Perth Amboy evening news., 1917-06-01
MAJORITY OF 40 VOTES KILLS
PRESS GAG LEGISLATION

washington, June 1.-Tnere VIII be
no muzzling OF the American press un-
der the guise of a military censorship
r Administration hopes In this respect,
already twice foiled In the senate, have
been decisively dashed by the house
recommitting the espionage bill.
| By vote OF 1874 to IA the bill was
sent back to committee with explicit
instruction to the conferees to elimi-
nate the censorship section. The elid-
ed provision authorized the president
to declare what would be punishable.
Although 1t had been expected the
Democratic ranks would stand strong
for the administrator policy, no less
than thirty-seven Democrats bolted
| and voted with the Republicans. On
| the other hand, despite the recent eau
Gus of Republicans against censorship,
ten members Of that party voted
against their fellows.
There seems small chance now that
censorship will survive this latest
blow. Twice has the senate rejected
application to include such laws in the
espionage bill. 1t is said that Senator
Oyerman will be unable to force CEN
sorship through the upper house.
The debate In the house was long
and not without acrimony. At one
time Carlin of Virginia. Democrat, and
Graham Of Pennsylvania, Republican,
INDUCED In heated argument. Both
are members of the judiciary commit
tee, and Carlin accused Graham of
vaccilation In his ideas on censorship.
Both Win Applause.
"The gentleman is here so seldom we
usually have great difficulty in finding
him." caustically said Carlin, amid
Democratic applause.
"A man who takes refuge In a ques-
tion Of facts in personal remarks is not
worthy of being noticed" snapped
back Graham, while the Republican
side applauded.
Graham led the fight against censor
ship and made the motion which was
carried by such a decisive vote.
This section 4, giving the president
the authority, is pernicious," said the
Pennsylvania. "There are In the bill
two other sections under which the
obtaining and the publication of mat
ter connected with the national de-
fense Is made a crime. No man can
sit down and sanely and fairly read
these two sections without concluding
that there is already in the bill ample
power to punish any villainous news
paper for attempting to publish any
thing for the benefit of the enemy.
"The section 4 Is a mongrel produc-
ton. Under it the condition not alone
of the press. but Of every member of
this house would be tenfold worse than
under the amendment provided by Mr..
Gard. IL one Of you told me informa-
ton you had heard from the war de-
partment that might constitute publ
cation
Secs MuzzIsr For Press.
"The president may from time to
time designate what may be published.
Suppose he makes no proclamation.
Then what could paper publish2 The
section is press mueller. And this is
not merely question of free press,
but 1t involves the sacred and.inalien-
able right of an American citizen to
free speech.
Chairman Webb of the judiciary
committee fought valiantly for the bill.
but to no avail He was danked by
Ouer OF Missouri, Garrett OF Tennes
Bee and others. But the opponents of
the measure outnumbered its friends
on the door as well as In the vote.
Even Mr.. Gard of New York spo,e
against section A.
This was regarded with interest since
1t was he who offered the modified cen.
sorship provision formerly In the BILL
Now he takes the view that the presi-
Dental power was too far-reaching.
II realize" said he, shat there may
be very few newspapers that might
seek to transgress rules and that some
regulations governing them might be
agreed to. But certainly the time Is
not here, and / trust II never will be.
when 1t is necessary to see the presi-
dent of the United States before a
newspaper can print anything at all"
Sickness In Navy.
While opposing censorship, Medill
Mccormick made a statement that
caused great interest. He said muz-
sled press would be unable to reveal
bad conditions and that American boys
In the trenches and ON board warships
might suffer in consequence.
Il do not think 1t is transgressing
the bounds to say that the conditions
In the United States navy are at the
present moment by no means so good
as when the feet came north from
From two individuals I
have learned that sickness is rife
among recruits. The sick bays are
I have been told that In one
instance the men were herded together
In sheds. In another instance there
was no bedding except that furnished
by private sources"
Mr.. Butler of the committee on naval
affairs leaped to his feet and began to
protest. But Mr.. Mccormick did not
pursue the subject.