The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-12-21
Ship Subsidy
Bill To Pass.
In Two Weeks
~ DAVID LAWRENCE
(Copyr!gAt By The InteiliSencsr)

SUBSIDY OIL Viii pass the Send'S
within the next fortnight, accordinS
10 the adyiceS given the admintstra
tiou within the last twerty-tour hours
by leaders who have made careful
canvass Of the whole situation.
The fight to displace the ship sub
sidy measure with farm credits bin
has been going on tor several days
with the administration growing
stronger and stronger Although
President Harding has ostensib'y
been absorbed in dealing with tho
delicate problems OF European ccono
mics. the truth is he has been max.
ing the fight OF his career 70 mould
the Republicans into solid unit As
against the obstructionsts ot the
various "blocs."
There are some senator's who DO
not favor the subsidy bill ltSell and
who will vote against II on tinal pas
sage but the administration has sue
ceeded in convincing many ot them
that irrespective of tho merits OF the.
subsidy bill they ought not 10 lend
themselves 10 the campaign Ot the
filibusterers and obs;ructioniS,s who
have thought they could XII the sun
sidy measure By keeping 1t from GEL
ting TO vote.
Test for Harding.
The fear OF insurceut members os
the Republican party who have set
out on campaign OF obstruction and
destruction OF the administration has
been that tic subsidy bill would have
enough votes on the fiual rol call 10
be passed. They have interjected
the Norris farm credits bill as an u.
fort TO display the subsidy meaSur"
and give the shipping bill such
psychological blow "a 10 weaken IT'S
champions and quietly smother tho
whole proposal.
But the administration has realized
that II il were unable TO force Cs
own pct measure 10 u vote It would
be a confession OF Impotence which
would make it Impossible to get any
other legislation through this cor
gress or perhaps the next.
The test has meant great deal 10
Mr.. Harding. His lieutenantS IN taE
Senate have made good use OF thiS
line OF reasoning: they have said III
effect TO some Republicans who are
opposed to ship subsidy anu even u
somo Democrats: You may not Ike
the ship subsidy. bill and may want
TO vote against 1t but why do YOU
Lend Yourself TO government by olocs
and minority rulo. II YOU want 10
keep ON friendly terms with the al
ministration without cOmpromlslns
YOUR own position on ship subsidy.
Permit II to come TO vote. give II
fair chance that's all We ask and
vote against tho measure rts"!! II yen
want to--wc shall not holl It against
YOU"
Vote Seems Assured.
This indeed, solves the proO'em
which many senators have been wor'
rying about. They didn't want to
break with tho administration and
vote against ship subsidy, but som"
OF them feel they must they can
palliate their act TO some extent b'
helping the administration get tE"
bill to a vote. Enough OF them have
consented TO do this so that rOt"
on the ship subsidy seems assured.
Now as To the tinal tally. II Will pc
very close. The proponents ot th'
measure think they have comfort
able margin and they insist that as
the debate develops they Will have
more votes because the Republicans
will have TO make up their mln"N
whether they will vote against par
~ measure or stand by the admins
tration. The Democrats have not
vet shown their hand. It loo& as II
only one or possibly tw" oF them Will
vote for the bill but III" taterestine
thing so far Is that the Democrats
have not become party 10 the o5'
structionist tactics Ut the lnsursent
Republicans. The danger OF such 4
coalition Is that it might work both
ways and that measures which the
Democrats MAJ want TO see paSseG
for the benefit OF their respective
states will not get the necessary CO.
operation from Republican leaders II
a bipartisan o5struc;ionIst bloc Is
formed.
Another Phase.
Another phase oil the situation is
the two camps in the Democratic
marty, the one interested in radically
obstructing whatever it IS possible to
obs,ruct so as to hurt the Republicad
party's chances at all cost and the
nther more conservatively inclined
which fears that all progress in gov
ernment will be blocFed until they
stand with the conservative Republi
cans and prevent bloc rule by the
radicals.
The administration Is thoroughly
satisfied with the shipping OIL
framed in the senate. In TACT II Is
preferred over the House bill. The
principal CHANGES made by the Sen
ate are the limitation o. the amount
that can be expended for subldy 20
$50. .00e 900 year The shipping
board Is confident tn" cost will DOT
r,:n over that sum anyway so the
amendment is acceptable. The other
change which eliTiEated the Madden
amendment recurring annual appto
priations and authorizations is a $50
satisfactory so shippers can buy vss
.ois nth an assurance OF cOntinudli3