The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-07-30
HIGH SEA AHEAD
OF ship SUBSIDY
B|LLINC0NGRESS
Administration is B Ia m ed
When Finest Fleet Tied up
Because of Tumult in
the capital.
BY GRATTAN KERANS

oS VNhh IAN hEhANS
WASHINGTON - Rocks and storms
are in the path of President Harding's
chip subsidy bill. which he has de.
handed that congress shall pass at the
eurrent session on penalty of being re.
convened for that purpoe. These OBJ
stacles to the plain sailing of the presi-
dents pet measure take the form of
facts, figures and arguments urged
against Il by Senator Fletcher, democrat
Florida, generally regarded as one of
the highest authorities on American
shipping.
Senator Fletcher ascribed the failure
OF the nations merchant fleet to oper.
ate successfully and economically to
Chairman Easker Uf the shipping board
who. he charged had converted the
board into political machine and who
spent his time on political propaganda
instead Of attending TO his official du-
ties as chairman.
Lots OF Propaganda
Experts, some of them owners and
operators OF ships, have estimated that
President Harding's proposed present
TO the private interests which are press
ing him for the passage OF the ship
subsidy bill would take from the rank
and file of taxpayers not less than $780,
100000 year. The advocates of this
annual bonus" to powerful corpora
tons have been flooding the country
with their propaganda. Chief among
these press agents for the measure is
hat A
States shipping board. one of the puta.
tive authors of the bill with Winthrop
Marvin, vice president and general
manager Of the American Steamship
Owners association.
Part of the campaign for promoting
the adopIon Of the bill which President
Harding has made his favorite child
among the legislative proposals now
pending, next 10 the tariff. is the zeal
Gus effort to discredit the merchant
marine established by the Wilson ad-
ministraticn. These ships are described
in Chairman Lasliers appeals for sub
sides as q costly heritage"
Referring to this slur. on the peo-
pies vast and valuable investment in
said, in his speech in the seaate.
A Costly Heritage.
Think OF IT, The finest flee, own
ed or controlled by any maritime power
in the world, or by any organization,
denominated a costly heritage. These
people clam to want an adequate Amer
ican merchant marine-American own
ed and operated-for the benefit of A
merican commerce and, American indus
try. and yet the first essential to such
a merchant marine is ships, which they
complain OF as a costly heritage
III we could only get rid OF the
ships, the shipping board would me re-
lieved Of annoyance and the friends of
this measure would be happy. Their
main purpose would be accomplished.
II must confess to being glad we
have the ships, and I value them as
a distinct asset, which | would not like
TO see dissipated and wasted. I want
10 see them taken care of and properly |
employed. They constitute the first
essential requirement TO q merchant
marine, and instead OF giving them
away or sinking them, or paying peo-
Pile to relieve us Of them, | would put
them in service and operate them as
our needs demand and our interests call |
for until such time as they are wanted
by those who will keep them under our
flag, and Will take pride in their coun-
try's status on the seas. who under
stand the business they would engage
in. and who will see that they render
the service the people of this country
are entitled to have and must have.
Ship Board Blamed
The failure OF the nations merchant
marine fleet to operate successfully and |
economically is the fault OF the present
shipping board, Senator Fletcher de-
clared.
IF tho chairman Of the board, in
stead OF furnishing arguments to con.
gressmen and spending money on
publicity campaign 10 persuade the
voters of the country to favor this bill,
would spend his time and devote his
time and devote his energies to per
suade American ship owners that they
ought 10 pstronlZe their own shipyards;
and American merchants that they
ought 10 encourage American ship.
ping, that would be much more help
ful in establishing an American mer-
chant marine"
Senator Fletcher declared that the
shipping board under Chairman Las.
ker's auspices had become the motor.
ious resort Of political place hunters,
and has been used to disgusting and
scandalous extent as u political mach
inc" In the same breath with de.
precautions OF the big. American fleet
under his control and pleas for It's sale
or donation TO private interests. Chair.
man Lasker is seeking TO enlarge the
powers and expenditures of the ship.
ping boar'l. Senator Fletcher showed.
Philip Mason. a practical authority
on the SUBJECT Of shipping. has testified
that the ship subsidy advocated by
President Harding and Chairman Las.
ker would be utterly futile In creating
a merchant marine.