Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-01
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS

1.-The plot thickens." The original
resolution presented to the Senate by
Chairman Borah of the committee on
foreign relations to authorize the com.
mittee to spend the Summer In Mex.
leo and Nicaragua, investigating the
conduct of the President and State
Department in diplomatic relations
with those nations, provided author
lied expenses amounting to SlO,0O0.
The resolution has not been adopted,
but IL 1t should be, 1t is now discov.
cred that the first item Of expense
will be q fine of s., 600 apiece for each
member who thus violates the Logan
law of January 30, 1898, making it
an offense for any citizen of the
United States to interfere with the
constitutional functions of the exAcu-
tive department. in matters of Eago.
tiating a treaty, or with other diplo-
matte relations with a foreign coun.
try. Senatorial immunity would save
them from the three years imprfson.
ment also provided.
1t has already been pointed out, by
the precedent Of Washington's refusal
to take the advice and consent" sof O
mere committee Of the Senate coon
corning a treaty, on the ground that
only the advice and consent Of the
whole Senate those presently IL au-
thorfzed by the Constitution, so 1t is
concluded that if Senator Borah leads
any Of the Senate he must take 4hem
all-Pied Piper fashion.
Then each and every Senator there.
by violating the Logan law will be
fined 5000. and 1t becomes a prob.
lem In higher mathematics how the
accumulated fines will be paid within
the limit Of the $4,000 authorized a.
total expenses. Not knowing how
many might be paired, and So not
make the jaunt. the maximum 90
Senators might run up a fine az
gregating $3.50. 900, besides carfare
and b0ard-all to come out of that
$40, 000 limit
Mark Twain. In "Roughing It,"
tunnel so many thousand feet long,
through a mountain only 50 many
thousand feet thick-some thousands
shorter than the tunnel was to be.
He wondered what 1T was really 20,
ing to cost, since so much of the
tunnel must be built on trestle
work" What will the Central Amer
lean jaunt cost II fines are built on
"trestle work. outside of the APP
preparation!
The United States Criminal Code. by
the Logan act Of 1898. provides as
follows:
Sec. 5. Every citizen of the United
States, whether actually resident or
abiding within the same. or in any
place subject to the Jurisdiction
thereof, or In any foreign country,
without the permission or authority
of the Government, directly or indi.
rectly, commences or carries on any
verbal or written correspondence or
intercourse with any foreign govern.
ment or any officer or agent thereof,
with an intent to influence the
measures or conduct of any foreign
government on of any officer or agent
thereof, in relation to any disputes or
controversies with the United States,
eminent of the United States: and
every person, being a citizen Of or resi-.
dent within the United States, or i'm
any place subject to the Jurisdiction
thereof, and not duly authorized,
cOunSels, advises or assists i'm any
such correspondence with such intent,
shall be fined not more than 6,000 and
imprisoned not more than three years;
but nothing In this section shall be
construed to abridge the right Of q
citizen TO apply, himself or his agent,
to any foreign government or the
agents thereof for redress Of any In.
jury which he may have sustained
from such government or any Of its
agents or subjects"
The story Of the Logan law takes
us back to the administration Of Presi
dent Adams in 1898. when we were
on the verge of war with France.
Gen. Washington had been recalled
into active service as head of the
Army and the country was clamoTine
for war. Three of5icial envcys had
been sent to France by President
Adams q attampt canc1liatinn. but