New-York tribune., 1920-01-12
Early Passage of Measure
Aimed at Dangerous
''Reds'' Likely; House
Expected to Act To-day
Anti-U. S. Groups
Will Be Barred
Aliens Convicted To Be
Deported; Others Face
Prison and Heavy Fines

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11.-Speed,
enactment of stringent sedition bill
by Congress was presaged to-day
when, following passage yesterday il
the Senate of the Sterling bill, an.
nouncement was made that the House
Judiciary Committee had agreed upor
similar measure and probably woulc
report it tomorrow. One of the pur.
poses of the bill was said to be
eradication Of "parlor Bolsheviki."
The House measure, a combination
Of Attorney General Palmer's origina
bill, introduced by Representative
Davey, of Ohio. and revisions made by
Representative Graham, of Pennsyl-
vania. contains extremely stringent
penalties for violations of the
sed;.:on laws.
Included is the death penalty, which
the bill would have inflicted, upon the
recommendation of jury, on persons
whose activities against the govern
ment lead to destruction of life. The
measure also would close the mails
and express companies to seditious
literature, prohibit the exhibition of 6
red flag in connection with mass meet
lngs, deny persons the right to refuse
to give testimony, on the ground that
it might tend to incriminate them, ane
provide in certain cases for disfran
chisement and deportations.
Death Penalty Provided +
The section of the measure, which
provides for the death penalty, fol
lows:
"That whoever incites, sets on foot
assists or engages in any insure ction
or rebellion against the United States
or the authority or laws thereof, OF
whoever sets on foot or assists or en-
cages in the use of force or violence
with intent to destroy or cause to be
destroyed or change or cause to be
changed or to overthrow or cause to be
overthrown the government of the
United States and the death of any per-
son or persons is caused or results
directly therefrom, shall be guilty of a
felony, and on conviction shall be pun
lshed by death, or shall be imprisoned
not more than twenty years or fined
not more than $4,000, or both, and
shall forever be debarred from holding
office under the United States; pro-
vlded, however, that the death penalty
snail not be imposed unless recommend
Other sections of the measure would
prohibit any persons using any "writ-
ing, printing or any sign, symbol, pic
ture or caricature with the purpose of
resisting or destroying the government
OF the United States or the government
OF the several states, the distribution,
writing, printing, publishing or trans
porting of seditious matter, the impor
tation or transportation between states
of seditious matter"
To Combat Organizations
Measures to combat seditious or
CARNATIONS also are included. All such
organizations teaching the use of force
against the government are declared
to be unlawful, and persons would be
prohibited from engaging in their &C.
tivities, contributing money to them or
even renting them property in which to
carry on their work The giving
loaning or promising of anything of
value" to such organizations is declared
to constitute affiliation with such as
sociations.
Aliens convicted under the act would
be deported after serving their SEN
tences and prohibited to return to the
country, and persons who have declared
their intention to become citizens, Lut
who have not been naturalized, would
become ineligible to citizenship.
Conviction of citizens under all Sec
tions except that providing the death
penalty would carry imprisonment for
not more than twenty years or a fine
Of not more than $4,000, or both,
and in addition the convicted person
would be debarred from ever holding
an Office of trust in the United States.