Evening star., 1915-12-27
Will Be introduced in Senate
Soon After Congress
Convenes.
PRESIDENT IS TO PASS ON
LAST DRAFT OF MEASURE
Its Sponsor in the House Il to Be
Representative Alexander
Of Missouri.

The administrations new ship
ping bill is rapidly taking shape
and will be ready for introduc-
ton in the Senate and House
soon after Congress convenes, it
was said today. The bill, or rather
several drafts of the bill, so far
made, is the work of Secretary of
the Treasury McAdoo, Secretary
Redfeld of the Department of
Commerce, Senator Fletcher of
Florida, Senator Simmons of
North Carolina, Representative
Alexander of New York and Al
bert Lee Thurman, solicitor for
the Department of Commerce. A
number of conferences have been
held for the purpose of whipping
the measure into shape.
The final draft of the bill will
be presented to President Wilson
for his approval, since It is to
have the backing of the admins
tration, soon after his return to
Washington from his wedding
trip.
Sponsor In the House.
The measure will be introduced in the
House by Representative Alexander of
Missouri, chairman Of the committee
on merchant marine and fisheries, and
In the Senate either by Senator Clarke
| of Arkansas. chairman OF the commit
tee On commerce, or by Senator Fletch-
er of Florida, the ranking member OF
the committee after Clarke. II Sepa-
tor Clarke will give his support to the
bill undoubtedly he will Introduce 1t
as chairman Of the committee on COM
merce.
The bill as it now stands would pro-
vide for the purchase or construction
board, with view to the charterias OF
leasing these vessels to private cor
porations or individuals desiring to
use them In the transportation Of the
commerce of the United States with
foreign countries, or with any of the
outlying possessions of the United
States
It would also provide for the use of
these vessels T., when hem. required by the
| naval auxfliartes or as army trans
ports. A clause is to be inserted in
any contract for their lease providing
that in time of war the government
| Inn ad In a nj I'm haY
Operation as Merchant Vessels.
The government. however. proposes
to retain the right to operate these
vessels, II the need arises, as merchant
vessels. This is the feature which has
caused all the trouble in the past over
the bill and which prevented its pas
sage at the last session OF Congress.
| 1t was pointed out today by a sup
porter Of the measure that II the pro-
posed law should provide merely that
the ships should be built or purchased
with government money. or money OBJ
| tSined through the sale OF Panama
| canal bonds. and then should be leased
to the highest bidder. the government
would be at the mercy OF the shipping
trust.
These gentlemen would be only too
glad 70 have the United states pro-
| vide them vessels which they might
operate" he said. ''They would rather
have the government build the vessels
than do 1t themselves. There would be
bids and then the government would
have to take the best terms 1t could
get. 1t is absolutely essential that the
government retain the right to operate
these ships II 1t becomes necessary SO
to do. This would not mean that the
government need ever do so, for be-
lieve that merely to retain that right
would be all that was necessary"
Bond Issue Of 100000
The bill as drafted proposes that the
Secretary of the Treasury be author
ized Immediately to issue $60.ooo,000
of Panama canal bonds to pay for
these vessels. In order to put the act
Into effect Immediately. the bill carries
an appropriation Of 100000, and in
lieu OF that appropriation. 1t is pro-
lvided that the Secretary of the Treas
|ury may Immediately sell $4,000. 900
worth Of Panama canal bonds.
The blu provides for the ereatias Of
retaries Of the Navy and Commerce
and three commissioners, to be ap-
lpointed by the President and confirmed
by the Senate: The three commits
each. The bcsFd e to bs called the
united shipping board.
The President. under the proposed
law. may charter. lease or transfer
such pava1 auxilisries. army vessels
and a,.dl those DslonstnE to CT tn; :. Pansms
tor commercial uses.
Power 10 given to the shipping board
to regulate the operation Of all steam
ship lines and vessels snSagsa ~ com,