The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-05-17
ESPIONAGE BILL
WINS IN SENATE;
KILL DRY CLAUSE
Press Censorship Amendment
Also Defeated.
u. S. WARNS FOOD GAMBLERS
Upper House Threatens Drastic Move
Against Exchanges - Lawmakers
Suggest Hangman's Moose and
Other Ways to Curb Spec
ulators.
u. S. WARNS FOOD GAMBLERS

Washington, May 15.-Carrying no
press censorship nor war prohibition
clauses the senate passed the admins
tration espionage bill on Monday by
vote of n to q. Important sections
curbing activities of enemy spies re-
main in the bill.
Those who voted against the meas
ure were: Borah, France, La Toilette,
Gronna, Sherman and Vardaman.
The senate voted to insist upon its
amendments being accepted when the
bill goes to conference with house
members.
The amendment forbidding the use
of cereals and grains for the manufac-
ture of intOXicants was stricken from
the bill by vote Of AZ to 81.
The unrestrained wrath Of the SEN
ate was poured down upon food gam
blers and spectators in one OF the
most remarkable scenes in the history
of the chamber
Robbers and pirates" were terms
frequently applied 10 those who proht
by speculations in food in the hour of
the nations need. The likelihood of
food spectators being hanged to lamp
posts was limited ut.
Amendment Rejected.
The storm broke when Senator
Thomas, Democrat, of Colorado, pro-
posed as an amendment to the admin
istration espionage bill provision to
suspend for the duration of the war
all boards of trade, stock exchanges or
chambers of commerce which permit
speculation In futures in food.
After a hot debate in which many
vitriolic words were applied to the
food spectators the amendment was
rejected, 40 to "A.
Senator's who opposed it did so on
the ground that the object should be
accomplished in another way, and
some thought ii would stifie commerce.
The great majority Of opinions, ex-
pressed in terms which for force and
range of adjectives had seldom been
heard in the senate chamber, favored
some drastic action TO stop food gam
bling, and speculation which makes
for artificial prices and threatens the
nation with the pinch of hunger.
Substitute for Prohibition.
Administration leaders in the SEN
ate laid plans to eliminate from the
espionage bill the amendment approved
Saturday forbidding during the war
the use of grains or cereals In the
manufacture of Intoxicating liquor.
They expect to offer as a substitute,
before the final vote, n section of one
of the administration food control bills
now before the house.
Senator Simmons, in charge of the
plan, expected to obtain sufficient votes
to assure it's adoption. The substitute
would provide that when the president
"shall find that limitation, regulation
or prohibition OF the use of foods, food
materials or feeds in the manufacture
of alcohol or of alcoholic or nonalco-
holic beverages Is essential In order to
insure an adequate and continuous
supply of food" he may prescribe reg
ulations for such prohibition or limita-
ton. A time would be set beyond
which such use could not be made of
food. Violations of the provision would
be punished with $1,000 fine or two
years Imprisonment.
Two new food-control bills, one au-
thorizing the president to appoint "a
controller general of supplies during
the war, and another designed to pre-
vent slaughter Of immature live stock,
were introduced by Senator Gore,
chairman of the agriculture commit
tee.
r. r. Plan Revived.
The house of representatives, by a
vote of 215 to 17S, returned the army
CONSUMPTION bill to conference with
instructions to include the amendment
which would allow Colonel Roosevelt
10 take u division to France.
With inclusion of the amendment
in the bill as it will go to President
Wilson for his signature, almost GER
tain, the question whether the colonel
will lead a division to France now
rests with the president, who can
take one of several courses, including
even accepting the Roosevelt division
and then keeping 1t In the United
States.
Under the terms of the bill Presi-
dent Wilson would be only author
lied, not required, to accept the divi-
sion.