The Washington herald., 1915-02-01
Shin Bill in Need Of Repairs.

Only President Wilson can stop the Senate
from wasting its precious time the ship pur-
chase bill The measure has been nailed to the
Democratic mast and it has been shot to pieces,
but the crew are standing by to a man and will
fight for it until they win the commander in
the White House calls them off Through all
the smoke of the filibuster, the country has been
shown the futility, if not the danger of the ship
purchase bill, and certainly developments OF the
past few days must have convinced enough Demo-
Gratis of the unwisdow of the proposed legislation
to accomplish its defeat but for their pledge to
enact it as a party measure.
The measure gives the administration author
ity to purchase from the German enemies of Eng
land, France and Russia merchant ships that have
been rendered worthless to their owners so long
as the war lasts or so long the allies maintain
their supremacy of the seas. 1t is frankly ad-
mitted that it is the intention of the administra-
ton to make such purchases, that such was
its intention when the bill was framed. While it
is scarcely conceivable that this government did
not from the start anticipate serious resistance
by the allies to any such proceeding, it is posi-
BILE such may have been the case; but no reason
able doubt now remains that the purchase OF these
interned vessels means also the purchase OF an
international quarrel. The allies may be expected
to oppose every possible legal objection to the
payment to their enemies by the United States
of tens of millions of dollars for property of
which they have been deprived by the fortunes
of war. Is it good business to pay S3oooo,ooo tor
IA merchant marine that is to remain tied up, the
subject OF litigation? If not, why should there
be haste and an insstent determination to force
the ship-purchase bill through Congress? Would
not the better course be to remove from it the
II H. oh he Re-
publican fbuster. resulting in a deplorable waste
of the Scnate's time and the strong prospect of
an extra session? If we are not to buy the quar-
rel, there need be no hurry to pass the bill, be
cause no other ships arc available for immediate
purchase, and VIC should have to build them with
American labor and American material, or await
other opportunities to buy calm survey of the
alternatives reveals useful purpose to be served
by fastening to give the administration the au-
thority contained in the bill. On the other hand,
amendments to the measure have been proposed
that seem to deserve the fullest consideration,
notably the one Offered by Mr.. Gallinger, pro-
viding that the vessels purchased be OF type
and construction that would make them available
as auxiIiaries of the navy. But the majority, un-
der pressure, has no for suggestions intended
to perfect the bill. The determination is to pass
it in its present form, regardless Of how it Will
affect the country's welfare, of any other con-
sequences. Proceedings in the Senate have be-
come daily contest of physical endurance.
Statesmen make pretense OF discussion or
deberation upon the merits of the pending legis-
lation. 1t is not edifying spectacle for the
country to contemplate is there excuse for
it unless circumstances exist of which the
public has been kept in ignorance.
+ 1t looks now, and the sentiment is likely to
grow as the filibuster goes on, though the
country's interests would best be served by sig.
mailing the ship-purchase bill back to port for
repairs.