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Show ESPIONAGE BILL PASSED BY SENATE MUCH DISCUSSED MBASURE SCESBCT,ONS A,,thnritv to Embargo so Require. Washingtom-After nearly three weeks of debate, Jf senate erable problems of heat 2dT.1-'-on espionage b pronounced one of the Uc and all-inclusive measures n American Amer-ican congressional history- Senators Borah, France, Gronna La Folate Sherman and Yardman voted against the bill. The measure was Jnt to conference immediately, the house having passed an espionage bill different in many Prt,,fl- the During the final consideration the senate stripped the measure entire of provisions for newspaper censor ship and restrictions upon ture of grain into intoxicating liquors and rejected an amendment designed to curb speculation in food products, although sentiment obviously was overwhelming over-whelming in favor of such legislation liitGr. As completed, the senate bill's principal prin-cipal sections provide: Authority for the president to embargo em-bargo exports when he finds that the public safety and welfare so require. (Not in the house measure.) Authority for the postoffice department depart-ment to censor mails and exclude all matter deemed seditious, anarchistic or treasonable, and making its mailing punishable under heavy penalties. (Not in the house bill). For punishment of espionage, defined de-fined in most detailed terms, including wrongful use of military information. For the control of merchant vessels in American waters. Punishment for conveyance of false reports to interfere with military operations, oper-ations, willful attempts to cause disaffection dis-affection in the military or naval forces or obstruction of recruiting. For the seizure of arms and munitions muni-tions and prohibition of their exportation exporta-tion under certain conditions. For penalizing conspiracies designed to harm American foreign relations or for the destruction of property within the United States. For increased restrictions upon issuance issu-ance of passports, with penalties for their forgery or false procurement ; and For material extension of the power to issue search warrants for inspection of premises. The clause giving the president power pow-er to embargo exports was retained in the bill virtually as drafted by administration admin-istration officials. Vigorous efforts to retain provisions for newspaper censorship and partial prohibition, together with foodstuff conservation, during the war, culminated culminat-ed in final votes in which the senate voted 48 to 34 to eliminate all provision pro-vision for press censorship. On behalf of the administration forces Senator Overman, in charge of the bill, had moved to reinsert a modified censorship censor-ship clause. |