Evening star., 1914-08-17
Turns Down Emergency Bill to
Admit Foreign Ships to
American Registry.
ORIGINAL MEASURE MINUS
ITS AMENDMENTS PASSED
Action Is Taken On Motion Of Sem
ator Stone-Goes to President
for His Signature.

The Senate this afternoon rejected
the conference report on the so-called
shipping bill by vote of forty to
twenty.
moved that the Senate recede from tts
amendments to the bill and pass It al
it originally came from the House. His
now go to the President for his sigma
ture as it originally passed the House.
Senator Ganinger called attention to
reported offers Of the Hamburg
American Steamship Company to soil
ships to American purchasers, and de.
clared:
"At the time Of the Spanish-American
war the Hamburg-American line sold
two Of its finest ships to Spain to help
that country in its efforts to defeat
this country. I do not think we should
show that company any favor now.
Senator O'Gorman. in charge Of the bill.
expressed amazement over opposition tc
the measure by democrats and also by
some Of the republicans who had hereto
fore opposed monopoly.
Expresses His Amazement.
Discussion here today" said Senator
OGorman. Indicates that Congress Is di-
recting its energies toward the protection
of special interests rather than the pro-
motion of the general welfare.
TT amazes me that senator's who not
long ago eloquently proclaimed the Amer
ican coastwise shipping an offensive mo-
nopoly seem to find no difficulty today
arguing for a result that will be to per-
petuate this monopoly that has 1at-
tened on un-American principles scarce
ly can believe my eyes and ears. hearing
senators, protesting allegiance to the
democratic creed. paraphrase the repub-
hcan argument for twenty years. In sup
port of a protective tariff. We have
reached a sad day in the decline Of the
here and use republican arguments In
support of an offensive and un-American
system Of protection.
o'Gorman Predicts Adoption.
When the Senate assembled at IL
o'clock today 1t began consideration Of
the shipping bill, designed to aid in the
transportation emergency due to the Eu-
ropean war.
Senator O'Gorman Of New York. in
charge Of the bill. predicted that the
withstanding the opposition which has
been developed against the clause allow
ing foreign-built ships, admitted to
American registry. to enter the coast
wise IrdQe Oh tue Ouitcu SlhIcS.
The Senate was proceeding under q
unanimous consent agreement to begin
voting on the conference report not
later than o'clock.
Senator Penrose Of Pennsylvania, who
has returned to this city today after
several months absence. attacked the
conference report on the shipping bill.
He presented q petition signed by thou
sands of employees Of Cramps Steam
ship and Engine Company protesting
against the admission Of foreign-built
ships to- the American coastwtse trade.
Legislation Termed Un-American.
Senator Penrose said that he thought
the proposed legislation was radical.
destructive and un-American.
Senator Weeks Of Massachusetts, also
presented a protest signed by 1000 en-
ployes Of the Fore River Ship Build
ing Company, and Senator MARITIME of
New Jersey another from the employees
of the American Ship Building Com
pany at Camden Both criticised the
bill severely.
One of the objections raised by some
of the senators to the adoption Of the
conference report rests In the fact
that the Cummins amendment was
stricken out. providing that q majority
of the stock of an American CORPORA
tion acquiring In the future a foreign
built ship and placing 1t under Amer
tcan registry must be owned by Amer
tcan citizens. Senator Pomerene of
Ohio is one democrat who will vote
against the conference report on that
account. He said that he thought iae
conference report might be rejected.
Stone Disapproves Bill.
Senator Stone. chairman Of the foreign
relations committee. declared the bill
should be sent back to conference. He
said that although he might at some
future time vote to admit all ships under
American registry. no matter where they
were built, to the coastwise trade, he
was opposed to changing the existing
navigation laws in this emergency legis-
lation, after only brief consideration. By
opening the coastwise trade to the for
eign-built ships at this time. he said.
Congress would defeat the real purpose
of the bill. which was to provide vessels
for the overseas traffic. Senator Stone
said he believed few Americans were
going to put their money into ships to-
day which ran the risk Of capture and
confiscation.
THE government Of the United States
should buy these merchant vessels" said
Senator Stone. ''and operate them while
the present crisis lasts. Then they
should be turned over to the navy a.
auxiliaries."