Evening journal., 1918-04-17
URGES QUICK ACTION
TO STOP SPY TRAVEL
Flood Wants Executive Goa
troll Over Travel Into
and Out of Nation
PRESENT CONTROL
NOT SUFFICIENT

WASHINGTON, April Supervision
Of travel OF American citizens so as TO
guard the country against operations OF
spies and other enemy agents is 60 be
provided under the broad powers con-
ferred by a bill pending in the House,
with the Administration and the Foreign
Affairs Committee as It's sponsors. 10 is
intended 20 give necessary supplemental
authority 20 the government 90 watch
iis borders and act quickly where pres
ent laws are inadequate and 90 follow,
in principle. at least, the precautions
taken by the warning governments OF
Europe.
Need OF the legislation is considered
pressing. Recently there have been nu-
merOus suspicious departures for Cuba
which it was impossible for this gov
ernment TO prevent. Other individual
cases Of entry. and departure at vari-
Gus points have excited The greatest
anxiety. This is particularly true, ac-
cordins 20 the government in respect
OF the Mexican border, passage across
which cannot legally be restricted for
many types OF persons reasonably sus-
pected OK aiding Germany's purposes
The bill will be urged i'm both houses
a an emergency war measure. To IS
intended 90 stop what Chairman Flood
OF the House Foreign Affairs Committee
calls Fan important gap in the war leg
isiation OF the United States
AS soon as this country entered thl
war the President provided by prOcla
nation. that German alien enemle
might not enter or leave The Unite
States without securing permission
When war was declared against Aus
tria-Hungary similar regulation9 wer
promulgated concerning Austr0-llun
garlan alien enemies.
This measure of limitation OF for
elgn travel was FAR from sufficient" On
House Foreign Afiairs Committee re
ports "The Trading with the Enem
Act leaves American citizens and neu
trails perfectly free TO come and go. n
argument IS necessary TO indicate On
probability that Germany will whereNe
possible. employ renegade Americans q
neutrals as her agents instead OF en-
ploying Germans about whom suspici0
would easily be excited. The dangf
OF the transference OF important mil
tary information causes the gOyernmel
great anxiety, particularly as the alto
ney-general Las ruled that neither q
President nor the executive deparimen
have power TO curb the general depar
ure and entry OF travellers.
New legislation is the only remed
In hts address TO Congress on Decen
ber g. 1917, the President emphasiz
the necessity OF creating a very delni
and particular control over the entran
and departure OF all persons into al
from the United States. The Depar
ment OF Justice drafted the bill no
under discussion. lt was introduced
Congress on February 26, 1913"
Citizens need not secure such perm
as arc required Of aliens. but mu
bear valid passport. Passports VIII GO
tinue 20 be issued as at present by I
Department OF State, and there is
reason TO believe, according 20 L
trainers Of the bin, that any Anerlc
citizen Will be unduly inconvenlenced
these restrictions.
While the power vested IN the Pre-
dent is broad and comprehensive,
bill defines all the infringements or
terms which may be criminal. The
places a maximum limit beyond VIII
its penal provisions may not be carr
and requires that all rules, regulaut
and orders shall be reasonable.
no one" says Mr.. Flood, "can 10
see the different means which may
edoptcd by hostile nations to secl
military information or spread pro-
Randa and discomfort. 70 Is Obviou
ippractlcable TO appeal TO Congress
further legislation In each new EN-
gencv. swift executive action is
only effective counter stroke.