Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-08
GOVERNMENT OPERATION
. OF VESSELS IS LIMITED
rive Years After Close OF European
War Corporation Must Be
Dissolved.
NEW FEATURE OF MARINE Bull
This Concession Is Believed to AS
sure Passage Of Administration
Mcasure-Ship Owners Pleased
With Important Change.

mlnistration bills, combined into ono
measure and amended so that Demo-
cratic leaders believe that II will enlist
the united support of their party MEM
b"rs and possibly some Republicans.
VIII be introduced In tho House to-
morrow by Chairman Alexander. Of tho
Merchant Marine Committee. 1t Will
be referred to the committee and re-
ported back on Tuesday.
BY limiting tho government opera
ION or Vessrls to five years after the
close OF the European war in the re-
Nised bill, the committee has won the
support Of Majority Leader kitchin
and other influential members. Mr..
kitchin tonight promised to take the
floor In favor of the bill. and pre-
'!cted its passage. Shipowners also
have expressed themselves as pleased
over this important change.
In the Senate. at least three new
Democrats who will support the meas
IRE and the revolving Democrats Of
the last session Will not be able to
block the bill as they did last year.
even II they should decide to oppose it..
SAUNDERS, OF VIRGINIA,
HELP TO SHAPE BILL
4 Republican minority report will
accompany the bill. but the details
we're not available tonight. Repre-
sentative Saunders. OF Virginia. one OF
two Democrats who nled a minority
report against the shipping bill at the
last session of Congress, has helped TO
shape The present measure.
AT the expiration of five years from
The conclusion OF the present European
war; the bill reads. the operation OF
vessels on tho part of any such cor
poration In which the United states Is
then a s~tockholder shall cease, and
the corporation shall he dissolved. The
dissolution at tho conclusion of the
war sha ne declared by proclamation
OF the President. The steamers and
other such property OF the corporation
shall revert TO the board. h board
may sell. lease or charter such vessels
and shall dispose of tho prop
crty other than vessels on the best
available terms, and after payment of
all debts and obligations deposit the
proceeds thereof in the treasury TO its
credit. All stock IN such corporation
owned by others than the United states
at the time of dissolution shall be
taken over by the board at a fair and
~sona value and paid for with
funds 70 the credit Of the board"
Mr.. Alexander said Tonight he did
not know how President Wilson would
regard tho concessions to tho oppo-
rents of the unlimited operation fea-
ture, but he felt that It's exclusion
would do much towards presenting a
solid Democratic front towards opno-
n"nts of the bill.
SHIPPING BOARD WILL
FIN MAXIMUM RATES
The determined effort Of the vessel
owning interests TO prevent empower
Ing the shipping board TO fix maximum
rates failed. but the personnel of the
proposed board was raised to seven
members. including the Secretary Of
the Navy and the Secretary of Com
merce as suggested b. business in
~terests.
The orisins! sum for the acquire
men, OF ships, $4,000. 900. 10 be de-
rived from the sale of Panama Canal
bonds. is retained. An initial appro-
priation az 100000 for meeting the cx-
penses OF the board W TO June 30, 1917,
Is asked.
Rural credits will have right OF way
IN the House this week. The confer
probably will occupy most OF to-
morrow, but it only temporarily dis
places the pending land-bank measure.
The naval program will he shaped up
finally in the House Naval Committee
on Thursday. when there will be q
final vote 10 determine how many new
capital ships and Of what kind shall
be built.
The Porto Rican bill. TO provide a
new form of government for the island.
has been shclved temporarily.
The Senate expects to pass the Bank
head bill to provide for Federal MD
for good roads tomorrow or next day,
and then take up the $4,000 900 river
and harbor bill, which will he fought
s:ubbornly By some of tho minority
members. Senator Kenyon kill lead
III. opposition.
GALLAGHER TO OBJECT
ON PERSONAL GROUNDS
Considerable time during the week
probably will be devoted to executive
sessions OF the Senate on the nominal
tons OF George Rublee to the Federal
Trade Commission. and Louis d. Bran
dies TO the Supreme Court. Mr.. Ri
blee's name. after six months In COM
mittee. has been reported for confrma-
ticn a second time. and Senator Gall
laGhcr has announced that he intends
TO mako his objection to confirmation
or personal grounds. The Senate has
seldom ignored a protest made as a
matter Of personal objection.
Tomorrow the Judiciary Committee
viii consider the Brandeis nomination
and read a letter from President Will
son urging confirmation. Some Of the
committee believe the nomination will
be returned to the Senate without
recommendation, in which case q lively
fight is certain. Most of the Republic
can Senator's are irrevocably opposed
TO confirmation