The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-04-20
GAG ON PRESS IS BITTERLY FOUGHT BY YCONGRESSMEN
Senators Points Out Danger of Limiting Free Speech
 and Writing.

and Wrlun9.
 Washington, April 20.-Press censor shin held the centre of interest m @ long battle in the Senate yesterday OH the Espionage Bill The discussion. IL Is thought, cleared the way TOT ois- posal today of the principal espiohase and censorship features Further pfo- tracted debate is promised on a sec tion authorizing the President eo oe clare war export embargoes
 Just at adjournment the senate adopted a committee amendment to inc censorship clause prohibiting any regulation limiting discussion con,- ment or criticism of the acts and poi tcies of the government or it's repre- sentatiyes. An amendment offered Dy Senator Thomas of Colorado was pending-to strike from the bill the entire subsection wsich senators de- clared muzzled the press.
 The House Judiciary Commlttee last night agreed on a draft of an es- nionage bill similar to those before fhe Senate but stripped of many or the features to which there had been objection.
 The objectionable provision design ed to prohibit conveying information nrohibited under the bill by discus sion. comment or criticism" is elim1n- ated.
 Limits on the publication of 1nfor- nation regarding the national defense would be placed by this paragraph: ::
 sWhen and during the period that inc United States is at war or dur ] ing any national emergency threat ening war, the President by procla- nation may declare the existence or such a. war or emergency and pro- hfbit until terminated the publishing or communicating of. or the attempt ing to publish or communicate. any information relating to the national f1afense which in his opinion IS or such a character that it is or might he ,,seful to the enemy. Whoever viO- lates any such prohibition shall De furnished by a fine of not more than 31O.00O, or imprisoned for period not to exceed ten years, or be both fined and Imprisoned"
 Arreement on the measure was reached after a long session yesterday afternoon. Chairman Webb was au- tlaorized to put the bin in final shape for reporting to the House.
 Senator Borah of Idaho led the fight fin the Senate against the provision of the bill, which he insisted violated the Constitution, and it's pledge that free speech and the freedom of the press should be guaranteed. He was sec onded by Senator Johnson of califor- mia. Senator Brandegee of Connecti- cut, Senator Reed of Missouri and others.
 On the other side of the argument were Senators Nelson of Minnesota. Welsh of Montana, Sterling of South Dakota, Colt of Rhode Island and Fall of New Mexico.
 During the debate Senator Knox of Pennsylvania suggested that the bill does not expressly provide for press censorship. The committee amend ment permitting discussion of govern mental acts or policies. Senator Knox said, he thought would be construed by the courts as a declaration that press censorship should not be among the espionage regulations conferred upon the President.
 Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska, a newspaper publisher, said the com- mittee amendment would protect only the editorial pages of newspapers.
 That's the least important part of a newspaper said Senator Borah. Senator Borah made a long attack upon the press censorship feature. Congress, he contended, citing nu- merous legal authorities, Is utterly de- void of power to in any way inter fere with the liberty of the press. The censorship proposal, he declared, is "nebu1ous, drastic and omnipotent. the consequences of which no man can foresee.
 Whatever may be the construc- tion placed upon the constitution in these days of somewhat latitudinous construction" said Senator Borah, there is no doubt that their framers thoroughly understood and were agreed that the National Government should be absolutely excluded from all power over the press. There was no difference of opinion as to that
 The first constitutional amend Senator Borah said, was added to make certain that interference with liberty of the press by the Federal Government was expressly denied.
 Regarding>the contention that pres ervation of national safety is now ad- vanced as the reason for proposing ! censorship. Senator Borah said:
 "The public interest has always been the basis for all attacks upon the press Kings and dictators have SUD- pressed publications because they be- lieved them against public interest"
 Senator Borah concluded by de- :, claring that every man in the Senate would do anything within reason to see that information would. not get to the enemy which would benefit him, but that in would be better to lose a 1 battle than to curb and fetter the press. Revelations of the Northcliffe newspapers in England, he said, led to the reorganization of tl1e British { army that was essential to success. 1 Disclosure of the embalmed beef scan- dal of the Spanish War. he cited as proof of the need of freedom of publi- cation. Under the section he attack ed, he said. newspapers, never could have made such revelations.
 Tn time of war of all times," said the Idaho Senator, ''the press should be free. It most of all calls for a press free, untrammelled and unfet- tered. Better lose a battle than lose ! the benefits that flow from a free press"
 Senator Fletcher of Florida con- : tended that such criticisms as those i published by Lord Northcliffe were permitted under the pending bill
 "Oh, no.' replied Senator Borah, "I have taken the trouble to examine those publications. They were de- t,sf fk<A e.