The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-12
NO CENSORSHIP
!. ON NEWS WIRES
| IS THE PROMISE
Wilson Gives Assurance to
Congress on Wire Law.
| Senators Insist the Provision
Be Put in the Law.
SHOULD HAVE HELD HEARINGS
Declares Senator POmerene OF
Ohio in Debate.
! Objects to Haste Without Con-
sidering Details.
SHOULD HAVE HELD HEARINGS

Washington, July 12.-President
Wilson will forbid censorship of news
dispatches under government control
of wires. He assured congress leaders
today, that press associations and
press bureau business will be left un-
disturbed, and asked that the senate
be so Informed to quiet expressed
fears that Postmaster General Burle-
son would establish a censorship if
given control of wires.
The president intends that news
paper wires shall continue to be oper-
ated with the same freedom as now
it was stated.
Despite this, however, Senators
Reed and Watson announced they will
press their amendments exempting
newspaper wires from government
control.
Indications today were that the
resolution would pass the senate with
out amendment by tomorroyy night,
Meantime talk of recess went forward
rapidly.
Should Have Held Hearings.
Senator Pomerene, Ohio, opened
debate on the wire resolution this
afternoon with an attack on the inter-
state commerce committee for deny
ing public hearings in consideration
! of the resolution.
Pomerene said the president did not
expect the resolution would be
adopted without due consideration.
Committee members who favor i'm
mediate action excuse themselves on
the ground that while it confers pow
| er on the president to take over the
| companies it does not require him to
| do so.
"No one has presumed to say that
/ he wanted the resolution railroa ed
thru without consideration" he de-
/ clared
Details Should Be Considered.
Pomerene insisted there are man.
importa mt details incident to the tax
ing over of the lines that should have
| the most careful consideration before
| taking action. Hearings, when it was
! expected many of these matters would
! be cleared up were denied, he de-
| clared.
Pomere .e caid he never had be-
! lieved and does not believe there was
| any necessity for censoring domestic
! mail. He also said he was convinced
! there had been little censoring of that
! description in this country.
| Washington, July 12-The battle
over wire control egislation-prob-
ably the last hot skirmish before the
measure passes-centered today in the
! senate about the right of press assc-
] Citations to distribute news iniepend-
I ent OF government control.
| Senator Watson, Indiana, was pre-
pared to speak on his amendment ex-
empting telephones and wires leased
! by news associations from the scope
/ of the resolution. Desire for a recess
now overshadows everything in con-
gress, however, and it appears likely
4 today the measure would pass before
tomorrow virtually unamended.
Could Control News.
= -
/ day that Postmaster General Burlesor
would not attempt to handle the press
association news wires himself but
would place their supervision in the
, hands of an experienced man selected
by newspaper publishers, tended tc
stem some of the opposition to the
resolution. There is a strong desire tt
know, however, what functions this
! news supervisor" would perform
whether he would constitute a censor
of the news. and it was expected tha
today would yield additional light or
this phase of the controversy.
With a vote. assured soon on wir,
legislation, recess program agaiI
! took definite shape today. Senat.
leaders have practically agreed tt
sidetrack the prohibition fight unit
after recess. Prohibition leaders ar,
convinced they have the necessar,
votes and since the dry provision.
would not become operative until No
| vember 1 anyhow, are willing for tn
| most part to let a decision go over un
til then.