To amend H.R. 4280, by allowing soldiers and sailors assigned to duty in foreign countries, during existing war, free postage on mail, subject to regulations of

On Aug 28, 1917, the Senate voted 39–29 (HR 4280). Result: passed. By party: Democrats 21–17, Republicans 19–12. It was a bipartisan vote: majorities of both parties voted yes. 29 members voted against their own party.

During the 65th Congress (1917–1918), Woodrow Wilson was president, and Democrats held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Yes: 39
No: 29
Did not vote: 42
Date: Aug 28, 1917

By party

Democrats21 yes · 17 no · 24 didn’t vote
Republicans19 yes · 12 no · 18 didn’t vote

Who broke with their party

Joseph Taylor Robinson D-AR voted no
Josiah Oliver Wolcott D-DE voted no
Willard Saulsbury Jr. D-DE voted no
Hoke Smith D-GA voted no
Lawrence Yates Sherman R-IL voted no
James Eli Watson R-IN voted no
Ollie Murray James D-KY voted no
Robert Foligny Broussard D-LA voted no
Henry Cabot Lodge R-MA voted no
John Wingate Weeks R-MA voted no
Frederick Hale R-ME voted no
Frank Billings Kellogg R-MN voted no
Knute Nelson R-MN voted no
William Joel Stone D-MO voted no
John Sharp Williams D-MS voted no
Henry Lee Myers D-MT voted no
Furnifold McLendel Simmons D-NC voted no
Porter James Mccumber R-ND voted no
Joseph Sherman Frelinghuysen R-NJ voted no
Andrieus Aristieus Jones D-NM voted no
James Wolcott Wadsworth Jr. R-NY voted no
Atlee Pomerene D-OH voted no
Boies Penrose R-PA voted no
Peter Goelet Gerry D-RI voted no
Edwin Stockton Johnson D-SD voted no
Reed Smoot R-UT voted no
Claude Augustus Swanson D-VA voted no
Thomas Staples Martin D-VA voted no
John Benjamin Kendrick D-WY voted no

How each senator voted: Yes

How each senator voted: No

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

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Capitol Receipts, “To amend H.R. 4280, by allowing soldiers and…: Senate Vote, Aug 28…,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/65-S-133/to-amend-h-r-4280-by-allowing-soldiers-and (accessed 2026-10-17).