The Washington times., 1920-06-05
SHIPS SURRENDER
UP T0PRES|DENT
Jones Bill, Jammed Through
Both Houses, Goes to
President Today.
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from r1rst fase')
taken by Americans and ten years
II taken by foreigners.
The new shipping board under the
bill will be composed OF seven mem
bers.
Senators Reed. Nugent. cspper.
Borah. Kenyon, Norris. King. Harri-
son, Harris. Sheppard. Trammell and
Walsh OF Massachusetts, who tried
TO prevent the bills passage by steam
roller methods. were not optimistic
today over the prospects OF the Pres
ident's vetoing the measure.
Picking Uncle Sans Pockets.
Senator Reed. OF Missouri. who led
the fight against the surrender OF the
ships said:
~ am utterly opposed on principle
to accepting any clause exemptins a
citizen of the United States from tax
alton. | am opposed to turning over
the American merchant marine to
private interests.
.Many men regard the Federal
Government only ~ . great Roose,
existfn9 10 have Its feathers piucked.
Every time the United States engages
In q busIness deal. Uacke Sans pockets
are picked In broad daylight.
THE private operators, working
day and night. will get these YES
sells at very favorable terms, besides
being exempt from all taxation on
their profits for ten years. We had
better wait a long time, at least until
next December, and rewrite this bill
go over IL and correct II, than pass
II now, against the wishes OF the
American people.
Keep Flag Up. He Says.
'If We want the flag OF the United
States to fly in every harbor in
every land. we will continue opera
ton by the Government OF the mer-
chant marine.
Il particularly object to the clause
exempting shipowners from taxation.
while they are making enormous
profits, despite the fact that the Gov
ernment, under the bill, will prac-
tically finance them from the start
~ protest against the passage of
the bill with every energy I POS
sesa.
~ predict that when the American
companies, that have already robbed
the country, will get their ships, we
will hear from the people,
Officials of the Shipping Board,
leading in the demand for authority
to dispose OF the ships, and repre-
sentatives of the big shipyards inter-
ests. were on hand to witnesA their
triumph" last night. ,s---
Senator Jones. the sponsor for the
measure in the Senate, followed II
over to the House to lend the weight
of his presence to the steam roller
methods over there.
The action in the House which
sent the bill back to conference for
the second time came after the Sen
ate, earlier in the day, had adopted
the conference report by vote OF
forty-fve to fourteen.
Jones Asks Speedy Vote.
Senator Jones, In the Senate. called
it up Immediately after that body
lad convened. and ask ed for its speedy
adoption.
Discussion OF the legislation de-
veloped strong opposition from a
courageous but insufficient minority,
who branded the whole bill for it's
un-Americanism and for the fact that
it will play directly into the hands
of the shipping trust
Senators Nugent, of Idaho; King,
Utah; and Trammel, Florida, were
the strongest opponents of the adop-
tion Of the conference report They
urged that 1t would not only break
up the great American merchant mar
inc of more than two thousand ves-
sells, but would sacrifice more than
a billion dollars Of the taxpayers
money.