the Peo-
Pies Council Of Peace and Democracy to
hold q convention in Minneapolis, he de-
ciared that the public safety commission
was willing to let the convention be held
there, because it understood a certain
United States senator was going to make
q speech No names were mentioned.
IF he had spoken and IL he had made
the kind Of speeches he has been making
in the United States Senate" said Judge
McGee. I'VE would have thrown him into
the Hennepdh county Jail that night. We
had all plans made and had soldiers there
to carry out our orders"
Judge MCGEE explained that when the
safety commission learned that this
United States senator had Cancelled his
engagement to speak 1t refused permis-
aon for the convention to be held and