Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1922-06-02

PROBABILITY is, HOWEVER, THE
BILL WILL NOT BE PASSED
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.
NOT URGED WITH ENTHUSIASM
Widely Varying Opinions of It's Advo-
Gates and pponents-Attitude of
the West and Middle West Is Rather
Uncertain.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK

By EOWARD rs. CEAHN
Washington. = Republican members
of the house committee on merchant
marine and fisheries and Of the senate
commerce committee have told Presi-
dent Harding that an attempt will be
made to put twin propellors on the ship
subsidy bill in order that it may be
speeded on its way through congress.
Such promises as these have been
heard before in Washington, and it
perhaps is fairly safe wager that the
subsidy measure will not break speed
limits on its attempted voyage through
q legislative ocean beset with rocks
and sand bars.
This does not mean that a subsidy
will not be voted. It seems to be con-
coded generally by legislators of both
parties that the American merchant
marine cannot be made successful I'M
less a government subsidy shall be
granted, but the opponents of the
measure say a weak merchant marine,
or no merchant marine at all, will be
better than one supported by public
funds
It is true that there is not much pulls
ing enthusiasm today among the mem
bers of the majority in house and SEN
ate over subsidy legislation, but, never
theless, the belief seems to be that
such a measure will pass some time be-
fore the present congress goes to its
death on March fourth of next year.
Widely Varying Opinion.
Not long ago Chairman Lasker of
the shipping board made report to
the administration, and on the basis of
it the subsidy bill was framed and in
troduced into congress. 1t has bee.
called variously by its proponents and
its opponents a measure ito rehablll-
tate the American marine" ito make
prosperous the shipping. the agricul-
tural and the manufacturing interests
of the United States" IAN ocean-going
pork barrel bill" and a legislative at
tempt "to rob the American people"
These Characterization of the meas.
ure will i've instantly an idea of the
conflicting viewpoints.
ers in congress declared they had evil
dence that the West and Middle West
were not only becoming reconciled to
the thought of ship subsidy legislation,
but were becoming favorable to it. 1t
was in the agricultural districts that
the promoters of the measure feared
they would meet opposition which
would manifest itself in antagonism to
the legislation by the representatives
of these districts. Later there seemed
to be a change of mind in some parts of
the country about the bill, and today
the Republican majority believes that
it can get sufficient support for this
measure to secure its enactment But
only the most cheerful members think
that the law will be written on the
statute books before the summer
wanes.
An official of an agricultural organi-
zation recently has told the joint house
and senate committee which has been
holding hearings on the measure that
the farmers of the country are OPP
posed to it. Some of the friends of the
bill say this official does not represent
the majority agricultural opinion. OF
course this remains to be proved and,
as things are now, there must be a
clearing up of the situation before the
majority in congress will attempt to
speed the measure on its passage.
People Would Pay, of Course.
Of course, if a subsidy bill is voted,
the people must pay money to secure
the end sought, that Of making not
only a self-supporting but a profit
earning American merchant marine.
Taxation will be increased unquestion-
ably, but the argument is that the null
duplication of markets for American
goods and the consequent increase in
American manufacturing and agricul-
tural activities will more than pay for
the additional taxes. This cheerful way
of looking at it is called by the OPP
ponents of the measure "a smile over a
misunderstanding Of facts"
The best thing for man who wants
to know today is to read the report
submitted to the President by the ship
ping board and then to read the re-
ports of the hearings which the joint
committee Of the two houses Of con-
gress has been holding. Both sides of
the controversy then can be learned in
detail and if a man has something of
the judicial in his makeup he probably
can determine which side he thinks is
right.
In the bill which is before congress
there is a provision that shippers of
goods which are to be carried under
the American flag are to be allowed in
come tax deductions equal to per
cent of the freights on the merchan-
disc which is so shipped. The oppo-
nents of the measure say that this
looks good, but, as one rather bitter
antagonist of the legislation has said,
it is merely getting money from Peter
to pay bill to Paul.
Fight On for Congress Seats.
Progress is being made in the plans
of the Democratic and Republican
campaign committees for vigorous
work in the coming fight for seats in
congress.
Republicans say it is certain that