The Sentinel=record., 1917-04-21
SENATE AGRFFS 0N
 PRESS CENSORSHIP
IS A PART OF THE ADMINIsTRA- TONS ESPIONAGE BILL
 VOTE WAS 43 TO 32.

Washington, April 20-The senate recorded itself today in favor of press cens rship during the war A censorship clause of the admin istrations espionage bill, after de- oided modification, was retained in tke bill by vote of 43 to 33. in which partisan division was disregarded. The vote came after three days of sharp debate, and was regarded as definitely forecasting final retention of the cen. sorship provisions.
 Later the bill, still far from com. pleted. was laid aside indefinitely to permit consideration, beginning to- morrow. of the war army measure. The house judiciary committee has completed it's draft of the espionage bill, also with censorship clause. and will report it Monday. The pro- vision as finally accepted by the sen ate follows
 "Wh5ever in time of war in viola ton of reasonable regulations 10 be prescribed by the president, which he is hereby authorized to make and promulgate, shall publish any infor- nation with respect to the movement, numbers, description. condition or dis position of any of the armed forces. ships aircraft or war materials of the United States or with respect to the plans or conduct of any naval or mili-  tary operations or with respect to any works or measures undertaken for or connected with or intended for the fertilization or defense of any place or any ether information relating to the public defense calculated to be useful to the enemy, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000 or by Imprisonment for not more than ten years or by beth such fine and imprisonment, provided that nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or restrict nor shall any regula ton herein provided for limit or re- strict any discussion. comment or criticism Of the acts or policies of the government or it's representatives or the publication of the same"
 Advocates of the provision admitted that it would confer wide powers upon the president to restrict publication of military matters, both in the press or by individuals in speeches or other wise. Its foes declared that it was unconstitutional and the most drastic curb upon freedom of speech and the press ever proposed.
 Before the final vote the original committee draft much more sweep ing and drastic was greatly modified The committee proposed to prohibit not only the publication of military
 information, except under presidential regulations. but also it's collection, re- cording or attempts to elicit it. Elimi- nation of these additional restrictions was agreed to by those in charge of the bill and approved by the senate. Another change upon an amendment by Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska provided that the presidential regula- tiou shall be reasonable, A substitute fsr the whole clause. submitted by Senator Cummins of Iowa, was re- iected by vote of 40 to 80. Senator Cummins, who insisted that the clause retained was unconstitutional, pro posed that the president be authorized to prescribe regulations which would nct abridge freedom of speech or the press and prohibit publication of actual military operations, not includ. ing condition of the armed forces and other matters