New-York tribune., 1922-06-17
Ship Subsidy Is
RushedtOHOuse
BY 9-to.4 Vote
Merchant Marine Commit.
tee Yields TO Harding's
Pressure and Gives Meas
ure a Favorable Report
Dry Amendment Beaten
Cullen, of New York. Only
Democrat TO Stand With
Republican Colleagues

Frova 7he 7ribpres wGshinofo- Bureau
WASHINGTON. June i6.--Yiclding
completely 70 the demand Of President
Harding. the House Committee on
Merchant Marine and Fisheries to-day
recommended passage Of the ship sub
sidy bill and formally turned the
measure over 70 the lower branch Of
Congress The favorable report was
cratic members Of the committee op-
posing IL. with the exception Of Thomas
II. Cullen, Of Brooklyn, who voted
present"
Their action. which brings the bill
into the open and is the signal for
hostilities, followed speedily the
throttling Of attempts 20 place in IL
the dry amendment preventing Ameri-
can vessels carrying OF selling liquors
from obtaining It's benefits. The amend
mCnt was offered by Representative
william B. Bankhesd, Democrat, Of
Alabana. and defeated on a partiJan
vote # 10 70 I, Representative Cullen,
OF New York. being the only Democrat
who voted with the Republicans against
il. This was the only real attempt 20
change the bill made by the Demo
Gratis.
The committee agreed. however, 20
an alteration proposed by Representa-
tives Calm, Of Ohio; Perlman, OF New
York. and Ricketts,, Of Ohio. u would
require that crews must be at least
two-thirds American citizens and the
remainder individuals eligible 20 ciu-
L Il l. afN Fraff 90
three years after passage.
Plans TO Offset Dry Move
REPRESENTATIVE Bankheads failure
70 put his proposal over in the com
mittee caused Representative George
". Edmonds, Republican. o. Pennsyl-
vania, who plans 20 Offset the drys
with another provision which would
prevent ships % any registry carrying
alcoholic beverages from landing az
American ports. and thereby put Amer
lean vessels on equal competition, 10
withhold his amendment. il rs now
his intention. he said, 20 cmbody u IN
a separate bill, which would 80 before
the Merchant Marine Committee i'm
meGiately. II would have q degree OF
priority ~ this way, and should the
drys attempt 10 force over the Bank
head amendment on the floor Il could
be then presented as a substitute
amendment from the committee, super
seding the dry move.
Speaker Gillett, Republican hoor
leader Mondell, Chairman Greene, Of
the Merchant Marine Committee and
Representative Edmonds, who is chair
man Of the subcommittee. which had
charge Of the subsidy bill, conferred
today on the only step remaining be-
fore IL may be taken up on the hoor,
tie nature OF the rule which VIII
govern its consideration. They are
understood 10 have reached an agree
ment as 70 length Of time 10 be given
FOR debate or whether gag rule.
either mild or otherwise, should be en-
forced This phase Of the procedure
VIII be worked out by the Rules Com
mittee at a meeting early next week.
IN its report accompanying the bill,
tho committee said:
"To-day IL is rot a question of
whether we wish q merchant marine or
not. for we have a merchant marine.
II is not a question Of subsidy or no
subsidy, because 20 meet the govern
mcn''s loss OF s50,oooo0 a year in
The operation Of our merchant marine
the people are being taxed far beyond
what would be needed were the ships
brought into efficient commercial
operation.
Points TO Alternatives
"The question is, what shall we DO
with the fcet that We have - that,
with the least cost to the taxpayers.
that feet may be made Of the greatest
use 70 tho country IS n whole, both In