Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-04

Washington, June THE unsuccess-
full efforts Of the government to estab-
Ii,h a censorship has already resulted
In one reform. inspired agitation OF
second and revived discussion in favor
~ q coalition cabinet to assist the
President In the promotion Of the war
with Germany.
Formal Remuneration OF the censor
ship project will he made officially by
the conference committee Of the two
houses on Monday afternoon when they
will eliminate the censorship section
from tho espionage bill and report it
for passage. which is already assured
Tho reform already brought about by
the controversy over the matter was
announced Saturday by Secretary of
the navy Daniels in "A statement indi-
eating more candid attitude of the
part Of some departments OF the gov
crnmcnt toward the press and the peo-
pie regarding war preparations that do
not involve the disclosure Of legiti
mate military rets-the movement
of hand and naval forces. the charac-
ter and whereabouts of war devices
and conditions of Qualifications.
See. Oanieis' Announcement
In making the announcement that he
government would notify the newspa-
pcrs " Tie closing of ports. the naval
secretary instancod the decision of the
govtrnm',t to prevent the circulation
81 ALARMING reports which tend not
uuv "a inilanc the public mind. but to
Improperly Influence speculation.
Thc scCrctary's statement referring
To- IN, temporary closing Of the port of
New York ou F'riday is as follows.
The reason ioI SUCH closure cannot
often be given. but in "A general way
tho newspapers and the public are
aware that ports are closed chiefly for
such reasons as laying of new mine
fields. or the shifting of existing fields.
the sweeping of channels for possible
mines laid by the enemy or for the
direction Of flow Of shipping to other
ports
Two 81 these causes would imply
the suspicious or the knowledge on the
part of the Navy, OF the presence of
enemy submarines in the vicinity of
shipping channels. but the most fire.
uent cause would be more apt to relate
10 the shifting or to the addition to the
mine fields
Where the port commandant does
close a port or opens IL after it has
been closed the instructions are for
him TO notify the local publications
and also to report his actions at once
20 Washington In order that the news
may he made public by the Navy De-
partment or through the Committee of
Public Information"
Committee to Draft Bills
II IL of incidental interest that most
OF the other executive departments Of
the government show tendency to
follow the example OF Secretary Dan
tells and to reveal frankly information
that IL generally withheld from public
knowledge might result in the circula-
ton OF incomplete or distorted rumors
81 character calculated to excite the
public mind.
The exceptions to this new departure
on the part OF executive officials are
the department of state and the de-
partment OF Justice where rigid rules
promulgated by Secretary Lansing and
Acknowledgement Gregory prohibit the
announcement of any activities other
than those approved by those officials
and intended. according to their critics,
to exploit their personal undertakings.
The second reform which is being
agitated In Congressional circles is
for the creation of a bureau or COM
mittee to draft bills so as to avoid the
complications that characterized the
consideration of the armed neutrality
measure and the espionage bin. both
of which were prepared by the De-
partment OF Justice.
Most OF the controversy. which re-
suited In the defeat OF the government
In both instance. is Congressionally
attributed to the ambiguous. indefinite
and loosely drawn measures relating
To those two important projects pre-
pared by Mr.. Gregory and Sec of
State Lansing. Leaders who partici-
pated In the fight for and against the