The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-05-04
CENSORSHIP
IS STRICKEN
FROM BILL
22o TO :167
Kahn Proposes Board of
Censors Composed OF
Trained Newspaper Men
and Department Heads.
PRESS IS ATTACKED

WASHINGTON, May 4.-The House
by vote Of 22o to 167 struck out the
censorship Of the espionage bill
Before the vote was taken Repre-
sentative Kahn today offered his
amendment to create a board Of CEN
sors to be composed of trained news
paper men and representatives OF the
state. war and navy departments.
In closing arguments for the CEN
sorship section Chairman Webb OF the
judiciary committee declared he had
just received word from President
Wilson that that section would be
necessary to the defense and success
of the country.
Asks Who Brought Message.
WAS that message brought down by
Postmaster.Ge General Burleson who IL
always snooping around hene?" de-
manded Representative Norton ef
North Dakota.
Mr.. Webb did not reply to the ques-
ton but launched into an attack on
newspapers who he said were not
standing BY the president
Disposition Of the embargo clsuse
Of the bill was the subject before the
Senate. Senator Smith of Georgia
contended It was likely to check food
production. He said there IL on dan
ger of a food shortage IN America.
Senator Walsh Of Montana support
ing the embargo proposal said II
would be sanely exercised by the exc
cutive authorities.
Declaring that the embargo clause
proposes surrender Of congressional
powers 70 the presfdent, Senator
Townsend Of Nichigaa sajd:
We arc 1egislafing under hysteria
and magnify1ng the Necessities OF the
times. This hysteria II not felt SO
much outside of Washington
After eliminating the newspaper
censorship section as approved BY the
administration from the espionage bill
the House today by a vote Of 1875 to
183 inserted q new section which
makes 1t necessary to show that pub
Hcation Of prohibited information has
been Of value to the enemy before pen
alties or the law became effective.
Defeat Comes Under Protest
The vote on the censorship section
came after administration leaders had
fought hard for the section under a
hot fire Of attacks and Chairman Webb
of the judiciary committee had told
the House he had just heard from
Wilson that the section was
necessary to the defense and safety Of
the country.
Postmaster-GeneraI Burleson who
often visits the capitol to round up
support for administration measures
made futile attempt to get enough
votes for the censorship section.
At the same time the Senate was
debating the bill and President Viii
sons approval of the export embargo
section was used there.
Senator Overman read letter from
the president dated April Ia endors-
ing the section.
The letter was read after Senator
Reed had challenged a statement by
Senator Overman that the president
endorsed the embargo pro-
posal
Overman after reading the letter, 1T
sending food, clothing and many other
things to Germany through some Of
the neutraIs and the president decided
to ask legislation to stop IT."
Senator Overamn said he was not at
liberty to disclose all Of the inforrna-
ton In his possession regarding the
receipt of American products in Ger
many.
When Shay's case was called in the
city court this morning, It was con-
hnued to next Tuesday at p. m. to
permit of the arrival of an attorney
from Milwaukee, being sent here by
owners Of the Milwaukee club.