The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-11-17
Mr.. Harding
Hopes to Put
Subsidy Over
By DAVID LAWRENCE
(Copyright by The Iateil!Eencer)

A
Washington. Nov. lS-Prrsident Hard
ing faces the climax Of his political
career. lie means to force ship subsidy
legislation through co, cress. The whole
pressure os the administration will b.
pu: into the fight. There Will be no re-
cess;on.
Within the ;as: twenty four hours.
the president has outlined ;he plan OF
action 20 his assistants. lie feels that
his party mus; stand back Of him on
this administration measure or confess
is Inability 70 cope with at;er-thc-wlr
problems. Bu, NJ. Harding ,s not go
ing to regard ;hc ship subsidy bill Is u
party measure. lie is mANsag = bid for
Democrats support. HIS feeling IS that
the preSen; sh.pptns situation was ers'
ated by the war. b. d Democratic ai-
m!n.s;rat.ou assisted by Republicans.
and that both parties owe it TO the coI"-
Try to stra;ghten out the ness.
President Conu0enr
The p-es.dcn, Is coaadrnc the whole
country VIII suppor; the ship subsidy
program when i understands the facts.
He charges that enemies ot the weIsUr"
have mIsrepreseated the case. They @r1
trying 70 prejudice The nation because
OF It's traditional opposition 70 SUBJ
sides. But pre-wac subsidy aad a
postwar subsidy is : different thsag IL
Mr.. Harding's opinion. The United
States government is At present sub
ssd!zIng the Shipping board Mr.. Hard
Ing wants to reduce that financial bur-
den by another plan which VIII cos;
much less. his proposal = 10 salvage
the war fleet. the iGr~ being tv rncoHr-
age private owners q take government.
vessels and build W sh;UprE traIa
and pay back 70 the coycrumcU; n tan ,
the amount OF the a.d given now.
The cost Of the program wound b"
less. Nj. Harding argues. ta0a to corr
l;uuc 70 furnish tAc shipping O"art AZ
nual.y with Jnc present appropriations
for government operation. And oc>.deS'
the president contends tEa. { no s"v-
crUmcnt keeps on operating the sn.23
they VIII wear uut I.d congress WI
no, be disposed TO appropriate" any
feet IS not suited in every particular 20
peace-c.rre conditions and certain typ
Of vessels uus; be au..t % balance tn"
merchant marine. Tho government w.
not spend any more money or ship con-
scruct.ou but property encouraged pr!-
Vatc companies will
Private owners will "ot buy or bu;hl
while the EoverUm"nc $ co:n?st.to:
in the ShtDp.ng business
Secs No Alternative
So the president sees no Alternative
70 tn" ship subsidy program except I
continue :!on OF the PrcseH: heavy sN-
perd.ture for ships and a detsr.oratip7
OF tho govNrDmCut feet 50 that L car
no, ultimately hs sold wi:h any hope OF
getting out ~: the Investment even =
fraction OF the orIgina, cost.
Under the new proposal the private
companies would hs assisted II opcrat
ing the ships and they would organize
corpora ;ioHs which would buy the ships
from the gpvcrnTcu: a Il far price. t..
president Is confident The government
VIII gcc back into the treasury wili.ous
O. dollars which g. w"a!G otherwise
lose. As :or r-oI;-maHiag. there wou'd
hc no SuaJan;sc Of profits 20 anybody.
There would. on the other hand, be a
limitation @: profits so ;hat all IN eX-
cess OF certain percentage would rC-
Vert To the government u A"lp pay tac
subsidy.
Argument for Subsidy
Mr.. Harding feels chat til" whole
thiag IS a bookkeeping transaction. II
do nothing means (" cNr"Hd annually
large sums for government "p"cat."I--
n plain subsidy without hope Of rcturn.
Tn mass tho :rrG..g bill means - r.-