Evening star., 1915-02-04


With William C. McAdoo, Secretary
of the Treasury, representing the ad-
ministration. and with Senator Theo-
dore L. Burton of Ohio, representing
the opposition. a great battle is in pro-
gress this afternoon in the convention
of the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States over the question of
whether the organization shall or shall
not indorse the ship purchase gill over
which the Senate is now filibustering-
At an early hour this afternoon it
seemed evident that the convention
would vote against the administration
bill, but it was also evident that a mi
nority report would be accepted by the
convention as showing that there were
many members of the organization in
favor of the measure.
Present Striking Arguments. ~
Secretary McAdoo and Senator Bur-
ton presented striking arguments in
support of their contentious. and held
the close attention of their auditors
throughout what practically amounted
to lengthy debate.
Secretary McAdoo told of protests
from all owe. the country received at
the White House, the Department of
Commerce and the Treasury Depart
ment, against the lack of shipping ia
cilities and against what he and the
correspondents he quoted called the
"exorbtant freight rates. for ocean
shipping being charged American busi-
ness men.
No Foreign Protests.
Il know of no protests by any for
eign government" Secretary McAdoo
said, against the passage of this bill.
He declared that there is not the
slightest danger of any international
difficulty If the bill is passed, and ap-
pealcd to the American people to sup
port legislation which he said concerns
this country and no other.
Where is the courage Of the American
people%' the Secretary demanded. Has
it disappeared? Who dares to say that
we cannot control our own affairs?"
Senator Burton declared that the or
ganization OF a corporation for the con-
duct Of the shipping business-by the
United States was or would be a mere
mask. and that all the transactions would
be carried out by the government.
Il should tremble with apprehension
for this country" the senator said
| should this nation send out a ship
under this law under :he American
| flag, and it be seized by Great Britain
or France. An individual might dc
| this, but nation to do it would be ar
| act OF hostility
One Fact Deplored.
II deplore the fact" Senator Burtor
said. that an organized minority OIL
interest here at Washington is ofteI
| more powerful than those who have
| the interest Of the country at heart.
| II wish 1 could go into some explana
tions. I do not believe you will sue
lceed in building up a merchant marin
| in the way proposed. The more subsi
dies you pay the mpre you will b.
success of Germany and England in tn
shipping business is due to subsidies
but the tramp boat that takes it
chances does the business on the sea
| The contest between Secretary Nc
| Adoo and Senator Burton was practi
ca,ly joint debate. and at its conclu
sion, after a recess for luncheon, tn,
report of the committee On the mer
chant marine of the national chambe
was presented. two hours for debate, IL
Item minute speeches being allowed
throughout Senator Burtons speecI
senator White o. Alabama sat on tn,
platform, a living witness that Senate
Burtons vote in the Senate was pro
tected by a pair during Senator Bur
lton's presence at the convention.
Meade Gains Converts.
Secretary McAdoo was evidently il
the mood for debate. His sallies wer
freely applauded. and as his speecl
progressed il was evident from the in
creasing approval manifested by hi
audience that he was gaining convert
among those who were present win
have not wholly made up their mind
on the merits and dement's of the bill
| Mr. McAdoo characterized some O
the argument of the opposition to tn
bill as "hidebound dogma" and "aca
demic theories" He cited the histor
of the attempts to pass the federal re
serve law as instances of how mel
whose opinions are greatly valued cal
be mistaken. He told OF some Of tn
losses the panics and other difficultie
| of the American people because tn
American government stood still TO
forty years before passing the fedora
reserve law. He read from the recor
to prove that Senator Root. ten day
/ tbefOre the passage of that law. had de
clared that the federal reserve note
. now being issued by the governmen
l (Contfnued on Second PaRel