The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-11-24
Housetight
on Shipping
Bill Opens
Administration Subsidy Meas.
ure Both Commended and
Condemned During Five
Hours of Debate.
Meeting Time Advanced

Washington. Nov. 23.--By a. P.)--
Brought up in the house. tho admin
istration shipping bill WAS commended
and condemned during flvo hours de-
bate, In which leaders on both sides
Of the battle took part
All told. five speeches for
and two against the measure-were
made. Two full duys OF debate re.
main before the bill viii be laid be-
fore the house for amendment, and
10 satisfy all eager 10 speak. the meet
ing time Friday was advanced all
hour.
Chairman Greene OF the merchant
marine committee, which framed IL,
and Representative Edmunds. Penn
sylyania. ranking republican member,
made the principal arguments for the
bill. Representative John NJ Nelson,
republican. Wisconsin, was selected
by democrats in charge Of the opposi-
tion TO go 10 bat first 10 urge its de-
feat. Representative Bankhead OF
Alabama, democrat, membeY OF the
merchant marine committee. attacked
the bill at length and Representative
Watson. republican. Pennsylvania. de-
Tended II briefly.
Greene Opens Fight.
The good which he believed would
come TO the country through opera
tion Of an adequate merchant marine
was emphasized by Chairman Greene
in opening the fight. lie contended
it would give employment 10 thou.
sands. retain in the United States
5000 100000 annually IN freight pay.
ments, prevent the necessity OF the
country facing another wartime tom
mage crisis and right the injustice
done tho American merchant marine
over long period OF years.
Hitting squarely at the opposition,
Mr.. Greene told how the government
bad aided farmers and railroads, how
it had built highways, and then de-
plored It's failure 10 put the flag at
Its proper standard on the seas.
Edmunds Defends Bill.
In giving detailed explanation OF
the bill, inviting questions and meet
ing all attacks, Mr.. Edmunds express
cd belief that most shipping people
wanted It passed, although he declar-
ed they had displayed slight interest
in it's framing and had not attempted
10 dominate or direct the committee.
Mr.. Edmunds said lie was firmly con-
vinced that the compensation pro-
vided was sufficiently large to make
up for the loss OF operation under the
American flag and guarantee an ad.
equate fleet.
"Grea Britain started with a big
subsidy" he said. '"roday it is
mail subvention. japan, after 20
years Of high subsidy, is reducing it
and still Is able to keep her ships
on the sea while doing So
Declaring the government was pro-
posing to rob Peter TO pay Paul,
Mr.. Bankhead told the house the is
sues involved and the contemplated
was the duty Of the bills proponents
to show there was no other remedy
for present shipping conditions. lie
characterized it as "monstrosity."
Rob Peter to Pay Paul.
Under this measure" he said, "the
Standard OIL company, owning its own
tankers to move its own oil for It's
benefit, is to be handed out Of the
treasury four or five million dollars
annually. just for the privilege of
hauling its own stuff to its own tank.
ors. 1t Is a bold and naked raid ON
the treasury. The steel corporation
is similarly benefited, while the
United Fruit company. operating It's
own fleet of ships to Central Amer
ica, can 90 TO the board at the end OF
the year. say we have Travelled so
many miles and demand a million
dollars or two as a Christmas pres
,nt."
In his opening attack, Mr.. Nelson
warned republican leaders that il they
would hold the party together they
must 20 out TO the masses and not TO
the ship profiteers. lie insisted the
bill assured a return of 1915 per cent
and over that to ship owners
and operators.
There was never large attendance
on the floor. but the debate was fol-
lowed with unusual interest.