The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-28
Bankhead Explains How Qualifications Are Made Meeting With His Ap- prOval
BELIEVES, HOWEVER, THIS IS BAD TIME
 TO ENTER BUSINESS
Government Must Buy Ships at High Figures and Sell Them When the Prices Are Low
By HUGH. W. ROBERTS.


 Washington, May 27.-(SpeciaD-The administration ship purchase bill will be supported by both Alabama sena- tors.
 Senator Underwood, last session, while leader of the House. voted for the meas ure, although his support was not of the passionate variety" Senator Bank head, as is recalled, was one of a small but effective band of f1libustering demo- crats which put the McAdoo legislation Ion the rocks in the upper house. On account of the fact that the ad- ministration has amended it's bill to meet the objection of "recalcitrants," Senator , Bankhead has announced that this ses- sion he can give it his support. It is taken for granted that the majority of 1 the other members of the "fllibuster,' for identical reasons will withdraw their opposition. and thus guarantee the suc- cessful passage of the legislation. The opposition to the McAdoo proposal | last session was based chiefly on the contention that it was intended as means for putting the government, in paternal or socialistio manner. in trade competition with private capital. Fear, | also. was expressed that the govern- ment would take over the interned ves- sells of European belligerents on which certain capitalists of New York were alleged to have secured options. l THE BILL AMENDED l The bill, as it now reads and al it | passed the House, contains a clause under the provisions of which the gov- ernment five years following the cona clusipn of European strife, will sell, charter or lease the vessels acquired under the act-will. in other words. go 1 out of business.
 | The fear that interned vessels might be acquired is allayed in the fact that England and France have served notice that they would regard such acquisition as an act predemitatively unfriendly. THE BILL CRITICIZED l Despite the fact that the Alabama sen- ators will support the proposed legisla- tion, they do don't withhold certain point ed criticism. And thesame is true of
 
 votes without enthusiasm. l Senator Underwood said this afternoon ] that in his opinion there will never be l a worthy or effective merchant marine until the government discriminates through legislation in it's favor. He de- clares that under present conditions, cheap oriental labor, ana apnormally su- perior facilities possessed by competing nations-America would proceed under great disadvantages. He favored the | elimina ton, as far as American vessels were concerned, of the Panama canal tolls in the hope that American shipping would be materially benefited. Senator Bankhead is fearful that the bill, when enacted, will put the govern ment in possession of an expensive "gold brick" He can see very little of good for the American people in the passage | of the bill.
 TERMS ARE METZ | However" he declared tonight in conversation with the representative of The Age-Herald, "the government has met our terms-not to the letter. but in principle-and will support the bill.
 Last session. when it became obvious that the bill was doomed, there was an informal caucus and an agreement branches of Congress could conscienti-
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