Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-05-18
ESPIONAGE BILL IS
PASSED BY SENATE
SIMILAR MEASURE HAD ALREADY
BEEN PASSED BY THE
HOUSE.
GOES TO CONFERENCE NOW
Prohibition and Press Censorship Sec
tons Left Out by Senate.--Has
Been a Long Bitter Fight.

Washington. After nearly three
weeks of debate the senate, by vote
OF Il to 6, passed the administration
espionage bill, pronounced one OF thl
most drastic ana allinclusive 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
As completed the Senate bills pfin.
cpal selections provide
Authority for the president to en-
barge exports when he finds that the
public safety and welfare so require
mot in the House measured,
Mail Censorship.
Authority for the pos.ollice depart
ment to censor mails and exclude mail
matter deemed sedtious, anarchistic
or reasonable and making It's mail.
ing punishable under heavy penalties
mot In the House hilN,
For punishment Of espionage. de-
fined in most detailed terms inolud'
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 over
ations. wilul attempts 10 cause
disaffection in the military or naval
forces or Instructions OF recruiting
For the seizure of arms and mum.
tons and prohibition Of their exporla'
ton under certain conditions;
For penalzing cnnspracies design.
ed to harm American foreign dele
.ltlons or for destruction Of property
within the United States,
For increased restrictions upon IS.
suantc of passports with penalties for
their forgery or false procurement,
and
For material extension Of the power
10 issue search warrants for inspection
OF premises
Export Embargo.
The clause giving the president
power to embargo exports was re-
tanned in the bill virtually as drafted
by administration officials
L was modified once, but the IN.
qualified provision was restored after
It's necessity had been explained last
week in a days session behind closed
doors
Vigorous efforts 70 retain provisions
for the newspaper censorship and
partial prohibition together with
foodstun conservation Turing the
war eliminated in hnal votes in which
me Senate voted IS to "a to eliminate
all provisions for press censorship On
behalf OF the administration forces
Senator Oyerman in charge OF the
bill. had moved 10 reinsert a modified
censorship clause. As the House bill
contains a provision for determination
nv the Jury OF culpability for violation
OF censorship regulations to be pro
mulgated by the President, the admin
istrafion is expected to bring strong
pressure for drafting in conference Of
compromise censorship section
On the question OF prohibition and
foodstuf conservation. the Senate. by
vote Of 6to 81. reversed its action
OF Saturday in accepting Senator Cum.
MINIS amendment p-oviding that dur.
ing the war. manufacture OF cereals.
grain. sugar and syrup into intoxicat-
ing liquors should be prohibited BY
this vote Il struck out the CumminS
amendment offered as a food conserva-
ton step. but attacked as really q pro
hibition move