Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-12-03
ships SUBSIDY
TO BE ASKED
BY HARDING
President Will Ask Congress
to Enact Measure at
Next Session
EXPECTS OPPOSITION
Early Passage of Permanent Tariff
Bill Also to be Pressed by Presi-
dent.

Washington, Dec. ga special
message recommending a ship sub
sidy will be presented to Congress
early in January by President Hard
ing. The full force of Administra-
tion approval will be behind this
message which will deal entirely
with the subject of the American
merchant marine.
This became known at the White
House today, and, withal, was sur
prising development. There had been
no intimation that the President
was definitely committed to a ship
subsidy, an issue which has been be-
fore Congress in one form or an
other for generation. That the
Harding message will precipitate a
great battle in Congress is assured.
1t was also learned at the White
House that the President in his an
nual message, will recommend enact
ment Of a permanent tariff law at
the first regular session of this Cons
gress. The President is opposed to
suggestions emanating from the
Capitol that permanent tariff revis-
ions should GO over for a year. Pres
ident Harding, likewise, expects and
will urge speedy consideration OF the
Foreign Debt Refunding bill.
The President further indicated
that there had been no change in
Administration approval of the crea,
tion of commission to handle the
refunding of this foreign debt. -
There was also denial at the $8hite
House that the Administration ex-
poets any modification Of the Amer
ican valuation plan proposed by the
House as al part Of the Tariff bill
The President knows nothing Of any
movement with Administration sup
port for change in:this program,
From White House sources it, was
likewise gathered that thes forthcom-
ing Tariff bill may, give the, Presi-
dent unusual latitude, IN the operation
of preferential and, discriminating
tariff business. Business conditions
throughout the world are such that
more than usual fleNibilitv may be
necessary in tariff, schedules. and
these can be administered to meet
changing conditions; only by giving
the Executive authority, within GER
tain limits, to meet conditions as
they arrive. - -
So far Congress always, has de.
feated ship subsidy proposals. The
very word Subsidy" ISL anathema
to many men of both parties at the
Capitol and particularly to the av-
erage Democratic legislator. ! |Tradl;
tional Democratic opposition to the
Harding proposal may be expected to
rise again. If a subsidy might be
called by some other name and sugar
coated, as L were, Democrats might
not make themselves SO hoarse yell
ling about it. A subsidy, neverthe-
less, never has been entirely a party
matter and the President may be
expected to encounter opposition IN
Republican as well as, Democratic
ranks. But the Administration has
come to the view that the time has
arrived for subsidizing he private
merchantmen of America and thus
aiding the American ships on the
high seas. ..:,.,
Several other nations have subsi-
dies, direct or indirect. Japan does
it by direct method and Great Bri-
tain accomplishes it indirectly
through mail contracts and other
wise. The United States consist
ently has held aloof from subsidies,
and the new charter policy of the
United States Shipping Board re-
moved what little subsidy there was
in the operation of board vessels by
private operators.
Chairman Lasker,: of the Shipping
Board, and other officials directly
concerned with the marine situation
have given their assistance in form
ulating the details of subsidy pro-
posals. The amount Of money ne
cessary, it was said, has not yet