New-York tribune., 1922-06-21
Consents to Defer Vote
and Calls on Congress
men to ubmit Pela for
Marine TO Constituents
Insists, However, 1t
Must Pass Later
Liquor Complication Ex-
pectcd To Be Less Nex-
ing When IT Is Revived

Vow ~ fTtfAHF ~ NNH"fHt'fH H"H~ft
WASHINGTON. June 2o.--President
Harding definitely agreed tonight 20
temporary postporement % action IN
The House on the ship subsidy hill. His
sanction Of the proposal Of House lead
ers. IL ~as explained m letter sent
70 Republican Floor Leader Mondell.
comes of the belief that the country
will approve the policy n aiding the
American merchant marine once d, Is
understood.
Friends % the President believe all
danger Of defeat for this measure will
have vanished when members - the
House have felt the pulse cf their con-
stiiuents Incidentally the hope j.
also thst the liquor-on-ships storm
will have sbated
Reports made 10 tho rrssident since
the Anheuser-Busc brewing interests
opened their attack on American ships
for selling liquor when outside the
thre.-nile limit had indicated tina. the
whole ship subsidy bill Wa, IN danger
Of defeat. Some members o. the
House implored the President not 10
force a vote AZ tn time. fearing that
roll call would rcsllt IN the killing
of the measure. carrying with ii ie-
pudiation Of the President. Incl.
dentally they feared the political cor
sequences NJ the election in No~emher
Of a split between the House and the
President over What he had made such
a strong Administration measure
Believes Nation Favors Bill
The President has accepted the ad-
vice OF his friends IN Capitol Hill 10
postpone the roll call. believing i'm
plicitly that the country is strong for
an American merchant marine and
that the country will agree that the
present ship subsidy bill is the only
way 10 keep tho American merchant
ship on the high seas. He believes tho
members Of the House who are nov
fearful Of the political consequences "a
themselves Of voting for = subsidy
will come back % Washington from
their brief stay 81 home satisfied tha;
there is no danger in supporting the
President on this issue.
Perhaps even more important from
the viewpoint Of political fear is the
strong hope that by postponing the
vote some means will be found before
the final vote comes TO eliminate the
wet and dry angle entirely from the
controversy.
L believe this measure Is unfailing
in its appeal 70 the sober judgment Of
the American people" said the Presi-
dent to-day in speaking Of the subsidy
bill.
There was no reluctance on IN. part
Of the President in agreeing N the
d.lay on the bill. il was stated NJ the
Whit. House. because the Administra.
tion does not want 20 do anything
without knowing what Is IN the minds
OF the people OF the country a rcali-
zation Of the objects % the plan for
revitalizing the nations means Of in
tsrcourse with the world is the only
thing necessary 20 It's success. in the
view OF the Executive. and a thorough
understAnding Of u will insure us en-.
actment into law.
Pre~ldents Letter to Mondell
Tn. President's letter n Representa-
tive Mondell follows IN part:
"My Dear Mr.. Mondell:
you have been advised by those vho
have discussed the matter with me IN
personal interviews that ! am IN com
ple.e accord with the opinion of lead
ers among the majority IN the House
that the final consideration Of the mer-
chant marine bill in the House might
well be postponed until approximately
such time as House members wi be
called In active attendance 70 send the
tariff bill 70 conference. am writing
20 give formal confirmation and 70 OK
press the satisfaction with which ]
contemplate having this measure taken
directly by members 70 their constitu-
encies for such reaction as will enable
them 10 translate the deliberate pref.
erence of the country into n national
policy fixed by law.
"If il. were practical 70 secure hnal
action on measure Of such i'm
portance in the sixty actual working
DAYS Of the short term Of Congress. !
would gladly postpone action until
after the general elections. and ask n
renewed expression Of the people at
the polls. Unfortunately for such a
program. the national interests will
not admit Of such postponement, and
| should feel myself remiss in a pub
(conunu,o on psse tour