The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-04-13
CENSORSHIP PLAN IN NEW SPY BILL
 STIRS OPPONENTS
Declare That Move is Mon archial and Would Cur
 tail Free Speech.

aS an attempt on the part or lne lne government to put into operation the policies of monarchia1 governments fin limiting the freedom of speech ana providing undemocratic penalties, the espionage bill drawn by the depart ment of justice was attacked before the House Judiciary committee yester- day.
 Vigorous protests were vo1ceo against certain sections because. Tn the opinion of tha critics, the right or Iree speech would be abridged and tne voice of popular opinion estopped un- less the wording is changed.
 Would Guard Free Speech $
 The chief criticism was direcsso against sections of the bill intended 70 create a, censorship on news. These sections were declared by speakers yesterday to be so ambiguous that they might prevent freedom of expression in the press, the pulpit or the scnooA' or might even prevent exploitation or views held by those who want to see some way secured after the present war to guard against wars in the Iu- lure.
 The cornnaitttee concluded hearings on the bill and will go to WorK at once to revise the measure to pc re- ported in the Hcusf
 Chairman Webb gave assurance that the final draft would be 50 framed that full civil discussion or the war can be fully carried on"
 The section prohibiting persons from making speeches or publishing articles cansine adtsa1fectiDn" in the army or navy is certain to be changed The language will be amended. To aPpS only to persons who. would cause nutinies, desert1ons of% other deaec- tions.
 V Changes also are contemplated In section which would prohibit obtain ing and disseminating information about the land and sea forces
 It is also understood that changes will be made in the press censorshF hill a separate measure, so as to safe guard the freedom of the press
 Obiectionable Sel<inn1.
 The nru.ddons relating chiefly ts censorship are.
 whoever, in time of war, m viola tion of regulations to be prescribed bv the President, which he is hereby authorized to make and promulgate. shah. collect. record, publish or com 1nunicate or attempt to elicit any in- formation with respect to the move. 1nent. numbers, description, condi.sSs. or disposition of amy of the armed forces. ships, aircxaft or war mater .1als ot the United Htates, or with re- xpect to the plans or conduct or sup posed plans CT condnct of any naval or military peratiOns, or with respec1 to any works CT measures undertaken for or connected with or intended 1od the fertilization or defense of any place. or amy other information re- 1ating to the public defense calculated to be, or which might be, useful to the enemy. shall be punished by a line of not more than $1o.eeo CT by t1a- prisonment for not more than 10 years, or by such fine and tmprison- ment-
 .Sec. 6. The President Of the United States shah have power in time o1 war or in case of national emergency to designate amy place other than those set foFfh i'm paragraph (a) Ao1 Section 1 hereof, h which anything for the use of the army or navy if being prepared or constructed CT stored, as prohibited place for the purpose of this chapter on the ground that information with respect thereto would be pretudicial to the national defense: he shall further have the power, on the aforesaid ground, i1 time of war or in case of natiOna: emergency, to designate amy matter thing, or information belonging to the government, or contained in the re. cords or files of any of the executive departments, or of other government offices, as information relating to the national defense, to which no persor unless duly authorized shall be law fully entitled within the meaning o1 lthis chapter"
 Cites England's Blunder.
 The proposed censorship of tn { press was criticised in vigorous terms Gilbert E.. Roe of New Tor city, at torney for the Free Speech League said the section was 90 closely draw that it could be used to penalize tn duct of the war if they happened t be critical in tone.
 If the war is being mismanaged,' ne SdIQs then LaS AncTlCdn pcOpl want to know that fact. They wan to discuss the wisdom or the unw1s dom of the measures which are talk en. They not only want to do tha but they must. if this war is to b carried on joy republic. Bat unde the loose wording of this clause an discussion, like that which fir1aH broke out in England over the con duet of the Dardanel1es campaign would be panalized.
 .'Englishmen will tell you that would have been lot better for Eng land had the newspapers and tn general public been permitted to dis cuss the Dardane1les campaign iron the very start, But all discussio1 was suppressed; the authorities blum dered on and on, with disastrous re suits: and wheff the truth finally cam out it was too late t0 repair the dam age which had been done"
 Jane Addanas Urges Change.
 Jane Addams expressed fear tha the WomaH's Peace Party, under tn terms of the act, would be pfohitite from urging throughout the duratiod of the war the necessity of cur ere ating after the war some internation al machinery which will make war i'm possible.''
 "Oh, I den't believe that weu1, come underline ban," said Mr. Webt s'That wouldn't create, dissatisfactie, among the troops"
 The time to begin te werk fs