New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-13
Papers Must Duplicate War
Criticisms in
English
Drastic Insurance
Measure Approved
Trading With Enemy Act
Goes Through Unani-
mously
Isnecial CorrNpnndenoel

Especial Corrspondencel
WASHINGTON, Sept 12.-Amended .
so as TO curb disloyal German Ian !
guage newspapers, and also to empower
the President to prevent foreign. insur- /
ance companies which he suspects OF
transmitting information to Germany |
from doing business in this country, !
the trading with the enemy bill was
passed by the Senate late to-day with |
out dissenting vote.
The amendment curbing the disloyal
German newspapers was forced into !
the bill by Senator King, of Utah. Mr.. T,
King recently introduced bill along
the same lines. 1t would have affected
all foreign language newspapers, while
his amendment to-day affects only Ger !
man language papers. 1t requires all
comment in such papers on the gov
ernment, our allies or the war to be
accompanied, in a parallel column. with
& full and true translation in English. :
This" he said, Twill enable the Off
cials of the Postoffice Department and
the American citizens living where the
paper is published 20 detect more
quickly disloyalty on the part OF these
papers. IL will also shield those Ger
man language papers which are loyal
from the prejudice which might other
wise attach to all German language
papers because Of the actions Of some
Of them.
"yipers in Our Midst
"The American people are dissatis-
fed with the tolerance which has per-
mitted these vipers in our midst to ex-
ist. Some OF these German language
papers. and | do not mean all, have
done all they colld TO stir up seditior,
strife and unrest in this country, and
have done everything they could think
! of TO assist Germany against this coun>
| try. They have led astrsy many peo-
pie who otherwise would have been en-.
tirely loyal" 80
Senator Vardaman said he believed
! the measure unnecessary, as the Post
office Department already had all the
necessary power TO deal with such
papers under the espionage bill. He
said he would not oppose the amend
ment. however, as he desired to see the
disloyal papers suppressed.
Text of Amendment
The text OF the King amendment is
as follows:
That during the pendency OF the pres
b of
concluded and the fact declared BY proc
lamation of the President. IT shall be un-
lawful for any psrson. firm or association
TO print or publish or cause 10 be printeo
or published in the Gern1n language any
comments respecting the government OF
tho United States or of any nation with
which Germany /. at war. its policies. in
ternational relations, the stnte or conduct
of the war. or of any matter relating
thereto. without printing OF publishing in
n column parallel TO such matter true
and complete translation Of the same in the
English language
"Any print or publication in the Ger
man language which does not conform 10
{ the provisions of this section shall not I've
admitted to the mails. and il shall be un-
lawful for any person TO transport. carry
! or otherwise publish or distribute the same.
ANY person violating the provisions OF
1 this section shall on conviction thereof be
punished by n fine of not more than $500
or by imprisonment for period OF not more
than one year. or may. in the discretion of
the court, be both fined and imprisoned"
Insurance Features Strict
Loopho,es in the insurance features.
with regard to companies in neutral
countries and in some OF the Entente
countries, which are doing business IN
Germany and, in some instances, are
controlled by German interests, as
pointed out exclusively by The Tribune
this morning, were effectively plugged
to-day b. Senator'S Reed, of Missouri,
and Pomerene, of Ohio.
at has been brought TO my atten-
ton" said Mr.. Pomerene, that insur-
ance companies organized IN Sweden
and Russia ard operated by German
subjects or men in sympathy with the
German government could do just as
much harm in writing marine lnsur-
ance here and obtaining all the neces-
sary facts about sailings and csrgoes
2s the German companies themselves.
| have therefore prepared an amend
ment to give the President power in
panies or forbid them TO do business
in the United States
Senator Reed. after the Pomerene
amendment had been read. said he had
been informed Of the same situation
and had prepared a more genera!
amendment which would authorize the
President TO forbid any foreign insur-
ance companies, whether marine, fire,
his discretion TO license such COM
casualty or life, from doing business
in this country.
81 would like to cal. the attention
of the Senator 20 the fact that his
amendment would give the President
power to prevent English or French
companies from doing business here;
Il would include all cur Allies pro-
tested Senator Ransdell, who was
chairman Of the subcommittee which
framed the bill.
THAT is my purpose said w. Reed.
well. il IS very broad power, but,
of course. the Presiden: will not misuse
it," said Mr.. Ransdell.
Insurance Amendment
The amendment was then adopted
without OBJ ection. The text follows:
Whenever in the opinion Of the Presi-
dent the public safety or public interest
requires. the President may prohibit any
or all foreign insurance companies from
doing business in the United states. or the