Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-07
Gestapo Bill Can Be Beaten

Gestapo Bill Ian Be Beaten
THE department of Justice which recently criticized by the
Supreme Court the abuse of its powers has drawn bill
to give itself more powers to abuse,
The House of Representatives which has posing before
the public as legislative body which has reganed its freedom
from executive domination beed its claims by avisy passing
the bill -
The House invited the contempt of the nation by huedy
and unexpectedly passing the BILL time when the attend
ance Congress Incomplete and many of the intelligent
and patriotic opponents of the oppressive bill were absent
were mourning deserved the contempt and antago
nsm the nation they voted for the bill secretly and did not
allow their names to be recorded
MOT very inspiring exhibition of independence of egisla
~ tive honor or decency.
The bill properly called the Gestapo bill still be rejected
by the Senate the Senate by chance should happen to
possess independence and more patriotism and more
loyalty to the public than the House.
An amendment sponsored by Rep Hamilton Fish of New
York attached to the estapo bill in the hope of guarding
freedom of speech and of the press.
PERHAPS the Fish amendment will do so-perhaps it will
not but why should ANY bill be passed REQUIRING such
amendment in view of the constitutional injunction that Con-
gres shall make No Law abrdgng either of those rights?
Was the PURPOSE of the department of Justice in advo
eating this bill obtain statute MULTIPLYING that part of
the Constitution?
THE ENTIRE CITIZENRY OF THE COUNTRY as we'll to
hostile aliens should be scrutinized most carefully in the
Senate discern how else the lives and liberties of the people
be eopardzed by its unpreeedentedy drastic provisions
DOR the bill contains great number of phrases which may
prove be fangsespeciay under department of justice
which already its not for justice but for injustice
and is criticized therefore by the Supreme Court OF the United
States.
In the latter part of March, George Rohwel Brown pointed
out the manifest dangers of the penclous Gesapo bill IN his
Washington column "The Political Parade"
Describing the bill having been sent to the Capitol by
Atty Bidde "o be bber-samped, Mr.. Brown said:
s designed to give to the government powers
to cope and traitors deal with such
of the German spies who landed Long Island and
Florida and were tried by military courts.
"NObody objects to such purpose.
"But the bill contains language loosely drawn that there
reasonable for belief that could be used FOR THE
PERSECUTION OF INNOCENT AMERICAN CITIZENS"
ONCE that written notice has been taken of the fact that
~ the bill would turn this free country into nation of snoop
es with household spying another and with citizens IN
danger of terrible penalties the suspicion of failing to
act as "informers'
Mr. Brown likewise brought to light that members of Con-
1esamong them the rules committee of the House and Rep
Summers chairman of the judiciary commtteewho feared the
effects Of the BILL had been assured by the department of JUS
tice that its powers would not be abused"
But what is that, coming from department
which already abuses the powers it possesses?
Similar Mr. Brown recalled given that the
recently enacted Sterilization Act would not be invoked to impose
the $4,000 limitation of salaries yet used and Con-
has had to still another corrective
This proposed law of such nature throughout to
suspicion that motive besides the national defense