Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-04
lNDORSE SHIP
SUBSIDY BILL
HOUSE COMMITTEE MEETS IN
STORMY SESSION
TWO REPUBLICANS BOLT WHEN
VOTE is TAKEN
Democrats Much Wrought Up by Rail-
reading of Administration Mea-
sure-opposltion Expect
ed in Congress
Associated Pressl

WASHINGTON, Feb. S.-After
short but torrid open hearing, followed
by an executive session of an hour
also filled with dissension, the house
committee on merchant marine and
fisheries today voted, 10 to 7, to report
favorably the administration ship sub
sidy bill, as introduced by Representa-
tive Humphrey of Washington.
Ten Republicans voted for the bill
and five Democrats and two Republl-
cans voted against it. The two bolt
ing" Republicans were Wilson of llli-
nois and SWasee of Maine. Repre-
sentative Hobson of Alabama reported
to be for the bill, and Maynard of Nlr-
ginia against it, both Democrats, were
absent
Democratic members of the COM
mittee were greatly wrought up over
what they characterized the railroad
ing of the measure without consld-
Grafton and opportunity to amend IT,
and tonight they held a meeting IN the
room of Minority Leader Clark TO map
out their future course against the blll.
1t is expected the measure Will meet
with most stubborn opposition Whell
it reaches the house and that one OF
the hottest fights of the session VIII
be precipitated.
Representative Spight of Missouri,
ranking Democratic member OF the
committee, will file a minority report
against the bill Mr.. Spight sad
Chairman Green of the committee had
assured him yesterday that no vote
would be taken today and that the
minority and those opposed to ship
subsidy would be given ample oppor-
tunity to be heard before a final vote
was taken.
Made No Promise
Mr.. Green informed Mr.. Spight after
todays meeting that he did not make
any promise for Mr.. Humphrey and
could not prevent the latter bringing
his bill to vote.
Mr.. Humphrey said that ample con-
sideration had been given to the bill
and that, if it were delayed longer, a
measure to take its place would be re-
ported in the senate. In reply TO TINS
Democrats said the bill had been given
no consideration by anybody and that
it had not even been read over in COM
mittee.
Todays hearing was the first given
and the opposition pointed out that
those heard today were in favor of snip
subsidy but were opposed to passing
the Humphrey bill.
The Democrats desired TO ofter sew
eral amendments and Representatives
Sulzer, Clark of Florida and Kuster-
man had notified the committee that
they desired hearing on their own
ship subsidy bills. The action today
was a surprise to them, as well as to
the minority of the committee.
The executive session of the COM
mittee was characterized by tense feel
ing. Democrats endeavored to secure
an adjournment and to amend the bill
but were voted down.
An amendment was offered striking
out the subsidy sections of the bill but
it was lost.
However, Mr. Humphrey turned a
deaf ear to the appeals, declaring i'm
mediate action was imperative When
the final vote was taken it was shown
that Representative Humphrey had
figured correctly on a safe majority.
The open hearing given today to the
Merchants association of New York
resulted in a row between Mr.. Hum
phrey and Attorney James II. Dough-
erty representing the association.
After this Mr.. Humphrey moved
that the committee go into executive
session and consider the bill without
hearing further evidence.