The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1922-07-17
SUBSIDY BILL
WILL NOT COME UP
BEFORE ELECTIONS
Jean Parmentier, director of
PALLADIUM NEWS BUREAU

WASHINGTON, July 17.-Although
President Harding has repeatedly en-
phasized the Importance of early ac-
ton on ship subsidy legislation, it is
regarded as improbable that the house
of representatives will take up the
measure when it concludes its six
weeks summer adjournment, the mid
die of August.
AS a matter of fact, no one expects
the house to give consideration to the
question of ship subsidy before the No
vember elections. Republicans lead
ers in the house believe that sufficient
issues are involved in the fall elec-
tions without tossing ship subsidy in
to the campaign, for good measure.
1t is even questioned whether con-
gress will consider ship subsidy legis
lation during the short session of next
winter, beginning the first Monday in
December and ending the fourth OF
next March. Many believe the three
months of the short session will be en-
tirely taken up with the budget appro-
priation bills, which require careful
consideration and must be given right
Of way over all other legislation.
When the house reconyenes next
month the senate is expected to have
passed the tariff bill In that event it
is on the program for both the house
and the senate to confne their activt-
ties to minor legislation until the
tariff is out of conference and hen to
enact into law the compromise tariff
| measure, some time between Sept. Is
and Oct. l, following which action con-
gress plans to adjourn until December.
May Not Adjourn
But there is an excellent prospect
| that the plan for a full adjournment of
! congress will go by the board as re-
| suit of the seriousness of the railroad
| and coal strikes 1t is anticipated that
| the president would prefer to have
| congress abandon its proposed fall ad-
! journment in the event the nation S
| two most important industries were
| tied up at that time. Many believe
that if the railroad and coal strikes
have not been ended within the next
few weeks President Harding will ask
congress for legislation to insure the
country free movement of its food sup.
plies and industrial products and ade
quate fuel production to meet winter
demands.
There remains one thing which may
induce congress to consider the ques
ton Of ship subsidy during the short
| winter session, the threat that the
president will call an extra session
following the March adjournment
Congress would not relish an extra
session next year but those who are
IN the confidence of the president
assert that the labors of congress viii
not end next March in the event shil
subsidy is side-tracked during the win
ter session.
Thinks Subsidy Needed
The president sees in ship subsidy
the only salvation for the war-made
American merchant marine, represent
ing the investment of some billions o.
dollars. The present system fer tbs
maintenance Of the merchant marine
devised during the war emergency. re
suits in an annual deficit of one hun
dred million dollars or more, which the
!. taxpayers must assume. The presi
dent believes the American flag car
be kept upon the seas by the paymen
Of subsidies to American STEAMSHIP
lines and that the cost of ship subsid,
would not be more than half of tht
deficit the shipping board has been re
, porting annually. Without a subsidy
, Chairman Lasker Of the shipping boar
. has pointed out, American shippin,
. will be driven from the seas by fol
. eign competition
Indiana congressman frankly admi
, that they have little knowledge cor
corning the attitude of their constitr
: ents on the question of ship subsidy
y But while they are at home this sun
. mer they expect to sound out publ
: opinion.