Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-04-19
On All Sides Opposition to
Censorship Provisions Of
the Espionage Bill De-
velops in Upper House of
Congress.
NO DEFENSE OF THE
MEASURE OFFERED
Pacifists Address Letter to
the President Protesting
Against Alleged Attempts
to Jeopardize "Historic
Rights Of Free Speech"

Washington, April 1s.-Declaring
congress cannot constitutionally "muz-
zle the press" Senator Borah today
Joined the spreading attack on the CEN
sorship clauses of the spy" bill.
On all sides of the senate opposition
to the censorship provisions developed
fast today. Amendments were framed
by senators to soften the drastic effect
and some predicted that the clauses
would fail upon a vote.
"In war time, of all time, we should
have a free. independent and untram-
meled press" said Borah.
INDEPENDENT PRESS NEEDED.
1T Is better to lose a battle than
lose the benefits that flow from a vigil
liant Independent press.
I'VE ought not establish a precedent
the evil consequences of which no one
can foresee."
Senator Overman, who is plotting the
bill, offered no defense but suggested
that the opponents attempt to frame
provisions themselves.
An open letter to the president today
published by 20 paciflsts asked that a
statement be issued to the country
bureaucratic laws and activities which
might tend to jeopardize the historic
rights Of free speech. free press and
right Of assemblage during the war;"
MAKES PRESS A TOOL.
Washington, April 19.-The fight in
the senate against the administration s
proposed drastic newspaper censorship
regulations, which form part of the es-
pionage measure, continued unabated
today
Emboldened by the bitter denuncia-
tions of the suggested censorship by
Senators Lodge, Brandegee, Thomas,
Johnson and others, its. opponents to-
day flatly declared If the bill passes
unchanged. ut would make the press
Of the nation the virtual tool of the
government"
Such law, these men declared,
would completely muzzle all publica-
tions in the matter of comment or
criticism "of the plans or policies Of
the government"
Lodge reiterated his charge that
under the bill newspapers could not
print anything that the administration
did not want them to print"
DEBATE ON WAR PROGRAM.
Liveliest debate since the war pro-
gram Of legislation started has been
stirred up by the censorship clause.
An amendment designed to permit
newspapers to print any information
except that useful to the enemy" was
put forward by Lodge. Thomas is pre-
pairing another amendment aimed at
the same object.
This bill puts It into the hands Of
the president and his department
heads to decide the liberties of the
people," Thomas declared. I'D rather
have no law at all than this monstrous
law"
FLING At COMMITTEE.
Lodge took fling at the committee
Of public information appointed by the
president by declaring: I'VE are told
that board of censorship has been
appointed to act as censors Of the
press of the United States. 1t puts abb
solutely into the hands of the heads
Of the two departments that are to
conduct the war the power to send to
prison any man who criticizes their
administration, although not giving in
formation to the enemy.
There o. very broad distinction
between what IL useful to the enemy
and what the head of department