Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-13
COMPROMISE SHIP
PURCHASE BILL is
OFFERED In HOUSE
Combines Gore and Weeks
Measures With Neutral
ity Clause - Indefinite
Operation by Navy.

WARRINGTON, Feb. 1s--The COM
promise Administration ship purchase bill
was launched in the House this afternoon
when It was formally introduced by
Chairman padgett. Of the Naval Com
mittee
The new measure combines the Gore
ship purchase bill with its siO,0OO,O0O ap-
proprlatlon, and the Weeks naval
auxiliary bill. 1t contains the provision
against purchase of ships which would
disturb present neutrality" and also pro-
vldes that two years after the war tho
Government shipping commission shall
turn over the new ships to the Secretary
OF the Navy, who, in his discretion, may
operate them as a Government merchant
marine line Indefinitely or lease them to
private shipping concerns.
One concession made by the President
was the neutrality" clause which is not
contained in the present Senate bill. The
main new feature Is that for indefinite
operation of Federal merchant marine
by tho Secretary OF the Navy.
The rule In which the bill was lncor-
porated provides that no amendments
shall be permitted and that all debates
shall be limited TO six hours.
Chairman Alex ider, of the Merchant
Marine Committee. will have charge of
the bill in the House.
The bill will not be accepted by the
Senate Republicans II Is understood they
will continue the fight to prevent enact
mef-t before March 4, increasing prospects
or an extra session.
Representative Stephens. of California,
introduced ship purchase bill of his own.
approprinting 3Oo00.O00 for construction OF
naval auxiliaries to be used as merchant
vessels In time of peace exclusively i'm
Pan-American trade by charter to the
Panama Railroad or other Federal COR
porations.
In the Senate this afternoon the Demo-
Gratis made a sudden desperate effort to
catch the Republicans mapping during
the routine business.
In the midst of the Introduction of the
petitions of various sorts, the Vice Presi-
dent laid before the Senate a resolution
coming over from preceding day, No
sooner had the clerk stated its number
than Senator Gore asked that the vote on
It be taken by rollcall, This was agreed
to before the Republicans realized what
was happening
Immediately nearly every Republican
In the chamber was on his feet de-
mauding to know what the resolution
was. Then II developed that 1t was the
resolution to discharge the hostile Com
merce Committee from further consldera-
tion OF the Gore ship purchase sub
stitute
An affirmative vote on this would bring
the Gore BILL the nearest approach to
n compromise yet drafted. before the SEN
ate, and would eliminate the necessity
Tor amending the bill on the floor
The Republicans had caught their
breath by now. however and Senator
Burton launched into filibusterlng,
speech.
A committee of hve Senators to in
vestgate reports that authorized Gov
ernrnent agents had obtained options on
interned ships, to be bought in event of
the ship purchase bilfs passage, was In
trodueed by Burton.
His resolution. which was referred to
the Contingent Expense Committee, also
proposed an investigation as to loans be-
ing issued on the ships just who held
such loans and whether any offers of
the ships to the Government had been
made.
Arrangements were made today for a
Democratic House caucus Monday night.
Kitchin promised vigorous
opposition to the purchase bill in this
caucus