The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-21
HOUSE DEMOCRATS
PASS SHIPPING BILL
L. ). Ownership and Rate
Board Features Retained
by 21l to 16l.
SEE FIGHT IN THE SENATE

WASHINGTON. May Gothic Admins
tration shipping bill passed tho House
to-day by Il majority OF fifty votes. prac-
tIcally every Democrat supporting thu
measure. The vote was 2Il to 1871.
Eight Republicans. three Progressives.
one independent and one Socialist voted
with tn, Democrats for the bill. Two
democrats, Olney and Slayden. did not
support the measure.
The minority members. who conducted
. filibuster against the bill and blocked "A
vote last night. wcr, deserted by Repre-
sontatives Cary. FAIR, Miller. Dillon.
James. Moss. Morton and Young. The
rrogrossives voting for the bill were
Representatives Martin Of Louisiana.
Nolan of California and Schall OF Min
nesOta. Repre- sentative Kent. indepcnd-
,ut. and Meyer London. Socialist. added
their votes to the Democratic total.
The shipping bill passed the House as
T. came from the Committee on VI. reliant
Marine and Fisheries. Repeated efforts
OF Republicans to amend the measure
and cut out the Government ownership"
feature failed.
i!,publicans offered inconseauential
objection TO the sections creating "a ship
ping board with regulatory powers over
fHAAtAN vi I Nv IA
this board, composed of the Secretary Of
'ue Navy and the Secretary Of Com
iuerce eN-ofiicio and five commissioners
appointed 10y the Iresid, mt, sweeping
jurisdiction over the rates. practices.
agreements and operation OF merchant
vessels carrying the foreign trade of tn,
United States. The section ON which the
OPPOSITION centred provides:
That the board with the approval If
the President IL authorized to have con
struc,ed II equipped in American ship
yards and navy yards or elsewhere. CIV
ing preference. other things being equal.
to domestic yards, or TO purchase. lease
o. charter vessels suitable AS far as
commercial requirements Of the marine
trade of the United States may permit,
tor use as naval auxtIiaries or army
transports or for other naval OF mill
taiy purposes
II was further provided that the Gov
eminent may lease. charter or sell 20
any citizen Of the United States the
vessels 80 acquired for the use OF such
I nited States and under the regisiry
Of this country. In time of national
strcSs the President is given authority
10 take possession of the vessels 80
leased, chartered or sold and to employ
them IN the national defence.
a companion section of the bill, how
ever, provides that the Government may
actually operate vessels in the merchant
trade IL the shipping board believes that
Government operation Is essential. II
Is proposed that "A corporation shall be
formed with "A capitalization of not eN-
ocediug $4,000, 600. the United States
retaining majority stock. This, IL -
provided. may he formed by the pur-
chase, construction. equipment. lease.
charter. maintenance and operation Of
merchant vessels III the commerce Of
the United States"
This section also was stubbornly op-
posed by the Republican members OF the
House, Who assailed the proposal to en-.
ter the Government in the fields OF COM
nercial activity. The Democrats stood
.dudrely behind the committee bill and
defeated all attempt TO amend II.
Practically solid Democratic support
was Obtained by the Inclusion IN the re-
drafted bill Of a provision that the Gov
u. shall not continue In. operation
" merchant ships longer than five years
After the end of the present European
war. At the expiration Of this period
II is provided hat The corporation or
ean!Zed by the shipping board shall be
dissolved and the property shall revert
10 the board for lease. charter or sale.
Panama Canal bonds are to be sold
by the Secretary of the Treasury TO raise
tAe money required by the governmental
ownership OF the majority OF the stock
OF the proposed corporation.
The shipping bill will go to the Senate
Monday. That htere will be a fight
AGAINST the measure there is certain.
although Administration leaders In the
House anticipate that the five year limi-
atiou will bring several recalcitrant
Democrats Of the Senate into the party
lines.