Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-09-13
REVENUE BILL IS
PASSED BY SENATE
ReprisaIs Voted by Senate for
British Blacklist.
HITS SHIPS WHO BAR GOODS
Use of Navy Authorized to Enforce
Embargo on 6eIlgerent Vessels
Which Refuse to Take Amer
lean Products.

Washington, Sept. Legislation OF
the most drastic character that will
permit Of retaliation and reprisals
against the allies and effecJually stop
the British blacklist policy was written
into the general revenue bill on Tues
day by the senate.
The administration emergency rev.
enue bill, designed TO raise S205,000,-
90 annually, was passed by the SEN
ate shortly before midnight Wednes-
day by vote of - 10 16. Five Re
publican senators, Cummins, Ken
yon. La Toilette. Norris and Clapp,
voted for the bill. There were no
Democratic nays.
The amendment proposed By Senator
Thomas of Colorado and adopted with
out dissent, empowers the president to
refuse clearance papers to any bel
hgerent merchantmen that refuses
American goods unless, and only be
cause Of lack Of space. An attempt to
sail without clearance is made punish
able by heavy fine and IMPRISONMENT
of two years. The ship may be seized
by the government.
The amendment It was admitted,
was prepared with the approval Of
the state department. This admission
IS especially significant in view of the
provision that the president is here
by empowered to employ such part Of
the land and naval forces Of the United
States as shall be necessary to carry
out the purpose of this aet'
The Thomas amendment is admit
tedly an emergency measure. Nobody
attempted to conceal the fact that It
was aimed at the acts Of the British
government The senate has been in
formed that every diplomatic effort OF
this government to bring about relief
for American citizens subjected to the
blacklist had proved futile.
Another amendment which its Op-
ponents characterized as revolution
airy. offered by Senator -Phelan,
would prohibit the use Of the mails,
the cables wireless, express and other
means Of communication TO citizens Of
countries that do not accord full and
free facilities to American citizens in
commerce, including the unhampered
traffic In the mails"
The amendment intends that all
American citizens shall have the saue
free use of these means Of cOmmuni-
cation with any beiligerent country
that is accorded the citizens OF bel
!lgerent countries in the United
States. This amendment also was
adopted without protest.
On August 30 an amendment Of
feerd hy Senator James was adopted
that is intended ms "A reprisal against
the British order prohibiting the ex-
port Of tobacco and other goods and
products Of the United States into
countries not only Of the belllgerents
bur Of the neutral countries Of north
ern Europe.
In anotuer section OF the revenue
BIZ IS an amendment. general In char
meter and bearing no relation 10
the war that gives the president q
wepaou against discrimination. 1t
HIbNittS itldi Ailti4t'f VI any COUNT y
dependence. etc, shall prohibit the
importation of any article the product
Of the United States the president
within his discretion shall have pow
er to prohibit during the period such
prohibition is in force the importn
ton into the United States of similar
articles This is general law APP
plicable to all eases Of discrimina-
ton