New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-27
Would Now Allow Publica-
ton Only of News
Passed by Wilson
Changes Do Not
Satisfy Opponents
Further Alterations to the
Measure Are Expected
To Be Made Monday
Iron The Tribune Bureau

Washington, May 26.-The conferrees
on the espionage bill redrafted the CEN
sorship section again to-day, in the
hope of placating some of the waver-
ing advocates of free speech and an
untrammelled press. Opponents of the
bill said the new move showed the Ad-
ministration forces were desperate.
This may not be the final form on
which the test of strength will be made
early next week in the House of Rep
resentatives, to which the conferrees'
report goes first. The conferrees will
meet again Monday, and though the
censorship provision has been agreed
to further changes may be made. 1t
was thought yesterday that final
form had been settled on, but so strong
were the objections voiced by Senator
Johnson, of California and others that
the conferrees FASTENED TO make fur
Their changes.
These changes are far from satisfy
ing the anti-censorship group. Opposi-
tion seems just as strong as ever, and
indications are that enough votes to
defeat any form of censorship can be
mustered in the House.
One of the most important changes
in the censorship section is that instead
of the President being authorized to
draw up a proclamation stating what
may not be published. this latest draft
provides that no information regarding
the movement. numbers. description
or disposition of any of the armed
forces" etc. may be printed unless the
President by proclamation declares it
may be.
Question of Equipment
One of the objections which was met
by the conferrees related to The equip
ment of the army and navy. The word
equipment" which was in the text
yesterday as among the things which
could not be written about, was elm
mated in to-day's draft. The text Of
the censorship amendment agreed to by
the conferrees to-day follows (paren-
theses indicate the language which was
in the bill yesterday, but is now elm
mated, and capitals show the text
added to-day:
When the United States is at war. the
publishing wiifully of information with
respect to the movement. numbers tequip-
ment. description or disposition of any
of the armed forces Of the United States
in naval or military operations or with
respect to any Of the works intended for
the fertilization or defence of any place,
which information is for may be- useful
to the enemy. is hereby prohibited; and
the President may from time TO time, by
proclamation, declare the character of such
above described information WHICH IN
HIS OPINION is Cor may be- NOT use
full TO the enemy, AND THEREUPON 1T
SHALL BE LAWFUL 70 PUBLISH
THE SAME. (And) in any prosecution
hereunder. the jury trying the case shall
determine not only whether the defendant
did wilfully publish such information las
set out in the indictment). but also whether
such information Of such character as
twas or might have been) to be useful TO
the enemy. Provided that nothing in this
section shall be construed TO limit or re-
strict any discussion. comment or criticism
of the acts policies of the government
or its representatives. or the publication OF
the same. If SUCH DISCUSSION. COM
MENT OR CRITICISM DOES NOT DIS
CLOSE INFORMATION HEREIN PRO-
HIBITED.
Punishment Prescribed
Whoever violates this section shall. upon
conviction thereof, be punished by fine
of not more than 1000 or by imprison-
ment for not more than five years. or both.
apparently nothing can be published
H. l. -. - oil Ill,
son, of California, until a proclama-
ton shall be promulgated declaring the
character of the information sought to
be published; ergo, nothing can be pub
lished."
at is very cunningly DONE" said Sem
ator Borah, of Idaho, another warm OPP
ponent of censorship. 81 admire the in
genuity Of the trainers"
mo such language as that" said SEN
ator Hoke Smith, of Georgia. after
reading the text approved to-day, will
ever be passed by the Senate"
Agreement was reached by the con-
ferrees on the export embargo and
search .arrant sections and that penal
izing interference with foreign COM
merce. All were given wider scope.
The new export embargo clause pro-
vides principally that
Whenever during the present war
the President shall find that the pub
lie safety shall SO require and shall
make proclamation thereof it shall
be unlawful to export from or ship
from or take out of the United States
to any country named in such procla-
nation any article or articles en-
toned in such proclamation, except
at such time or times and under such
regulations and orders and subject to
such limitations and exceptions as the
President shall prescribe, until other
wise ordered by the President or by
Congress; provided, however, that no
preference shall be given to the ports
Of one STATE over fhnse of anofhe