The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1915-02-13
THE SHIP PURCHASE BILL.

One Of the most vigorous anf
closely contested parliamentary strug
giles that has ever taken place IN
the United States senate has beer
going on since January rs over what
is commonly termed the ship pur-
chase bill, measure to which Pres
ident Wilson has not only given his
unqualified Endorsement, but which
he is openly backing with all the in
fluence of the administration.
The bill as agreed to by the eau
Gus OIL Democratic senators provides
for the formation of a shipping boaro
composed of three members Of the
cabinet and three additional members
appointed by the president and con-
firmed by the senate, two of the
latter to be men with practical ex-
perience in the operation and man
agement of steamships in the foreign
trade. The shipping board is to
form a ship-owning corporation DOM
Eiciled in the District of Columbia
with an original capital of ,ooo,
600 which may be increased to $780,
900, 900, and to which the United
states government will subscribe at
least 81 per cent. The remainder
of the stock will be open to private
subscription, but the trustees OF the
corporation must be citizens OF the
United States.
AS at first drafted the bill proVld-
ed that all vessels acquired by the
corporation should be used only IN
the foreign trade, but this limitation
has been amended so as not to ap-
ply to vessels built in the United
States. The provisions of the mea-
sure applying to the cl1arterlng OF
the corporations vessels have also
been amended so as to restrict the
privilege to American corporations
In which a majority of the stock is
owned by American citizens, and the
vessels must be used to meet the
requirements of the foreign COM
merce of the United States.
Z Several other changes were made
from time to time in order to meet
the objections Of opponents of the
measure, and it looked for a Whlle
as if the administration would be
successful in carrying the Important
project through the senate. The Re
publican minority began hot fight
against the bill, however, and sew
en- Democrats from the southern
states Joined the opposition, not
withstanding the action of the Dem
ocratic caucus. Moreover, following
a continuous session of 81 hours and
ii minutes-the longest in the SEN
ate's history-tWo ProgresslVes, SEN
,ators Norris and Kenyon, voted with
The Republicans and dissenting Dem
ocrats Wednesday night to close the
debate by adjournment, thus indicat-
ing their belief that the attempt to
pass the measure at this term OF
is hopeless and that it
should be put aside to make way for
he appropriation bills awaiting con-
sideration.
While the president and caucus
Democrats have not yet formally
given up the contest, the chances
for getting the present senate to &C
eept the principle of government |
ownership and operation of mercan-
tile vessels seem to be very slim, |
and the adyisability of persisting in
the effort to the detriment of other
and necessary legislation
and to the extent Of forcing an ex-
ira session Of, congress in order to
provide the means for meeting the
running expenses OF the government
may well be questioned.
5&Ee ---------------