The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-04-21
SENATE UPH0LDS
THE CENSORSHIP
Defeats amendment to the ES-
pionage Bill.
HOUSE lEIk6ES MEASURE
Press Muzzler is Removed by Amend
ment-C onstitutonal Rights Were
Involved,

Press Mueller is Removed by Amend
ment-C Constitutional Rights Were
Involved.
Was in ten. April 21.-The senate,
by vote Of - TO 30 defea.ei mo-
ton to strike the press censorship
clause from the adminisirai> espi-
onage bill.
It also rejected, 40 TO "a, substi-
tute by Senator Cumm.ns. Repub lean,
Iowa. designated to libaraliZe the pro-
visions.
Prior to these votes the censorship
clause was modified by the acceptance
Of other amendments.
These leave the clause only prohibit
ing qualification" of information re-
gardng movement. numbers, descrlp-
ton, condition or disposition OF armed
forces.
On motion of Senator Smith, Demo-
GRAFT Georgia, the senate struck cut
more drastic language which would
prohibit collection, recording or at
tempts to elicit such information AS
it remained without having been fl
nally adopted and Incorporated into
the bill, the prohibition regulations
would Apply merely to "publicaticn.'
Senator KHox. Republican, Pennsyl-
vania, had insisted the clause should
also be drafted to prohibit collection
of improper news by individuals other
than newspapermen. Endor"'"s this
contention Senator Stone, Democrat,
Miss "u'i, said:
Some persons seem to think there
is something about newspaper man
that makes him immune from the law
that he is somewhat Of a sacred per
sonage | have rather a contrary view
| cannot understand why newspaper
citizens should be permitted to go
prowling about to get information and
make that lawful because Of their
business, while it shall be unlaw I'll
for other citizens to go ab Ut in the
same, or, perhaps, in less OBJ rus;ve
way"
Senator Hitchcock. Democrat, of Ma
braska, said collecting rews was
legitimate activity Of newsp per men.
It might not b a legitimate activity
of grocers or butchers, he said.
Senator Crmmirs supporting sub.
stftute for the entire censorship clause
said
at is not patriotic or safe to give to
any officer the right to say what news
we should or shall not receive regard
ing the conditions of our troops, or
their organization. | believe we can
safely leave the president authority to
make regulations against disclosing
Information regarding their move,
ment or military plans. Germany is
Just as much interested in our crop
! prospects as where our troops are. or
how many ships we will build
The house judiciary committee Is
putting finishipg touches upon It's es,
pionage bill The censorship clause
in the house measure reads simply:
/. when and during the period that
| the United States is at war or during
any national emergency, threatening
war, the president. by proclamation.
may declare the existence OF such a
| war or emergency and prohibit until
| terminated the publishing of communi,
eating of, or the attempting to publish
| or communicate. any information relat,
ing to the national defense which in
his opinion is of such a character that
it is or might be useful to the enemy.
whoever violates any such prohibit,
ton shall be punished by fine of not
more than $4,000, or imprisoned for
a period not to exceed ten years, or
both fined and imprisoned"