Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-11-22
Special Rule To Be Voted
On In House This
Afternoon.
VOTE ON RULING
Should Rule BE Defeated BY Anti
Subsidy Members. Bill Is Through
With For Present At Least-Has
Harding's Support.
(Hy United Press1

Washington, Nov. 22.-AdVOcateS OF
the ship subsidy achieved their first
victory Of the specia! session today
when the House Rules Committee vot-
ed to 3 to report a rule providing
for immediate consideration of the
measure in the House.
The cimmittee divided on partisan
lines, Reps, Campbell, Kans., Roden-
berg, H., Fess, o., Enell, n. Y, Dale,
Vt. and Johnson, S. D., all Republi
cans, voting to report the measure,
while Reps. Garrett, Tenn, Pou, \. c.
and Cantrill, KY, opposed it.
Washington, Nov. 22-The admin
istration ship subsidy bill, counted
upon by the Democrats to sever Pres
ident Farding's control over his party
in congress and pave the way for his
defeat for reelection in 1924, was to
be put to its first test in the House
today.
The lower branch is to vote before
night on a special rule laying down
The terms under which the subsidy
will be considered. The rule very
likely will be adopted, but that is not
certain. Should the anti-subsidy fore
es be able to defeat the rule, the sub
sidy bill which the president has so
ardently championed would be as
good as beaten at the start. If the rule
is approved, the showdown will come
on final vote on the bill Nov. %.
The rule does not present genu-
inc test. Many members, particularly
on the Republican side. who are op-
posed to the subsidy viii nevertheless
vote for giving it full consideration
on the floor Some of them hope 20
be able to amend the bill so they can
vote for it later on. Others will vote
against the measure in the end, but
do not want to be placed in the posi-
ton Of opposing the president so far
rs TO deny consideration of his favor
itc measure.
Democrats will vote practically as
unit against the rule, as they will al
so against the bill itself.
The rule is a liberal one, designed
only TO prevent a filibUster. 1t gives
three days for general debate, start
ing Thursday, and the first three days
Of next week for amendments, with
vote to come shortly after 4 o'clock
next Wednesday afternoon.
The presidents personal message
yesterday served 70 make the subsidy
an out-anG-out test Of his leadership
over his majority party in congress.
Harding chose to do that IN the lace
of contrary advice from some Re
publican leaders, who warned him re-
peatedly that the subsidy appeared
doomed in the Senate, even II II
should pass the House, and that It's
defeat would constitute a damaging
blow from a political standpoint.
Friends of the subsidy claimed to-
day that the presidents message had
put the bill over" Opponents
claimed the message didn't change
a vote
Tvpical statements were made by
Rep. Mondell. Republican House
Leader, and Rep. Garrett. Tenn, the
Democratic leader.
MondeT said: Il regard the presi-
dents message an exceptionally
strong and forceful one. His argu-
ments in favor of the subsidy are IN
Garrett declared that while those
who are in favor Of the bill probably
will regard the message as having
put the matter in a very favorable
light, the president did not answer
single objection"
Newspaper polls indicated that the
president failed to make any lnroads
on the opposition from the farm bloc
and other Republican congressman
from the central and western states.
Senator Capper, Kansas, leader Of the
bloc in the Senate, and Rep. Tincher,
Kansas, one of the bloc leaders IN
the House, both authorized statements
saying they were still against the
subsidy, and indicating their opin-
ions that the lineup remains the
same.
The presidents statement that he
will shortly urge enactment Of legls-
lation giving the farmers better cred
it facilities, regarded by some as an
appeal for subsidy support from rhe
farm bloc, was without effect. Lead
ers of the bloc let it be known that
they feel the blcc is "in the saddle" or
viii be after March t, and that they
will get the credit legislation without
trading votes for it.