Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-04
OPPOSITION DEVELOPS
TO EMBARGO PROPOSAL
Some Senator's Object to Granting
This Unlimited Authority to
President.
ALL-DAY DEBATE ON spy BILL.
There Will BE Another Note on
fress Censorship Section Before
Measure Finally Is Disposed or
Next Week.
IBy AsspcIated Press.l


WASHlNGTON. May 3.--Thc urovis-
Dill authorizing the President to de-
clare export cmbarSocs was the vc-
hicic for broad discussion in the Ser
h'c to-day of food and related uucs-
ions. Little progress was made on
the measure in AN all-day debate. ald
IL vote on the embargo proposal prob
ably viii not be reached before Sat
urIay There VIII he another vote on
IN" press censorship section bcfor. the
bill finally is DISPOSED of next week
Considerable opposition developed
during the day TO granting the Presi-
dent unlimited authority to fix cmbar-
goes Several Senator'S assisted that
cn!bargoos might discourage usricul-
tural production. Prosecution of those
c?In"ring or rpeculatin- i'm food. Scna-
tor Reed urged. would make cmbargocs
unnecessary. High prices. Senator
Reed said. certain guarantee OF
production. and ne advocated minimum
prtcc-fXing as further guarantee.
Senator's Shields. Gore. NarIa,nan
and Cummins opposed the embargo
clause.
burning TO the press censorship pro-
measures by which tho rnscrurulour
section OF tho press could bc prevented
from divulsinS military secrets. bat
opposed any censorship. which he
feared might rrussianize America
While some newspapers. he said do
provoking things" the press generally
can b" relied upon to observe tn. ma
lions military secrets
STRONG SENTIMENT ~ HOUSE
AGAINST CENSORSHIP BILL,
Sentiment against tho censorship
provision ~ the espionage bin became
so strong in III" House today that it's
leading opponents confidently declared
tonight that the section would be
stricken out before nnai passage Of
the measure y vote may be reached
tomorrow.
Speaker Clark Republican Leader
Mann. Ecpr" in,atiNc Kahn. OF Cali
fnrnia. and dozen other Representa-
'ircs today tack"d tho section. They
declared uncuuivicaily that they we're
opposed I" any proposal to 'ruzzlc the
press. particularly 81 tho outset OF
America entrance INTO tho war
Representative Webb in charge ~
The hill amended III" language "f tie
section during tn" day. but it's oppo-
nen,s insisted mat substantially no
change had hccn made. a amended.
IL now reads:
During war in which tho United
states ia engaged 81 during national
emergency threatening war. the Pres
idcnt ls authorized from time 10 tim.
:" designate by proclamation tho char
actcr of information concerning tho
national defense. which, ia his opinion.
would bc useful L. the enemy and
iiiereupou il shall he unlawful for any
person without proper authority to
publish or communicate such iuformA
ton Whoever violates this section
shall 10 punished ny q fine az not
more than $1,000 or imprisoned not
more than ton years. "r both
Representative Mann declared tho
section was clearly unconstitutional
speaker Clark also conl"udcd the
provision was Unconstitutional. and
furthermore, ii IL We're CONSTITUTIONAL
IL would be unnecessary. as most OF
The papers tried 20 do right y: best
he declared. only q Suha itcrn. and no,
the President, would administer the
provisions OF tho section if the meas
ure were passed.
Representative Mccormick spoke for
either striking out the section or
amending il so a. TO exclude only spcci-
fed news, such as the movements Of
troops and ships
Other than Chairman Webb. Repre-
sentative Dyer. OF Missouri was the
only member who defended tho section
An appeal by Representative Ora
nam. OF Pennsylvania. TO strike on, the
section. is pending, and probably Will
he voted on early tomorrow Many
am cndmcniS TO other sections arc m
be offered