Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-05-15
Measure Lacks Section Which
Would Prohibit Use of Ger
eaIs in Manufacture of AIco-
hoIic Drinks,
PRESS CENSORSHIP is
ALSO MISSING FEATURE
Attempt by Thomas to Attach.
Amendment Designed to
Halt Speculation in Food
stuffs Fails.

tsy MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED w,Rsi
Washington, May 14.--After nearly
three weeks of debate raging over in
Vulnerable problems of the war, the
senate by a vote of II to 6 tonight
passed the administration espionage
bill, pronounced one of the most dras-
tic and all-inclusive measures in
American congressional history.
A similar bill has passed the house
and virtual re-drafting of many of the
most important provisions is expected
In the Forthcoming conferences.
During today's final consideration
the senate stripped the measure en-
tirely of provisions for newspaper CEN
sorship and restrictions upon manu-
facture of grain into intoxicating
liquors: and rejected an amendment
designed to curb speculation in food
products, although sentiment OBJ
viously was overwhelming in favor of
such legislation later.
AS completed the senate bills prin-
cipal section provides:
Authority for the president to en-
barge exports when he finds that "the
public safety and welfare so require"
(Not in the house measure.)
Authority for the postoffice depart
ment to censor mails and exclude mail
matter deemed seditious, anarchistic
or reasonable and making its mailing
punishable under heavy penalties.
(Not in the house bill)
Espionage Defined.
For ,,uT'BI., ,gSft OF espionage. de-
fined in most detailed terms, includ-
ing wrongful use Of military informa-
tion;
For the control OF merchant ves-
sells in American waters;
Punishment for conveyance of false
reports to interfere with military op-
erations, wilful attempts to cause dis
affection in the military or naval
forces or obstruction of recruiting;
For the seizure of arms and NUM-
tions and prohibition of their exporta-
ton under certain conditions:
For penalizing conspiracies design
ed to harm American foreign relations
or for the 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 inspec-
ton of premises.
Vigorous efforts to retain provis-
ions for newspaper censorship AMI
partial prohibition, together with
foodstuffs conservation, during the
war, eliminated in final votes today
in which the senate voted 4S to "a to
eliminate all provisions for the press
censorship. On behalf of the admin
istration forces Senator Overman. in
charge Of the bill. had moved to re-
insert modified censorship clause.
Senate Revcrses Action.
On the question of prohibition or
foodstuffs conservation the senate by
a vot Of AZ to 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 intoxcat-
ing liquors should be prohibited. BY
this vote it struck out the Cummins
amendment, offered as food conser-
vation measure but attacked as really
a prohibition move.
An amendment by Senator Thomas
to suspend during the war, exchanges
and boards of trade permitting "fu-
ture" trading in foodstuff was reject
ed, 49 to "a, after three hours stormy
debate.
The senate voted So to 20 to retain
that part of the mails espionage Sec
ton which some senators say will give
the postmaster general drastic powers
Of censorship. An amendment by
Senator LaFollette. rejected 65 to ..
would have. modified the export en-
barge provision so as to prohibit the
president from embargoing shipments
until the prescribed articles were
needed in this country and to forbid
the use of the embargo power to
coerce any neutral nation to partici-
pate in the war.
Senator voting for the LaFollette
restrictions were Cummins, France,
Gallinger, Gore, Gronna, Jones of
Washington, LaFollette, Townsend
and Vardaman.