The Washington herald., 1922-11-10
Wants Action on Ship
Subsidy and Appropria-
tions Before March 4.
MADDEN is HERE
TO SPEED WORK
Leaders Believe President
Will Be Forced to
Call Sixty = Eighth.

In the wake Of the election which
reduced Republican majoritIes in
both branches OF Congress to the
danger point. President Harding las;
night issued a proclamation cali
ing the Sixty-seventh Congress In
extra session on Monday. November
20.
Public interests require the exc
ira session." the President said n
his proclamation. which did not
mention any specific legislation he
sought to have considered. IL is
generally known. however. that th-
President was actuated In calling
Congress back two weeks ahead Of
the regular session IN order TO gain
that much time Tor ship subsidy
legislation. which he so earnestly
wishes to be passed
I.siste.t on ship Subsidy.
In the last session the Presi-
dent was insistent that Congress
enact merchant marine relief legts-
lation and at one time sent a let
ter threatening TO call an extra
session Immediately q there should
be an adjournment without action
on the subsidy bill. Later. when
the coal and railroad strikes dis
turbed the legislative program. the
President consented TO a postpone
ment of action until tho December
session.
The President now believes. the
election being over. IL Would ne
expeditions for the Sixty-seve-th
Congress to get at its work ahead
of time SO IL may pass appropria-
tion bills and the ship subsidy
measure before March 4.
In the minds of many leaders
Of both parties there exists grave
doubt as to whether the snip
subsidy bill can get Through. Tbs
election, In their opinion. has
served to increase the doubt.
They point out that in mapping
out the legislative program for
the special session and the fol-
lowing short regular session be-
ginning December 4. the admins
tration is face TO face with puz-
zling complications
Time Wei Taken UP.
A. a general rule. Congress hiss
its hands full putting through the
annual appropriation bills during
the short regular session which
ends on March T. In recent years
even the appropriation bills. par
| ticularly those providing the funds
| for the army and navy. have been
| in an uncompleted state when the
gavel has fallen on March aud
! IL has been necessary 20 finish
them up later on.
II the administration insists upon
the ship subsidy bil' and under
takes to force il through the SEN
ate indications are that il will have
to do so at the risk Of sacrificing
most of the appropriation bills IL
is generally conceded the subsidy
will be stubbornly fought in the
Senate and that several weeks de-
bate will be required 60 bring "
to a final vote. IL a flibuster does
not develop. in which case a much
longer time will be required
Passage of the appropriation htlts-
of course. is vitality necessary To
the operation OF the government
and IL any of them remain unpassed
on March II would be necessary
for the administration to summon
Congress into extra session again.
President Harding. II Is known. ts
exceedingly anxious to avoid call
ing an extra session next year.
No Chance After March Z.
On the other hand the Presid-n'
is keenly desirous of getting tho
subsidy passed. IL he fails to get
il passed before March its chances
will be zero. He appears. therefore
to be confronted with the alterna-
tives of giving up the ship subsidy
bill or reconciling himself to the
necessity for calling an extra ses-
sion next year.
Nevertheless House leaders are
going to make every effort to re-
spond to the Administrations
wishes. Representative Madden.
Illinois. chairman of the appropria-
tions committee. arrived in Wash
| ington yesterday and announced
work would be started today on the
preparation of the appropriation
bills An attempt viii be made TO
rush the appropriation bills through
the House and clear the way for the
subsidy bill by the first OF the year.
Even IL they succeed. however, the
slow-moving Senate will have dim
Guilty Of disposing OF them in the
remaining two months OF the ses-
sion.
fhe senate. upon convening. will
resume consideration of the $1,000
900 Liberian loan bill. to which has
been attached numerous riders car
rying large sums OF money. The
Dyer anti-lynching bill is next on
the program. but there is doubt
whether this will be pushed.