Connecticut western news., 1917-04-26
SENATE YIELDS
 ON "SPY" BILL
Permits Criticism of Govern
 ment Policies.
HOUSE MODIFIES MEASURE

Freedom of Press Allowed on Every-
 thing but Printing Information of
 Value to Enemy-Western Senators
 Lead In Fight For Liberal Rules.
 Penalties Cut to Ten Year Imprison-
 ment and Heavy Fine.
 The censorship provisions of the es- pionage bill now before the United States senate have been materially modified. The fight to Iiberalize the provisions of the bill dealing with the press ended in a sort of compromise, although the main contention of the administration that adequate regula- tion and adequate punishment for of lenses against the United States in war time was won.
 An amendment offered by Senator Thomas of Colorado which provided that only when the intent to convey information to the enemies of the Unit ed States for use against the United States in time of war was proved the penalties may become operative, was defeated by a vote of 34 to 40
 Section as Adopted.
 The section as finally accepted by the senate reads as follows:
 Whoever in time of war in violation of reasonable regulations to be prescribed by the president, which he is hereby authoriz- ed to make and promulgate, shall publish any information with respect to the move ment, numbers, description, condition or disposition of any of the armed forces, ships, aircraft or war materials of the United States or with respect to the plans or conduct of any naval or military op- erations or with respect to any works or measures undertaken for or connected with or intended for the fertilization or defense of any place or any other infor- nation in relation to the public defense calculated to be useful to the enemy shall be punished by fine, not more than $l0,0OO, or by imprisonment for not more than ten years or by both such fine and imprisonment, provided that nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or restrict, nor shall any regulation herein provided limit or restrict any discussion, comment or criticism of the acts or pol icies of the government or its representa- tives or the publication of the same. , The amended bill as reported to the house eliminates the drastic censorship provisions complained of by the news papers as unconstitutional and ;. un- American
 No Military Secrets.
 The provision as finally agreed to, restricting publication of military se- crets by the newspapers, is as follows:
 When and during the period that the United States is at war or during any naS tional emergency threatening war the IL existence of such war or emergency and prohibit until terminated the publishing or communicating or the attempting to puD- fish or communicate any information re- lating to the national defense, which in his opinion Is of such a character that 1t is or might be useful to the enemy. Who ever violates any such provision shall be punished by a fine of not more than $10, 900 or Imprisonment for a period not to exceed ten years or be both fined and i'm prisoned.
 The provision to which strenuous ob- jection has been made-conveying in formation about military subjects "by discussion, comment or criticism"-has been eliminated.
 Senator Borah of Idaho led the fight in the senate against the provision of the bill, which he insisted violated the constitution and its pledge that free speech and the freedom of the press should be guaranteed. He was sec onded by Senator Johnson of Cali. fornia Senator Brandegee of Connecti cut, Senator Reed of Missouri and Senator Cummins of Iowa.
 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.