New-York tribune., 1922-11-29

thereto, or In substitution therefor)
las l,er tsanspol.sa ai! ai.s vessel
with the knowledge or consent of the
onner, charterer, agent or master Of
the vessel, or sold on the vessel by or
e9s.-*~t ~ or with the knowl-
edge or consent Of, the owner, char
aA-s4. agent O. master of the vessel"
Private Fleet Amendment
The Edmonds amendment TO the bill
preventing the Standard Oil Company,
United Fruit and similar organizations,
which maintain their own fleets for the
transportation of their products. from
obtaining any of the subsidy benefits
except when their bottoms are used rs
common carriers, reads as follows:
"From the total amount of compen-
sation earned in respect to any voyage
there shall be deducted an amount
which bears the same ratio thereto as
the revenue attributable to the carriage
of cargo owned by the owner Of the
vessel or any person affiliated with him
within the meaning of subdivision (c)
of Section 4ee bears to the total reve-
nue. attributable to the carriage of pas
sengers, cargo and mails. For the pur-
pose of this subdivision the amount of
revenue attributable to the carriage of
cargo owned by the owner of the vessel
or any one affiliated with him shall be
considered to be such amount as Is
determined by the board as represent
ing the fair value Of the services per-
formed by the vessel in transporting
such cargo"
Chairman Greene, of the Merchant
Marine Committee, read to the House
late to-day message from the Middle
Western Merchant Marine committee,
which, he said, represents nineteen
states and ninety-two cities of that
section of the country. It Endorsed the
bill and urged its enactment as nee
essary in maintaining and extending
our foreign markete."
Gompers Demands Defeat
Urging that the pending ship subsidy
bill be rejected President Samuel
Gompers of the American Federation
Of Labor has addressed letter to all
members of the House Of Representa-
tiyes. Mr.. Gompers expresses the
opinion that the pending subsidy bill
will place tremendous drain upon the
Treasury of the United States without
doing anything to rehabilitate the
American merchant marine.
This bill" says Mr.. Gompers, will
not give America a merchant marine,
though it may give US bankers
marine. Labor joins with all others
who want q well-manned, adequate
merchant marine. But it denounces
this bill as fraud, a robbery and
wholly indefensible."
Three leading Democrats. two Of
them Seniors Of the United States, dis
cussed the pending shipping bill to-
night before the National Press Club
here. Senator Joseph E. Ransdell, Dem
ocrat, Of Louisiana, introduced Homer
L. Ferguson, president of the Newport
News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Com.
need of the shipping bill, Speaking
against the bill was Senator Duncan
u. Fletcher, Democrat, of Florida.
Senator Ransdell, who is president
of the National Merchant Marine Asso-
citation, not only stressed the import
ance of immediate action to build up
a real American merchant mare, but he
emphasized the non-partissnship of the
measure, and urged his fellow Demo-
Gratis to support the peding bill. He
said in part:
1--WE have lost the best opportunity
for placing our flag on the seas and
keeping 1t there since the Civil War
more than sixty years ago. We have
the ships now for the first time in over
half century and all that is needed
Is to operate them.
Cost Over $3,oo0, ,000, COO
"This feet is heritage Of the World
| War. cost the Union over $3,000,-
| 900. It was constructed when Mr..
| Wilson was President and Democracy
was ascendent There was no partisan
politics in creating it. All true Ameri-
cans co-operated toward constructing
this feet as an essential war measure.
! There should be no politics in legislat-
ing to preserve it. All true patriots
should unite and work together till a
real American merchant marine, carry
ing not less than one-half Of our for
eign commerce, is in successful opera
! ton.
eve are fortunate in having in the
White House a man with the vision
ciS 'ayed by President Harding in re
gard to this measure and who supports
1t so earnestly. am glad as Demo
crat to hold up the Presidents hands
and wish him Godspeed with our mer-
chant marine bill. The action of 50
many Democrats in fighting this meas