New-York tribune., 1922-11-29

Passage of Bill by Same
Figure To-day Indicated
as Foes Lose i'm Effort to
ScuttIe Whole Measure
Dry Clause Added
Inn Modified Form
ss
Amendment Passed Bar
ring Aid to Standard Oil
and Other Private Fleets
By David S. Kennedy

WASHINGTON, Nov 2S.--Adminis-
tration leaders won decisive VIC
tory in the House to-day when they
defeated, by vote of 1872 to 80, the
motion of the opposition to strike out
the subsidy fund in the merchant
marine bill. This action was preceded
by a keen fight, launched by the Demo
Gratis and the farm bloc, to break the
backbone of the BILL It was defended
with equal vigor by shipping advocates,
who asserted that adoption Of this mo-
tion, which was introduced by Repre-
sentative E. L. Davis, Democrat, Of
Tennessee, would make the rest of the
measure useless.
The majority Of thirty-nine showed,
for the first time since debate was be-
gun last week, the real strength of
the House on the bill. 1t was consid-
cred generally forecast of the vote
tomorrow on the bill as a whole, which
will be taken not later than 4 o'clock.
that, while the agricultural representa-
tives were able to put across an amend
ment which they consider significant,
such as the rejection Of the per
cent tax rebate to shippers, they are
not strong enough to defeat the bill.
Reinforcements Called In
A new feature of the fight developed
when it was learned that the Demo
cratic leaders have sent out hurry
calls to absentees to be present for
the final vote tomorrow. Following
this information there was a meeting
of the Republican Steering Committee.
1t was reported that q canvass of the
members showed TIE issue too close
for comfort. For this reason, and to
offset the effort of the opponents to
spring surprise at the last minute,
the Admins Fration is seeking to get
more Of the large delegations from
New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey
and Connecticut on hand tomorrow.
The debate on the numerous amend
ments found the Democrats employing
every form of tactics to delay or em-
barrass the bill, without regard to
any subsequent policy affecting the
private or publicly owned merchant
marine. No constructive measures of
apparently was to make political capi-
tai from whatever popular objection
there is to the term subsidy.
Private Fleets Eliminated
Representative G. w. Edmonds, Re-
publican, of Pennsylvania, to-day in
troduced his promised amendment to
vessels owned by the Standard OIL
United States Steel and other large
corporations. This was adopted after
some debate. 1t provides that while
industrial concerns operating their
own ships cannot obtain compensation
upon the transportation of cargoes
owned by them, they may receive such
subsidy for the proportions of ship
ments taken as common carriers.
Mr.. Edmonds remarked that his
amendment involved 100000 tons of
shipping and probably $3,o0o,000 to
S4,ooo,0o0 in subsidy. OF this shipping,
he added, only 100000 tons is owned by
the Standard Oil. One unfortunate
feature is that elimination Of this sub
sidy strikes not only the larger corpo-
rations, said Mr.. Edmonds, but also
many smaller and growing concerns,
such as the Atlantic Fruit, the Texas
Oil, Union Oil and others, which de-
serve greater consideration.
Regardless of the value of tankers
as auxiliaries to the navy in time of
war, administration leaders supported
the Edmonds amendment as a means
of eliminating the opposition which
showed itself vigorously whenever the
names of the oil and steel companies
were mentioned.
Another parliamentary fight devel-
oped when Representative w. B. Bank
head, Democrat of Alabama, offered an
amendment to prohibit the payment of
compensation to any vessel upon which
liquor is sold. Mr.. Edmonds immedi-
ately offered substitute which has
the same effect as the Bankhead mo-
tion except that discovery of the sale
of liquor would bar the vessel from
subsidy for that voyage but would
not bar the ship indefinitely. This was
carried by a vote of rs to %.
One point of considerable signifi-
cance to ship owners was the adoption.
with the support Of the Republican
leaders, of the amendment by Repre-
sentative Madden, Republican of
tcontnued page six)