The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1917-05-07
CENSORSHIP MODIFIED
IN HOUSE SPY BILL

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pionage bill was passed by the House
late today with modified censorship
provision, after administration lead
ers had lost an insistent fight for re-
tention of the original section aimed |
at the publication of news of value to
the enemy The final vote was 200
to los Consideration of similar
measure continued in the Senate dur
ing the day, and there, too, the ad
ministration suffered defeat. An
export embargo amendment, about
which the fight in the Senate has cen
tered, was modified SO as to substi-
tute for the general authority pro-
posed in a provision to empower
the President to restrict exports in
specific cases when American goods
are reaching the enemy.
In the House the entire administra-
ton censorship section was rejected
by vote of 220 to 167, despite pleas
of Representative Webb, chairman of
the judiciary committee that Presi-
dent Wilson had sent him word that
the authority sought was absolutely
necessary" Later new section,
drawn by Representative Gard, of
Ohio, was adopted, 100 to 1876. 1t
would permit the President to prohib-
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national defense, but would provide
specifically for a jury trial for offend
ers and make conviction dependent
upon proof that matter published was
OF character useful to an enemy
Representative Graham of Penn
sylvania, and others charged that
trickery had been practiced because
the Gard amendment was offered and
voted upon after some members OPP
posed to any sort of censorship has
left the House with the understanding
that there would be no further voting
on the section. They were threaten
ing tonight to carry their fight to con
ference if possible. The new SETON,
drafted by Representative Gard fol-
lows:
During any national emergency
resulting from war in which the
United States is a party or from i'm
minence of such war, the publication,
wilfully and without proper authority,
of any information relating to the
| national defense that is, or may be
useful to the enemy, is hereby prohib-
it; and the President is hereby au-
thorized to declare by proclamation
the existence of such national emer-
gency and is hereby authorized from
time to time by proclamation to de-
clare the character of such informa-
ton which is or may be useful to the
enemy; and in any prosecution here
under the jury trying the case shall
determine not only whether the de-
PENDANT or defendants did wilfully
and without proper authority publish
the information relating to the nat
ional defense as set out in the indict-
ment, but also whether such inform
alton was of such character as to be
useful to the enemy. Provided: That
nothing in this section shall be con-
strued to limit or restrict any discus
sion, comment or criticism upon any
fact or any of the acts or policies of
the government, or its representatives
or the publishing of the same. Who
ever violates the foregoing provisions
shall upon conviction thereof be pun
ished by fine of not more than $1O,-
600 or by imprisonment for not more
than ten years, or both"
Interest in the House conferred
wholly today on vote on the censor
ship section. When tins for debate
came no one on either side was ready
to speak. A call of the roll followed
Mr.. Webb made a final plea for the
censorship section urging that the
newspapers should stand by the Pres
ident Speaker Clark, Republican
Leader Mann, Representative Kahn
of California, and Representative
Shirley, of Kentucky, were among
those who voted to strike out the sec
'tion. Democratic Leader Kitchin vot-
ed to retain it.
Debate on the other sections of the
bill, which would provide chiefly for
the punishment of persons spying for
the government and transmitting in
formation to the enemy, was desul-
tory.
That the bill could not be finally
disposed in the Senate before next
week was announced just before adj
iournment tonight by Senator Over
man. Tomorrow the Senate will con-
slider the mail censorship section and
another vote will be had, probably