Omaha daily bee., 1917-05-05
HOUSE VOTES SPY
BILL LIMITING THE
CENSOR'S POWER
Lower Chamber Defeats Ad:
ministration Section and
Passes Measure With
New Provision.
MISS RANKIN AGAINST GAG
Senate Adopts Substitute EN-.
barge Clause Restricting
Presidents Authority.
BURLEsoN EFFORTS VAIN
MISS RANKIN AGAINST GAG
BURLEsoN EFFORTS VAIN

Washington, May 4.-The admins
tration espionage bill was passed by
the house late today, 200 to los, with
a modified censorship section.
After eliminating the newspaper
censorship section, as approved by
the administration, the house by a
vote Of 293 to 95, inserted the new
section, which makes it necessary to
show the publication OF prohibited in
formation has been of value to the
enemy before penalties Of the law be-
come effective.
By vote of DO to 80 the senate
today substituted the export embargo
clause of the espionage bill suggested
by President Wilson with one re-
stricting the presidents authority to
embargo exports only when American
products are reaching the enemy.
Speaker Clark, Republican Leader
Mann and Miss Rankin voted to strike
out the administration section, which
was defeated by 220 to 167.
Warm Debate in House.
The vote came after administration
leaders had fought hard for the Sec
ton under a hot fire OF attack and
Chairman Webb of the judiciary COM
mittee had told the house he had
just heard from President Wilson that
the section was necessary to the de-,
Tense and safety of the country.
Postmaster General Burleson, who
cftep visits the capitol to round up
support for administration measures,
made futile attempt to get enough
votes for the censorship section.
In closing argument for the CEN
sorship section Chairman Webb of
the judiciary committee declared he
had just received word from President
Wilson that the section would be
necessary to the defense and success
OF the country.
"Was that message brought down
by Postmaster General Burleson, who
is always snooping around here?" de-
manded Representative Norton of
North Dakota.
Mr.. Webb did not reply to the
question, but launched into an attack
on newspapers, which, he said, were
not standing by the president.
Text of Censorship Clause.
Under the new section very wide
discretion to prohibit publication OF
information would be lodged in the
president, who would prohibit publi-
cation by proclamation.
The new section follows:
During any national emergency,
resulting from war in which the
United States is party or from i'm
minence of such war, the publication,
willfully and without proper author
ity or of any information relating to
the national defense that is or may be
useful to the enemy, is hereby pro-
hibted, and the president is hereby
to declare by proclamation
the existence of such national emer-
gency and is hereby authorized from
time to time, by proclamation, to de-
clare the character Of such informa-
tion which is or 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 willfully
and without proper authority publish
the information relating to the ma
tional defense as set out in the indict-
ment, but also whether such informa-
tion was of such character as to be
useful to the enemy.
Penalties for Violators.
Provided. That nothing in this
section shall be construed to limit or
restrict any discussion, comment or
criticism upon any fact or any of the
acts or policies of the government
and its representatives or the publish
ing Of the same.
"Whoever violates the foregoing
provision shall upon conviction there
OF be punished by fine of not more
than $4,000 or by imprisonment for
not more than ten wears, or both"