The New York herald., 1922-06-21
Says Bill Is Needed to Stop
America Paying Tolls
to World.
HE WRITES TO MONDELL
President Wants Members to
Explain Measure to Con-
stituencies.

WASHINGTON, June 20. - President
Harding tonight gave formal ap-
rroval to plans of Republican leaders
in the House to bring the Administra-
ton ship subsidy bin to vote at this
session Immediately after the tariff bill
has been sent to conference by the
House.
The Presidents position was stated
In letter to Representative Mondeil
.Wyo), the Republican leader. which
embodied also detailed arguments ad-
vanced by Mr. Harding in favor Of en-
actment of the measure at the present
session.
Public interest will not admit Of a
postponement of decision on the policy
to the next Congress or the approaching
short session, the President SAID. but ad-
vantage will result In delay Of short
time while House members. particularly.
many of whom are now away from
Washington, consult their constituents.
The subsidy bill. heNdeclared, is needle
to get the Governments shin holdings
into private hands and into economic
usage. II for nothing else. and this ques-
tion he held mot to be preJudiced by the
old and worn out cry against subsidy"
1T does not become us TO go on paying
shipping tolls to the. world" The Presi-
dent said further, when our righteous
purposes in trade are better promotes
by serving ourselves IN making ouv
tenders In the marts of the world
The exact time fixed for voting or
the measure, the President said, In de
scribing his agreement with House lead
T. Al.
House members will be called in activ'
| ference"
The Presidents Letter. y
President Harding's letter to Mr.. Non
| dell read, In part. as follows:
my DEAR Mr.. MoNpELL:
You have been advised by those who
have discussed the matter with me II
| personal interview that ! am in com
plete accord with the opinion Of leaders
among the majority in :he House thai
the ANAL consideration of the merchant
marine bill in the House might we'll be
postponed until approximately such tim,
as House members will be called ~
active attendance to send the tariff bill
to conference. I am writing to give
| formal confirmation, and to expires:
the satisfaction with which l contem
plate having this measure taken directly
by members to their constituencies 10,
such reactions as will enable them e
translate the deliberate preference Of
the country into a national policy fixed
by law.
"If It were practical to secure fina
action on a measure OF such importance
In the sixty actual working days OF tn,
- r n
postpone action until after the genera
elections and ask a renewed expression
Of the people at the polls.
Unfortunately for such program
the national interests will not admit oi
such postponement. and I should fee
myself remiss in a public duty II
did not ask decision before the present
session Is finally ended.
There was an expression Of the popu.
| lar mind in 1920. The party now
charged with responsibility spoke ir
no uncertain terms about the promo.
tion and maintenance of an American
merchant marine. The question was
not made paramount. but the pledge
was covenanted. and 1t was we'll under.
stood.
I'm spite Of every drive toward econ
omy. the plain. blunt truth is. that
Government shipping has cost the
Treasury more than nifty million dollars
during the fiscal year now closing. This
does not include depreciation or deterl-
oration, running into millions more. and
we have a practical problem which can
not he ignored by either the executive
or legislative branch Of tho Government
or by the American people of every
section. who must supply the Treasury
funds.
Perhaps this venture I'm Government
pursuit OF what ought to be private
business would be looked upon with
complacency II we were making even a
slight degree OF progress toward a
permanent and .efficient merchan,
n arine. But We are not succeed ing
There IL no failure to be charged to the
shipping board. as II is now organized
Losses aggregating sixteen millions q
month have been reduced TO substan.
TALLY one fourth that sum The re.
mainder Is not criticism Of what had
developed out OF war service and wal
Continued on Page Five.