Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-20
ANOTHER DAY OF DEBATE
ON ESPIONAGE MEASURE
Less Drastic Restrictions Upon
Press and Individuals.
HIT AT RIGHTS OF FREE SPEECH
Senate in Favor OF Prohibiting Any
Regulation Limiting Discussion,
Comment or Criticism OF Acts and
Policies Of Government.
YRy AssocIa,ed Pre.sl

YBy Associated Press.I
WASHINGTON. April ls-Anothcr
day OF lively discussion in tho Senate
of the espionage bill. with interest
centcrcd on press censorship. cleared
tho way for disposal tomorrow OF the
principal espionage and censorship fca-
lures Further protracted debate is
promised on section authorizing the
barGoos.
Leaders are cndcavoring to hasten
tho final vote on the entire bill. so that
the administration army increase meas
ure, with it's draft feature. may be
given the right of way.
Several Senators to-day offered
amendments to tho espionage clause to
make less drastic its restrictions upon
individual citizens and tho press.
Senators Bcrah. Johnson. of California,
and others vigorously attacked this
feature. asserting il strikes danger
ously at rights Of free speech and "a
free press. Others both Democrats
and Republicans, insisted that during
the war private rights must Weld to
necessities OF national defense.
Just at adjournment tonight. the
Senate adopted Il committee amend
mcnt to tho censorship clause pro-
hihiting any regulation limiting dis
cusSior, comment or criticism Of the
acts and policies of the government or
its representatives. The whole section
TO which tho amendment was offered
however. still remains to he voted
upon.
SENATOR BoRAU DEFENDS
LIBERTY OF THE PRESS
Senator Boral. Of Idaho. made "a long
stack upon tho press censorship fea-
tire. Congress. he coutendcd. is utterly
devoid OF power TO interfere with the
liberty of the press The censorship
proposal. ne declared. is "ncbulous.
drastic and omnipotent. the conse-
qucnces Of which no man can foresee"
Whatever may he the construction
placed upon the Constitution in these
days OF somewhat latitndinous con-
structjon.' said Senator Borah there
is no doubt that the trainers thorough
y understood and were agreed that the
national government should be abso-
iuiely excluded from all power over
tho press. There was no difference Of
opinion on that"
The first constitutional amendment,
senator Horah said. was added to make
certain that. interference with liberty
of the press by tss Federal Cover nmcnt
WAS expressly denied.
KINGS AND DICrATORs
HAVE USED SUPPRESSION
Regarding the contention that pre-
serrhiion Of national safety is now ad-
vanced rs the reason for proposing
censorship. Senator Borah said
The public interest has always been
la hoe f0,.
KINGS and dictators have suppressed
publications because they believed them
against public interest,"
Senator Knox suggested that the bill
coos not expressly provide COR press
censorship. The committee amendment
permitting discussion of governmental
acts or policies. senator Knox said, he
thought. would he construed by the
courts as declaration that nress cen
sorship should not be among the
espionage regulations" conferred upon
the President.
Senator Hitchcock OF Nebraska.
newspaper publisher. said the commit
tee amendment would protect only the
editorial pages of newspapers
That's the least important mart OF
newspaper" said Senator Borah.
evident that the bill intends TO an
'hori@c press censorship
Senator Borah concluoeo nv dcc,ar
ms that every man in the Senate would
do anything within reason 10 see that
Information would not get 10 ,ha
enemy which would benefit him. but
that IL would be better TO lose a bat.
tie than TO curb and fctter the press.
Eevelations OF the Northcl.re news
papers In England. he said, led to the
reorganization of the British army
that was essential TO success
I'm time of war of all times" said
the Idaho Senator. the press should be
Tree IT most OF all calls for a press
free untrammelcd and unfcttcred.
hetter lose battle than lose the ben
ch's mat flow from Il free press"
senator Nelson, Civil War veteran.
SAID that during the Civil War news
papers in the North had reporters with
most OF tho Union armies and that pa
pers with their accounts of future
army movements got to Richmond the
nSv after those reporters sent their
stories from the front. Referring 10
the use Of poisonous gas on the Euro
psan battle fields. Senator Nelson said.
VIC mad better prepare TO protect our
BOYS against the poisonous gas Of these
newsmonEcrS"
HOUSE COMMITTEES
AGREES on DRAFT
Inc House Judiciary Committee
agreed tonight ON draft OF an es-
pionaGe hill similar TO the ono heforc
the Senate. but stripped Of MANY NJ
the features 10 which there had been
objection.
The Objectionable provision designed
10 prohibit conveying information pro-
hioited under the bill by .fiscussion
comment or criticism" is eliminated.
Limits on the publication OF infor
nation regarding the national defense
would he placed by this parasraph:
hen and during the pcriod tina,
'ne United states is at war. or during
! any national emergency threatening
"ar. the President may by proclama-
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