The New York herald., 1922-08-24

HARDING AGREES TO
DEFER SHIP SUBSIDY
Controversy Over Liquor Sales
on Vessels and Strike Crisis
Prompt Stand.
ACTION IN DECEMBER
Change of Program Averts
Fight as Bitter as That
Over Bonus.
ACTION IN DECEMBER

Special Dispatch to THE New. YosK HERALp.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. c., Aug. x3.
| The lively controversy over the sale
of intoxicants aboard American ships;
together with the serious industrial
situation, led President Harding to agree
to-day to a postponement of ship sub
sidy legislation until the December
session of Congress. Mr.. Hardfng's $
action in view of his previous repeated
assertions that nothing IN the legtsla-
tive programme was SO important came
as a surprise. IA
1t does, however, avert a yht fully
as bitter as those over the ,ar.ff and
bonus issues, and paves the way for an
early adjournment Of the Senate and
House so that the members can get
back to their districts in time for the
campaign.
Mr. Harding consented to the delay In
letter to Representative Mondell tRep.
Wyo), the majority floor leader. The
decision to let the measure go for the
present simplifies the Congressional
program materially. leaving only the
tariff and bonus issues in state Of
animated suspension. and those meas
ures relating to the coal and railroad
strikes. upon which action is expected
soon. Here is Mr.. Harding's letter to
Mr.. Mondeil
my Dear Mr.. Mondell:
II have your note conveying the re-
luctance of yourself and your assis-
fants favorable to the bill to aid Amer
lean merchant shipping to bring the
measure up for a vote in the prevail
ing situation in the House. I am frank
ly disappointed that the circumstances
have combined to make 1t difficult. due
on the one hand to the diminished at
tendance in the House, and chargcable,
on the other hand. to the new COM
plications which have arisen. 1t would
be folly to ignore the development OF
the prohibition Issue which came up so
Unexpectedly and we must face the fact
that the friends of the bill must har-
monize their views to accord with both
the constitutional amendment and pub
lie opinion on this subject. Moreover
the same friends Of the measure must
reach concord In the matter of the
favoring provision carried In the tax
exemption section which was designed
to provide an indirect aid to American
shipping enterprises.
II need not tell you that but for the
engrossment in the industrial situation
should have long since invited con-
ferences looking to an agreement on
the problems. am SO earnest about
the passage of this measure. I think
II so important in furthcring our COM
mercial good fortunes and so essential
to our self dependence and our national
defense that l had much rather the
bill should await consideration until we
can rivet the attention of Congress with
a full attendance than jeopardize Its
success by pressing for an immediate
decision. / venture to express to you
in this way the hone which I have pre-
viously uttered that the Administration
may find a way to deal with these
new difficulties with the approval of
all supporters of an American merchant
marine and that we then may have
favorable action before the Congress
gets too deeply engaged in the press
ing legislation which must be considered
in the short session. Very truly yours.
WARREN G.. HARDING"