The Washington times., 1918-04-10


to cloture rule to force its passage,
and it went over after protracted de-
bate. The most important event of
the day was the defeat of the free
speech amendment, offered by Sena-
tor France of Maryland. 1t would
have protected the editors of weekly
napers from intimidation, as it has
been practiced at their expense, when
there was no real question of their
loyalty" 1t was a proviso that
nothing in the bill should be con-
strued as limiting the liberty or i'm
pairing the right of any individual
to speak what is true with good mo-
tives and for justifiable ends.
AS this supports the declaration
Of the Constitution that Congress
shall pass no law abridging the
freedom of speech or the press" it
is not surprising that thirty-one SEN
ators voted for it. 1t ought to be
incredible that thirty-three Senators
voted against it. AS test, the rec
ord of the vote will probably be de-
cisive whenever the time Of account
ing to the American people" comes.
The House took up the rivers and
harbors bill after passing two bills
of value in the conduct of the war.
One assures proper housing for the
families Of officers who are ordered
to the front. The other was passed
at the request of-Sscretary of State
Lansing. 1t supports treaties with
neutrals by exempting from the draft
their subjects who, though they have
taken out first papers" In America,
are still claimed as foreign subjects
under the treaties.
The Borland amendment, lengthen-
ing hours OF labor IN the depart.
ments, was struck out from the leg
islative, executive and judicial ap-
preparation bill, as the Senate Com
mittee on Appropriation reported II
for passage. AS amended its pro-
posed increases Of $120 a year in
clerical salaries now apply up to a
maximum OF $500 instead Of $1,000.
Mr.. Haskell, OF New York, intro
duced a variety Of coordination bills
in the House yesterday. AS they
illustrate results possible under the
"Overman bill" in the Senate, they
propose to transfer bureaus from one
department to another with great
freedom-as the Coast and Geodetic
Survey from the Department OF Com
merce to the shipping board, and the
commercial economy, board from the
Council Of National Defense to the
Department Of Commerce.
Mr.. Blanton proposes to tax every
spectator at a prize fight $25 and 10
take three-fourths OF the gate re-
ceipts as a war profit tax
Mr.. Mason, OF Illinois, wants the
railroads to make a rate of a cent a
mile for soldiers and sailors and a
special school excursion rate from
every school district in the country
to Washington.
The House Committee on Foreign
Affairs has favorably reported the
bill closing the country during the
war except under the authorization
OF passports.
Under the Heating bill, child labor
in the District Of Columbia would be
limited to children of fourteen years
and over, while 1t would not be law
full to employ girls under twenty-one
in work which requires standing
constantly.
State claims for advancing money
for the expense Of mobilizing troops
in the present war and in the Mexi-
can border expedition, would be pay
able under the Volstead bill. The
payments would be made to the gov
ernors and would be restricted TO
reasonable sums"