Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1917-05-24
ESPIONAGE BILL IS
PASSED By SENATE
SIMILAR MEASURE HAD ALREADY
| BEEN PASSED BY TIL;
HOUSE.
GOES TO CONFERENCE NOW
Prohibition and Press Censorship SEQ
tlons Left Out by senate.-Has.
Been q Long Bitter Flight.

Been q Long Bitter Fight.
Washington. - After nearly three
weeks of debate, the senate, by vote
Of n to 6. passed the administration
espionage bill, pronounced one Of the
most drastic and aM-inclusive measures
In American congressional history.
A similar bill has passed the House
and virtual redrafting Of many Of the
most important provisions is expected
In the Forthcoming conference.
During the days final consideration.
the Senate stripped the measure Of
provisions for newspaper censorship
and restriction upon manufacture of
grain into intoxicating liquors, and
rejected an amendment designed to
curb speculation in food products, al.
though sentiment obviously was over.
whelming In favor Of such legislation
later.
An completed, the Senate bills prin.
cpal selections provide:
Authority for the president to EN-.
barso exports when he finds that "the
public safety and welfare so require
mot in the House measure);
Mall Censorship.
Authority for the pos,office depart
meut 10 censor mails and exclude mail
matter deemed sedbtious, anarchistic
or reasonable, and making Its mill.
ing punishable under heavy penalties
(not in the House bill);
For punishment Of espionage, de.
fined In most detailed terms, includ.
ng wrongful use Of military informa-
ton:
For the control Of merchant vessels
In American waters;
Punishment for conveyance Of false
reports to interfere with military oper-
adons, wilful attempts to cause
disaffection in the military or naval
forces or obstructions Of recruiting.
For the seizure Of arms and NUM-.
lions and prohibition Of their exporta-
tion under certain conditions;
For penaysing conspiracies design.
ed to harm American foreign dele
cations or for destruction Of property
within the United States;
For increased restrictions upon is.
suance Of passports with penalties for
their forgery or false procurement;
and
For material extension Of the power
to issue search warrants for inspection
Of premises.
Export Embargo.
The clause giving the president
power to embargo exports was re.
tadned in the bill virtually as drafted
by administration officials. ..
Il was modified once, but the un.
qualified provision was restored after
it, necessity had been explained last
week in q days session behind closed
doors. .
Vigorous efforts to retain provisions
for the newspaper censorship and
PARTED prohibition together with
foodstuff conservation, Turing the
war, culmiated in final votes dn which
the Senate voted 4S to "a to eliminate
all provisions for press censorship. On
behalf of the administration forces
Senator Overman, in charge Of the
bill, had moved to reinsert Q modified
censorship clause. As the House bill
contains a provision for determination
BY the Jury Of culpability for violation
OF censorship regulations to be pro
mulsated by the President, the admin
fstration Is expected to bring strong
pressure for drafting in conference Of
. compromise censorship section.
On the question Of prohibition and
foodstuff conservation, the Senate, by
Q vote Of 1 6to 81, reversed its action
of Saturday in accepting Senator Cum
minis amendment providing that, dur
ing the war, manufacture Of cereals
grain, sugar and syrup into intoxicat
Ing liquors should be prohibited. BY
this vote It struck out the Cumminf
amendment offered as q food conserva
tion step, but attacked as really pro
hibition move. '7y