The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-05-08
SPY BILL PASSED
nlrh AMENDMENTS

Administration t'Orces Lose In Both
nOuses-te ensor fian beaten-Des
plte rlea From WILSON'S Sp0Kes-
man, Mh0le section Falls Defore
substitute.
Washington, May 4.-The espion-
age bill was passed by the house late
toaay with a modified censorship pro-
, vision aIter administration leaders
! had lost an insistent fight for reteu-
ton OF the original section aimed at
the publication of news OF value to
the enemy. Tns hnal vote was 26O to
l05.
Consideration OF a similar measure
continued in the senate during the
| day and there, too, the adminlstra-
ton suffered a defeat. An expert ELL
barge amendment, ABOUT which the
fight in the senate was centered, was
modified so as to substitute for the
general authority proposed IN the bill
a provision to empower the president
to restrict exports in specific cases
when American goods are reaching
the enemy.
In the house the entire administra-
ton censorship section was rejected
by a vote OF 220 to l67, despite pleas
OF Representative Webb, chairman OF
the judiciary committee, that Presl-
! dent Wilson had sent him word that
the authority sought was absolutely
necessary" Later new section,
drawn by Representative Gard OF
Ohio, was adopted, 100 to 185. 1t
would permit the president to pro-
hibit publication of news regarding
the national defense but would pro-
vide specifically for jury trial for
offenders and make conviction de-
pendent upon proof that matter pub
lished was of a character useful to
an enemy.
Doesn't Like It Yet
Representative Graham OF Penn
sylvania and others charged that
trickery had been practiced because
the Gard amendment was offered and
voted upon after some members op-
posed to any part of censorship had
left the house with the understanding
that there would be no further voting
on the section. They we're threaten
ing tonight to carry their fight to
conference if possible.
The new section, drafted by Repre-
sentative Gard, follows:
During any national emergency re-
sulting from war in which the
United States is party or from I'M
minence OF such war, the publication
wilfully and without proper author
ity, OF any information relating to
the national defense that is or may
(be useful to the enemy is hereby pro-
hibited, and the president ls hereby
authorized to declare by proclamation
the existence of such national emer-
,ency and is hereby authorized from
time to time by proclamation to de-
clare the character OF such informa-
ton which may be useful to the
enemy; and in any prosecution here
under the jury trying the case shall
determine not only whether the de-
fendant or defendants did wilfully and
without proper authority publish
the information relating to the ma
tional defense as set out in the In
dictment, but also whether such in
formation was of such character as
|! to be useful to the enemy: Provided,
That nothing in this section shall be
construed to limit or restrict any dis
cussion, comment or criticism upon
any fact or any Of the facts or poll
cies of the government, or its repre-
sentatives, or the publishing of the
same. Whoever violates the forego-
ing provisions shall upon conviction
thereof be punished by fine OF not
more than $4,000 or by imprisonment
for not more than ten years, or ootn.
Unusual Situation This.
Interest in the house centered
wholly today on a vote on the censor
shin section. When time for debate
came no one on either side was ready
to speak. A call of the roll followed.
Mr.. Webb made final plea for the
censorship section, urging that the
newspapers should stand by the presl-
dent. Speaker Clark, Republican
Leader Mann, Representative Kahn
of California and Representative
SherIey of Kentucky were among
those who voted to strike out the sec
ton. Democratic Leader Kitchin vot-
ed to retain it.
Debate on the other sections OF the
bill, which would provide chiefly for
the punishment Of persons spying on
the government and transmitting in
formation to the enemy, was desul-
tory.
That the bill could not be finally
disposed of in the senate before next
week was announced just before ad-
journment tonight by Senator Over
man. Tomorrow the senate will con-
~. -.oS9 nopaorahin DrNyiafOn