The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1917-05-16
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.


Washington, May 15.-Carrying no
press censorship nor war prohibition
clauses the senate passed the admins
tration espionage bill by a vote of II
to 6. Important sections curbing ac-
tivities of enemy spies remain in the
bill
Those who voted against the meas
ure were: BOrah, France, LaFOllette,
Gronna, Sherman and Vardaman.
The senate voted to insist upon it's
amendments being accepted when the
bill goes to conference with house
members.
Would Hang Food Gamblers.
The amendment fOrbidding the use
of cereals and grains for the manufac-
ture of intoXicants was stricken from
the bill by a vote of Al 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.
quently applied to those who profit by
speculati0ns in food in the hour of the
nations need. The likelihood of food
spectators being hanged to lamp-posts
was limited at.
Amendment Rejected.
The storm broke when Senator
Thomas, Democrat, of Colorado pro-
posed as an amendment to the admin
istratiOn espionage bill a 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.
Senators who opposed it did so on
the ground that the object should be
accomplished in another way, and
some thought it would stife commerce.
The great majority of opinions, eX-
pressed in te- ms 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
Satrrdov forhiddipr 611r;pc +bo Uvor
the use of grains or cereals in the
manufacture of intoxicating liquor
They expected to offer as a substitute,
before the final vote, a 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 of 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 $4,000 fine or two
years imprisonment.
Seize Food, Says Lewis.
Senator Lewis of Illinois, Democrat,
said he thought legislation such as
proposed by Senator Thomas would
work injury to many and should not be
passed without deliberation.
eff this is adopted" said he, "you
will force the grain in the bins into
the hands Of those who fear at present
that day of desOlation and darkness
that some members of the administra-
ton unnecessarily are holding out to
the country. / believe in the need of
economy but not in parsimony. If the
people understood the truth they would
not be holding grain out in fear, tim1d-
ity and terror. What is needed at this
hour is a provision of law authorizing
the president on evidence satisfa Glory
TO him that food is being unnecessar-
1N ue1U, u SEIZE SUCH lou anu OrQ6r
it's distribution under the proper
branch of the government with COM
pensation to the owner and just mar
ket prices assured the people"
No Danger of Starving.
81 think" said Senator Read Dem.)
of Missouri, that means ought to be
taken to stop speculation in foodstuffs
within the limits of the powers of con-
gress.
1.-THE thing to teach the American
people now is that America will not be
starved, that she can't be starved, and
the consequence will be to lessen the
conditions that confront US and poster
u.s."
Food spectators were denounced as
robbers" by Senator Kenyon of Iowa,
who recommended, however, that the
food speculation measures be held over
TO be considered with the food bill.
'fWe should blot out this speculation