The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-05-15
FINAL VOTE is II to 6
Cummins Amendment De,
feated AZ to 37-Press
Gag, 48 to 81.
FOOD GAMBLERS FLAYED
Attempt to Prevent Specula-
ton in Grain Futures
Fails.

WASHINGTON, May 14.--Witn the cen
sorship section completely eliminated,
though demanded to the last by the
Presidents friends. and with the Cum
minis prohibition amendment stricken
out by a decisive vote. the espionage
bill, one of the most important of tho
war measures finally passed the Senate
late this afternoon. The vote on the
final passage was II to +. Five Republic
cans, Borah. France. Gronna. La Fol-
lette and Sherman. and one Democrat.
Variaman. made UP the opposition
when it finally went through.
The bill now goes to conference, the
House having already passed 1t with the
Gard substitute providing tor a CENSOR
ship. violations OF which are to be tried
by jury. 1t Is by no means certain
that the bill when 1t comes from con.
ference will not contain a censorship
section. The Administration has been
insistent upon one and. having been de-
feated in the Senate. will now seek to
have the House provision or come nod;-
fication OF 1t adopted by the conferecs.
Opponents of a censorship wno to-day
defeated decisivcly all attempts to REIN
sert i; in the bill VIII continue their
fight should the conference report I'm
clude such a provision
The increased strength shown by the
opponents Of press censorship and the
overthrow ot t,c Cumnlins prohibition
! amendment By votSsof ~ To 8. wera
hc Sprnrlane nf b.. IaN uybt,t,
voted entirely to the bill.
Victory for Brewers.
! Reconsideration OF the vote on Satur.
| day by which the Senate approved II
prob biting the use Of food tufts for
alcoholic beverage during he war
showed that the eleventh hour trh,
i made by the brewers against what they
asserted would be the total destruction
Of their industry had been successful. 70.
! the time being at any rate. The Same
! 1ropusition will come up when the Lever
! bill is considered aud may result In q
reversal OF to-day's action.
| Before the censorship ard prohibition
! sections were taken up determined a.
tempt was made to attach 10 the bill An
amendment designed to prevent snccu!a-
, tion in grain futures. An amendment
offered by Senator Thomas of Colorado
would have suspended for the duration
OF the war all boards OF trade, stock cX-
changes or chambers OF commerce per-
mitting such speculation. This was de-
feated BY vote OF ~ to "a. but no.
until after there had been much fervid
oratory all aimed at food spectators.
who were denounced as gamblers and
parasites
Many Senators expressed themselves
ae being in favor Of forbidd!ng slch spec
u!ation, nut insisted That tue matter
sauur' bs considered Wheu IN" arricul-
tural bills were taken up. II seemed
eI dent that some measure restricting. IL
not prohibiting, speculation of this kind
Will be passed at taat t!me.
Doomed to Disappointmcnt.
A. coon as the bill WIS reported to-day
, by tae Conlnl!ttce of tue whole Senator
Over1uan immediately ,Itered the censor
ship section. wh,r. the committee on
Saturday had stricken ont by vote o.
80 to 3s. r. tho Administration forces
thought that their ranks had been
strengthened over Sunday they We're
doomed TO d. disappointment.
Several senators had had q chsnse o.
, heart. but IT was the otter way one o.
them was Senator Lodge, VINO on Satur-
day had voted 20 retain the censorship
section senator Lodges Charge o.
heart, Il ..,peared. was due 10 his having
read a copy OF George crecls official
bulletin. Senator Lodge frankly ad
mistcd tina; hs had believed there should
. Sr scme proper protection a+a.nst IN"
: publication OF military Information. oN'
that since he lad examined The puN'Icl-
ton of tho Presidents board of censor
ship hc felt differently
"I have como to the conclu sion" said
Senator Lodge. shat II would he far
better not to have any censorship than