Perth Amboy evening news., 1917-05-15
THE CENSORSHIP PLAN is
KILLED IN THE SENATE
Continued from page ~

United States War Action
Washington, May 16.-Five week,
ago the senate began debate on the
espionage bill To-day 1t has finally
been voted, but without the admins
tradon's pet section. the press censor
ship, or gag law, and the amendment
prohibiting the use of grain or cereals
In the manufacture OF alcoholic liquors
Before the final roll call the admin.
istration made final effort to restore
the censorship provision to the bill, but
was defeated by As to a. The provi-
| sion was stricken from the bill by e
vote of 80 to 3s last Saturday, and the
administration hoped to win over
enough votes on final roll call to carry
the section. The final roll call, how
ever, showed many senators who had
formerly supported the section voting
against 1t. Senator's Lodge, Pittman,
Shafroth, Smith of Arizona, Smith Of
South Carolina and Trammell made up
the list of those who favored censorship
on Saturday, but finally voted against
Its incorporati tioin in the bill.
Aadoa-Expleins Change.
Senator Lodge Of Massachusetts, ex-
planning his reason for changing his
vote, denounced the censorship board
recently appointed by the president.
II voted ON Saturday to retain the
censorship section with some hesfta-
/ tion," he said. "since then have been
studying the publications of the bu-
reau of information and ] haye come to
the conclusion that it would be better
to have no censorship at all than to
permit that bureau to suppress practi-
cally anything from the newspapers OF
the country. This measure would leave
the newspapers entirely at the mercy
Of that board, and am opposed to it."
BY vote Of At to 81 the senate un-
expectedly reversed its action of Satur-
day In accepting the Cummfns amend
ment prohibiting the use Of grains, ce-
reals, sugar and sirups In the manufac-
ture of alcoholic liquors. The motion
to strike out the amendment was made
by Senator King Of Utah, who took the
position that 1t was strictly a food
measure and had no place In the espion-
age bill. Many other senator's voted to
kill the amendment on the ground that
1t had not been sufficiently considered
in view Of Its Importance. 1t Is prob
able the measure will be brought up In
connection with food conserva tion legis-
lation to be offered later.
The Anal vote was preceded by
lively debate on an amendment offered
by Senator Thomas Of Colorado author.
izing the president to suspend all
boards of trade, chambers of com.
merce, stock exchanges and other or.
ganizations engaged In or permitting
speculation In foodstuffs. The amend
ment was tabled after some debate.
Threats Of Hanging.
Then the tabling motion was recon-
sidered on the initiative Of Senator La
Toilette and the debate renewed. An
swering a statement by Senator Hoke
Smith Of Georgia that "the people had
been accustomed to speculation In food
stuffs for long time,' Senator Thomas
declared.
"You cannot accustom persons to
starvation, to living beyond their In
comes. The government must extend
its hand and close 1t over the throats
Of the food gamblers"
In the course Of the food debate food
SPECTATORS were denounced as rob
bers," pirates and threatened with
hanging. Senator's Lewis of Illinois
and Reed OF Missouri decried the pub
hcity given to the food shortage. Sem
ator Lewis said the president should be
empowered to seize cornered foodstufrs
and distribute them at fair price to
their owners and customers. Senator
Reed asserted that the food shortage
propaganda could not have been better
calculated to create high prices IF it
had been conceived by the ingenuity of
the devil himself"
Senator Thomas amendment was
finally voted down. 40 to "a, but he
gave notice he would not give up the
fght against the food speculators. He
said he would offer 1t In another form
when opportunity presented within a
few days.
Senator In Toilette tried to have the
embargo sections OF the espionage bill
amended to prevent its use In coercing
other nations into declaring war
against Germany. when debate on his
amendment promised to delay passage
Of the bill administration senators
tAreatened e - Into secret executive
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