Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-05-22
SHIPPING BILL IS
PASSED IN HOUSE
BY MARGIN OF so
Democrats Force Measure along
Party Lines with Eight Re-
publicans Voting with Them
Result Meets Wilson's Ex-
pectati0n President to Ap-
point Board of Five Members

Washington, May H.-The Democrats
forced through the House Saturday the
administrations shipping bill by a vote
of M1 to 161. The vote was cast along
party lines although two Democrats re-
fused to support the bill and more than
dozen minority members voted for it.
AS passed, the bill contains the "gov-
ernment ownership feature that caused
the Republicans to filibuster against the
measure while it was being read for de-
bate and amendment. The bill passed as
it came from the committee on merchant
marine and fisheries and the majority was
even larger than some of the leaders ex-
pected.
Republicans for Bill
Eight Republicans voted for the admin
| istration bill. They were Representatives
Cary of Wisconsin,, Farr and Miller of
| Pennsylvania, Dillon of South Dakota,
James of Michigan, Moonep Of Ohio. Moss
of West Virginia and Norton and Young
of North Dakota. Representatives Schall
/ of Minnesota. Martin of Louisiana and
| Nolan of California, Progressives, also
| supported the bill, as did Representative
Kent Independent. of California, and
Representative London, Socialist, of New
4 York.
To the 211 votes in favor of the bill
Saturday, Massachusetts contributed the
votes of congressman Phelan, Gallivan
and Tague. Congressman Olney, voting
with nine Bay State Republicans, was re-
corded among those who voted against
the measure. In 50 voting Mr. Olney was
one of but two Democrats in the entire
House to oppose the bill.
Although he at first voted against the
bill, Congressman Gardner later found he
| was paired and changed his vote to
| present" while Messrs. Tinkham and
Winslow were paired in the negative with
two absentee Democrats.
The only Democrats to oppose It
were Olney and SlayGen of Texas. The
care with which heads were counted
was shown in the Prediction a week
ago that the measure would pass by
q margin of so votes, exactly the mar
gin recorded Saturday
Republicans offered practically nc
objection to those sections of the bill
creating a shipping board, with power
/ to regulate the rates and practices OF
ocean carriers engaged in the COM
merce of the United States. They or-
IoSed vigorously, hov ever. the pro-
posal to have the United States gov
ernment build purchase. lease or
operate ships for the r.erchant trade.
! The section to which the Republi-
can opposition was directed was that
authorizing the shipping board "to
! oI in
American ship yards and navy yards
or elseWhere--or to purchase. lease or
charter vessels suitable as far as the |
commercial requiremt nts of the ma
rine trade of the United States may |
permit. for use as naval auXiliaries or |
army transports"
s5occo,Oc0 Corporation
Another section opposed by the Re-
publican5 was retained in the BILL au
thorizes the shipping board to form a
corporation for the operation of YES
sClS in the merchant trade. This cor
poratI3n is to be organized in the event
private capital does not respond to the
opportunity to lease government YES
sells and operate them in the foreign
commerce of this country. The pro-
posed corporation Will have capital
OF $50 100000. the government retain
ing control of the majority of the
stock.
Practically solid Democratic support
of the bill was obtained by the inclus-
ion in the act by the merchant marine Il
committee of provision that govern
ment operation of steamship lines
should not extend for more than five
no nd Of /
war This fvc-year limitation brought
into line to the permanent ownership
and operation as proposed in prior
bills submitted to the House commit
tee.
The bill provides that Panama canal
bonds shall be sold to enable the GOV
errment to finance the suggested COR
poraticn.
In Time of War
Provisions also are made in the bill
for use of all vessels in the merchant
war time regardless of whether the
government has sold them outright
leased or chartered them.
Secretary McAdoo of the treasury is
sued statement Saturday night char
acterizing the bill as "one of the most
important pieces Of constructive legis-
lation for the commerce and prosper
ity OF this country that could possibly
be enacted.
The shipping board of FIVE members
is to be appointed by the President and
is to have power to regulate rates for
ocean traffic. 1t will have authority to
Lea Oh nd fol |
them until five years after the end of
the European war. The intention is to I
use the ships principally in developing $
routes TO South America. In case of
war the ships are to be used as naval {