Evening star., 1915-01-29
SHIP BILL OPPOSED
BY SENATOR NORRIS
Nebraskan Makes 1t Clear He
Will Not Support Measure
in Present Form.
CRITICISES THE ACTION
OF DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
Regrets That Right to Amend Is
Acknowledgements by Senators
Simmons and Owen.

L
| Senator Norris Of Nebraska, one OF
the republican senators whom the ad-
ministration leaders have counted upon
to vote for the pending ship purchase
| bill. made it clear in the Senate today
that there was little likelihood of his
supporting the measure, II it comes to
a final vote. unless 1t was amended In
some vital particulars.
| He has introduced two amendments.
one which would make the govern
| ments entrance into the shipping busf-
ness permanent, and the other provid-
ing that this government should not
| tion unless 1t had first ascertained by
| diplomatic means that there would be
no controversy with other belligerents
| over the transfer.
| Criticises the Majority.
Senator Norris said that he regretted
the fact the ship bill had been acted
upon in caucus by the democrats and
| that it was not open to amendment,
unless the caucus should first agree to
| the amendments. He said he was
| strongly opposed to the government 8
building up shipping business as pro-
posed, with the probability that 1t
| would then be turned over to private
of the bill, which would permit the
ship corporation created under the
bill to lease the ships purchased by
| the government to private persons for
| an indefinite period. Through this Ian
| guage, he said. it would be possible for
| the whole shipping business built up
| by the government to be turned over
to private interests for an indefinite
| period.
Senator's Simmons and Owen replied
| that such a plan was not in the minds
| of the majority of the democrats when
| they acted in caucus on the bill. Sena-
| tor Simmons declared that the demo-
| cratic caucus had voted down a prop
compelled to lease these vessels to pri-
vate individuals.
TT was not our purpose to provide
| for government ownership of these
! vessels and private operation, said
Senator Simmons. I'VE merely desired
| to give the corporation an opportunity
when need arose either to lease or to
| charter vessels for special purposes.
"Then why not say SO in the bill? r.
| interrupted Senator Norris.
Cites Reason for Supporting BILL
senator Hoke Smith Of Georgia, a
champion in the democratic caucus Of
| the leasing system, declared that the
reason he would vote for the bill was
| that 1t did permit the corporation to
lease the government-purchased ves-
| sells to private persons. His statement
| showed clearly the internal strife
among the democrats. over the ship
| bill.
| Senator Jones of Washington. who
yesterday offered an amendment pro-
| viding that all the vessels purchased
by the government and all other ves-
1 eAl7 1,fo foS, t1,A Ty~,%
jurisdiction and plying in American
waters shall be dry" declared today
| that his amendment was no Joke"
and that he hoped to see it adopted by
| the Senate.
| The manner In which liquor is sold
on many vessels in American waters
today is disgrace" said Senator
Jones.
In view Of the strong temperance
| sentiment in the Senate, the Jones
amendment might have a chance of
being adopted were it not for the fact
that the democratic caucus has put d
ban on all amendments which have not
first received its approval. Senator
| Sheppard, the leading temperance sup
porter in the Senate, said today that
| he would be glad to vote for the Jones
amendment. but that he was demo-
crat and he would have to stand by
the democratic caucus If it ruled that
no further amendments should be Of
fered to the bill. However. should the
| caucus be forced to take up and con-
slider the Jones amendment, 1t might
find sufficient support there to be rec
commended to the Senate. In that case
it undoubtedly would be agreed to in
L the Senate.
| A session tonight is planned by the
democrats.
Sherman Attacks Bill.
With the exception of speech by
| Senator Sherman of Illinois in opposj
tion to the ship bill. all yesterday,
session of the Senate was occupied b,
democrats In support of the measure
Senators Walsh of Montana ant
| Fletcher of Florida discussing the bill
| at length. The Senate at 1913 O'Clock
last night took a recess until IL O'Clock
| today.
Senator Sherman vigorously attacked
ment did not go into the milling busi
ness now that flour was $7.2O barrel
II high prices for ocean transportation
had induced 1t to seek to embark il
the shipping business. With clothing
| SO high. he suggested that the govern
| inent might start Il sheep ranch Il
raise wool and open wooden mill
Food and clothing are infinitely NOR,
tation over the sea" Insisted Senate,
Sherman. THE only effect of addi
tional ocean Transportation will be te
i take more flour and meat away from
this country and send up the prices o.
| those articles. Why not do sometime
to reduce the cost of living"
Senator Fletcher. in charge of tn.
bill, followed with a speech chargint
that the 'Rockefeller-M r-Morgan-Perkin;
interests were behind the opposition
to the measure.
Fletcher Alleges Trust Opposition.
Senator Fletcher declared that tn.
system Of interlocking directorates ex
isting today in the shipping world wal
probably without parallel in financia
history. One by one he took up tn,
lists Of directors Of steamship compa
nies engaged in American foreign an,
coastwise trade. and told of the ffnan
cial connections Of the individual di
rectors.
II am warranted in saying" he con
| cluded, that 80 per cent of the coa ct
wise trade and practically the entir
foreign American shipping is in tn
hands of those allied with the Nationa