Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-05
REPORT APPROVED
ON SED|T|ON BILL
Senate Votes 48 to 26 and House
Is Expected to
Agree.
AMENDS ESPIONAGE ACT
Division Is Along Nonpartisan
AMENDS ESPIONAGE ACT
Division Is Along Nonpartisan
Lines, Many Republicans Join
ing Majority for Legislation.

WASHINGTON. May 4.-Protractcd
| controversy in the Senate over the sedi'
,ion bill! severely to pcnalize disloyal
( acts and utteraaccs and interference
| with the Liberty loan sales and the
army draft ended late to-day in the
/ adoption OF the conference report on
| the measure BY a vote of IS to IS. The
House is expected to agree to the re-
port next week.
The bill was initiated year ago. and
provided maximum penalties of twenty
years imprisonment and $4,000 fine.
or both. for a wide variety OF disloyal
acts. II amends tho espionage act, and.
with the woman spy" bill, recently
passed completes the cycle OF legisia-
ton urged hy the Department of JUS
ticc as necessary to clothe the govern
nent with power 20 deal with sedi-
tion and disloyalty. and prevent mob
violence. which has resulted in the de-
partmcnts inability to secure convic-
tions OF persons making disloyal "
teranccs.
That the legislation is unnecessary.
unconstitutional. too drastic and con-
fcrs too wide discretion upon admins
trativc officials have been the principal
arguments OF those opposing It.
IiARDN'ICK AND REED JOIN
REPUBLICAN, OPPOSITION
The final vote to-day was along nom
partisan lines. many Republicans join
ing a ma ajority OF the Democrats in sup
porting tho legislation. Two Demo-
/ c"ats-Senators Iiardwick, OF Georgia,
and Reed. or Missouri-joined with
twenty four Republicans in opposition.
The vote follows:
For adoption: Democrats -Ashurst,
Bankhcad, Beckham, Chamberlain. Gull
berson. Fletcher, Gerry, Guion, Hen
derson, Hitchcock, Hollis, Jones (Ncw
Mexico). King. Kirby. Lewis Mckellar.
Myers, Overman, Owen. Phelan, Pitt-
man, Pomerenc, Ransdcll, Salisbury.
Shafroth, Sheppard. Shields. Simmons.
Smith tGeorgia). Smith (Maryland).
Smith tSouth Carolina), Swanson.
Thompson. Tillman. Trammell, Under
wood. Walsh and Wiliiams-totaI IS.
Repubiicans-Colt. Fall, Jones (Wash-
ington). Lcnroot. McCumber. Mclean,
Nelson, PoindeIter, Sterling and War
ren-total 10. Total for adoption, 4s.
Against adoption: Democrats-Hard-
wick and Reed-total .. Republicans
BOrah, BrandeSee, Calder Curtis.
Dillingham;, France, Gallinger. Gronna.
Hale. Harding, Johnson (California).
Kenyon. Knox. Lodge. McSary. New,
Norris. Page. Sherman. Smoot. Suther-
land. Wadsworth. Watson and Weeks
total "a Total against, &c.
AS rcdrafted by the conferees. the
bills penalties apply. during the war.
TO persons willfully uttering disloyal
| profane. scurrilous or abusive Lam
guagc about the form of the govern
ment Of the United States. the Consti-
uticn, the military or naval forces, the
nag or uniform of the nited States. or
any language intended TO bring the
form OF government OF the United
States. the Constitution, tho military
or naval forces. the flag. or uniform
OF the United States into contempt.
scorn. contumely or disreputc."
PENALTIES LANGUAGE INTENDED
TO PROMOTE CAUSE 0F ENEMY
1t also penalties language "intended
to incitc. provoke or encourage resist
ance to the United States, or to pro-
mote the cause Of its enemies" and
willful display OF the flag of any enemy
nation.
Another important provision would
punish statements designed TO curtail
production OF war necessities. or the
teaching or advocacy OF any OF the
prohibited acts in the measure, while
! another general and broad provision
makes the penalties apply to those
who by word or act support or favor
the cause OF any country with which
tho United States is at war. or by
word or act oppose the cause OF the
United States therein"
Another section OF the hill. which
was the most vigorously attacked in
the Senate. provides that il the Post
master General deems any mall v;o-
lative OF the espionage laws as amend
cd by the bill he may withhold II
! from addresses. Another clause pro-
! v'des for dismissal Of Federal en-
ployccs committing any disloyal act or
uttcrinE dSloyal rcmarks