The Washington times., 1920-05-26
SEE JOKER IN
NEW MEASURE
Resolution Would Permit Board
To Dispose Of All But
the Navy.
FARMERS VOICE PROTEST
s3,225,000 Craft, Failing Of
U. s. Buyers, to Be
Sacrificed Abroad.
FARMERS VOICE PROTEST

SOnRTeSsioIdl Opposltioi W thc
shipping bill, now in conference, Is
developing rapidly to save the Gov
ernment merchant marine Of moro
than 1900 vessels, the sale Of which
is ordered by the provisions of the
bill as it now stands.
1t is now being realized by MEM
bers of both houses of Congress that
the bill, if not revised, will not only
permit. but will actually direct the
sale by the Shipping Board of all
vessels owned by the Government
except those of the United States
navy and a few vessels under con-
tract by the department..
Furthermore, the bill authorizes
and directs" the sale of ships of less
than six thousand lightweight ton
mage to. foreign governments and
citizens of foreign governments If 1t
be found that, "after diligent effort"
the board cannot dispose of them to
American citizens.
Aliens Get Easy Terms.
Aliens who wish to purchase
these Government-owned ships may
do so, and will be granted ten years
in which to pay for them.
The sale of the magnificent fleet
of twenty former German lin
ers, headed by the Leviathan, also
is specifically authorized by the bill.
These drastic and un-American
provisions, permitting foreigners to
purchase American Government
ships on easy terms, have aroused
the minority in Congress who have
opposed the bill, and who, it is be-
lievedS will attempt to have it modi-
fed in conference.
Members of Congress who oppose
the bill see in it a deliberate attempt
to turn over the 1900 Government
vessels, built with money supplied
by the American people, to private
interests, who can purchase the ships
on easy terms.
The Farmers National Council,
representing all the great farm and
grange organizations of the coun-
try, today issued a formal protest
against the bill. 1t will engage
actively in efforts to bring about
its modification.
big Business" Pleased.
Benjamin C. Marsh, secretary and
director of legislation of the Farm
ers' National Council, said today ha
had no doubt that the big financial
| interests are thoroughly Eratfied
with the terms Of the bill. Express
| ing the opinion of farmers organiZa-
tons throughout the country against
the BILL. Mr.. Marsh said:
| ''The patriotic American who In
GOvernment bonds would like tO
know. however. why it was that this
bill was passed without n roll call.
''The bill permits the United States
Shipping Board to turn about three
and a quarter billion dollars worth
of ships over to private interests to
make huge profits.
1--WE believe that this was abso-
llutely contrary to the purposes for
which Liberty bonds were subscribed,
and the record shows that the farm
ers of America at least do not want
to have their money used to enrich
the already over-rich financial inter-
ests."
The Farmers National Grange re-
Gently adopted a resolution that the
ships should be owned and operated
only by the Government"
Opponents of the bill here consider
Iit unfortunate that members of Con-
gress who voted for it's passage can
not realize that the complete failure
made by the railroads in the three
months since they were returned Is
sufficient argument against turning
over a natural monopoly to private
exploiters.
Congressmen Voice Ire.
One member of Congress said to-
day that ~ the American people can
be made to realize just what this bill
means, they will never permit 1t to
pass"
Following are the opinions OF Con-
pressmen who have made deter
mined fight against the passage of
the bill, but who have been over
ruled by the majority:
| Copuressmnn Royal &. johnson, Re-
publican. OF South Dskots-'I nm
opposed to the sale of the ships. Un-
der the policy proposed in the bill
now In conference, the vessels which
have been built with billions of doll
liars of the peoples money would be
termed over to the big shipping in
terests.
This Is another means Of swing
somebody an opportunity to make tre-
mendous profits out of the war. The
Government ought to keep its shipa-