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Show ESPIONAGE BILL IS BinERLHHAGKED Senator Cummins Declares Old-time Tyrants Never Had Such Authority. "WASHINGTON, Feb. 17. Provisions of the administration's, espionage bill, giving the president sweeping authority in proceeding against foreign agents, were attacked by several senators during dur-ing debate on the measure today, and senate leaders indicated that some of the more drastic sections might be modified modi-fied before passage was asked. Senator Cummins led the attack, denouncing particularly the extensive powers that would be given the president to use the army and nav3 to preserve neutrality. Senator Lee declared the provision for safeguarding defense secrets was too drastic and Senator Walsh - suggested that the language of the espionage section sec-tion was ambiguous. The general provisions pro-visions of the bill, however, were defended de-fended by Senators Walsh, Overman and Reed. Tyrants of olden times, Senator Cummins Cum-mins declared, never dared to exercise the authority over their people which would be given the president in the espionage es-pionage bul. He referred particularly to the section making it a criminal offense of-fense in time of war for any one "in violation of .regulations to be prescribed by the president, which he is hereby authorized to make and promulgate, 1 to collect, publish, record or communicate communi-cate information relating to armed forces of the country. "Such a provision delegates to the president,'' said Senator Cummins, "the right of absolute suppression of free speech and absolute overthrow of a free press. With such authority the president presi-dent could suppress every suggestion concerning the national defense in every newspaper in the land. I am not sure he would be able to make it an offense for members of congress to discuss the national defense here." Senator Reed suggested that newspapers newspa-pers should be curbed in disclosing national na-tional defense secrets, especially in time of war, adding that "no harm has been done yet, but the safety and even the life of the nation may be jeopardized by such publications." Senator Lee declared the stipulations regarding discussion of defense measures mea-sures would cut off public discussion of preparedness. The bill, he said, "overlooks "over-looks the difference between republican republi-can and militaristic forms of government." govern-ment." Senator Walsh declared the provisions provi-sions against espionage would, in practical prac-tical effect, not harm innocent persons, but he asked that the language be revised. |