The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-03-21
IMPENDING ISSUES
DISTURB PARTIES
QUESTION OF SHIP SUBSIDY
DEMORALiZING
Minority Party Would Aid Merchant
Marine bus Against Harding
Plan
Hugh W. Roberts in The State.


Washington, March 17.-For the
encouragement and upbuilding of an
American merchant marine, the con-
gress viii enact legislation emJody-
ing a subsidy.
The reason that there is no doubt
of the foregoing is found in the fact
that al overwhelming majority of the
membership of both houses Of con-
gress is Republican.
An investigation of the Democratic
state cf mind results in the impress
sion that a majority of the memcers
Of that party will oppose the institu-
ton of a subsidy-certainly the sub
sidy in the form suggested by Pres
ident Harding.
The Democrats are arguing regard
ing the subsidy just as they argue re-
garding the bonus.
eve are in favor of a bonus," they
say, p" but we oppose the methods pro-
posed for raising money with which
to meet bonus obligations.
Regarding the subsidy they say:
eve favor the encouragement of a
merchant marine. But we are not in
favor of going to such extremes as
the president suggests"
They do rot venture the assertion
as to what they would be willing to
do. AS many as 80 members of the
Democratic party in the house and
senate, interviewed by this cores
pondent, smoke in effect as above in
'dicated.
They admit that the present situa-
ton is intolerable. Whetl pressed,
they admit the congress is confronted
with simple proposition: To build
a merchant marine or suffer that
which exists to be eliminated as re-
suit of inequitable competition.
They will not commit themselves
to any definite program or procedure.
Senator Underwood of Alabama,
who always endeavors to answer qucs-
tons, said:
81 do not know whether l will sup
port the bill as it is drawn and pre-
sented to the committee on commerce
or not. It may never emerge from
that committee. / do not know whe-
ther or not will support the bill that
does emerge. Naturally, I would like
to read it before committing myself.
"But I am in favor of some kind of
subsidy or subvention discriminating
in favor of American shipping: l am
on record for a discriminating duty
in favor of goods imported into the
United States in American vessels
as was contained in the tariff bill of
1912"
Senator Underwood wrote that bill
and of course voted for its passage.
If he is committed, all others who vot-
ed for that bill are committed, and,
likewise, all are morally committed
who would have voted for its passage
had they been present.
The section in question led to an
interesting s.tuatior. England co'n-
planned because of its view that that
section violated provisions Of the
"most favored nations" treaties. Pres
ident Wilson agreed with that view.
Congress instructed him to aorogate
such treaties. He refused. President
Harding, when a candidate for the
presidency, criticised President Will
son for having failed to act on in
structions of congress.
But when he took up the duties of
the executive, he, also, found t I'M
possible to act in accordance with
the instructions of congress. The
commercial treaties are not abrogat-
ed and will not be.
The Democratic party, it is pointed
out, is not committed to the Harding
subsidy although it is committed to
policy of fostering and pro7ec ting
merchant marine.
C. S. Barrett of Georgia, president
of the National Farmers un,on, las
expressed thought which has dis
turbed Democrats in this election
year.
eff the president" he said, ''can
advocate the donation Of S32,000,O00
annually to shipping, a minor indus
try, why can he not advocate meas
ure guaranteeing to agriculture, a
major industry, the cost of produc-