New-York tribune., 1922-11-28
Farm Bloc Defeats Section
Id Desigzled e to Increase
Exports ON US. Vessels; !;
Restrict Leviathan Sale
Subsidy Ranks Hold
On Other Big Issues
Absence of Many Republic
cans Believed Only Peril
to Passage Wednesday
By David S. Kennedy

WAoI1lING4 YIN, NOV. GI.--SuppOFg~
ers of the shipping bill to-day suc-
ceeded in maintaining without substan-
tial amendments the greater part Of
the measure, but were forced to yield
to the farm bloc on one important
point. BY vote Of 56 to At the Sec
tion giving taxpayers rebates from
their income taxes, amounting to per
cent of the sums paid in transporta-
tion on American vessels, was stricken
out. The amendment introduced by
Representative W. j. Graham, Repub-
lican of Illinois, gained favor among
the agricultural Representatives be-
cause of the belief that the farmers
would not benefit from the exemption.
This action followed defeat of an
amendment by Representative l.. j.
Dickinson, Republican, Of Iowa, to
allow the producers a rebate equal to
s per cent of the freight money paid
on such shipments by rail to the port
of expectation. The amendment was
lost by a vote Of 81 to SO.
Party Lines Are Held
On ether sections, such as the sales
policy and the construction loan fund,
the vote was divided along party lines,
with the supporters of the subsidy
overriding all efforts of the Democrats
to XIII important provisions or to ham
per them with embarrassing amend
ments. The tax rebate section, de-
scribed as one Of the vital features,
revealed the strength Of the farm
bloc i'll breaking party lines on ques-
tion which it considered significant.
Administration leaders were success
full in defeating generally the efforts
of the government ownership men to
extend operation Of the Shipping Board
fleet for five years, instead of two as
provided in the bill, on ships and sery-
ices which are not purchased by inter
ests representing the communities
from which such routes are run.
The votes to-day showed that the
administration leaders have the situa-
tion we'll in hand so far as most of the
amendments are concerned. Pract;- E
cally one-third Of the bill was covered.
the rest to be taken up tomorrow and
Wednesday before the final vote at
4 o'clock. 1t is evident, however, that
the small attendance contains elements
of danger for the bill.
More Republicans Needed
In the vote last week on the adoption
Of the rule to limit debate there were
2oo In favor and ITO against, making
a total of $40. Opponents of the bill
estimated that 45 to SO of those voting
for the rule would cast their ballots
against the bill. According to this
analysis, the vote on the measure as
whole at that time would have been
about equally divided. The roll call
to-day showed only 316 present, out of
a total of 435. Unless more Republi-
can members return to Washington
within the next two days the result
may be serious for the bill.
Elimination Of the per cent tax
rebate was an unexpected development.
Advocates of the bill regarded this as
one of the features which would meet
with favor among. exporters generally,
giving them a powerful inducement to
ship their goods on American vessels.
Representative G. w. EdG onds, Repub-
llcan, of Pennsylvania, one Of the
leaders for the bill, remarked that call
the English shippers and their friends
here have said that if this section and
the immigration section are knocked
and they did not care what kind of a
bill we passed"
An amendment by Representative
John E. Raker, Democrat, Of Califor-
MIA, to strike out the section requiring
so per cent of immigrants to travel on
American ships was defeated without
record vote.
Friends of the per cent tax rebate
are hopeful that the action of the
House may be reversed in another vote
on on Wednesday. but this depends upon
Ihe arrival OF greater number of
Republicans. When the House rises
as committee of the whole to re-
port the, bill to the House proper a
vote upon any section can be asked by
the chairman of the committee.
Representative Graham, in his de-
nunciation of the section, said that "it
is vicious and dangerous" and might
have the effect of exempting some tax
payers of their entire income tax.
When the measure came to vote
more than forty on the Republican
side cast their ballots against it.
Representative Frank w. Mondell.
tContlnued on paec fye)