The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-15
"Never a Worse Bill Before
Senate." Says LaFOllette.
Is Contrary to Expressed Will of
the American People.
GIFT TO FAVORED INTERESTS
Charges Attempt Was Made to
Harness Labor Opposition.
Farmers Are Unanimously OPP
posed, Senator Declares.

Washington, Dec. 15.-Opening the
attack Of the progressive bloc against
the administration shipping bill. sen
ator La Toilette. Republican. WiscCn-
sin. declared in the senate today that
the measure lis contrary to the a
pressed will of the American people"
and that the action of the president
and its sponsors in attempting to force
its passage at this tine, is an open
challenge to the people and a viola
tion of the trust reposed by the people
in their delegated repI esentativeS-
The Wisconsin senator criticised the
president and Chairman Lasker of the
shipping board in sharp language and
challenged the arguments made by
the executive in his message to con-
gress urging enactment of the legis-
Il do not believe that a worse bill
than this ever came before the senate
of the United States for its consider
alton" he asserted.
Tax TO Pay a Gift.
1T simply means turning over the
peoples property to favored interests
for a few cents on the dollar and a
tax of millions of dollars levied an
nually in order to pay a subsidy to
those who take the ships practically
as a gift It means millions of dollars
of tax refunds to the shipping inter
ests. it does not even promise, much Z
less guarantee, cheaper rates for ocean I
commerce 1t proposes to destroy our 1
army and navy transports and turn .
tn great agency Of potential defense /
over 10 private ownership 1t does
not guarantee the building of a single /
new ship or the maintenance of those |
we have. 1t is wholly bad, and the 4
attempt TO force it upon an unwilling
country cannot be too strongly con-
demned."
The senator added that the farmers
Of the country were unanimously op-
posed to it.
Labor support Sought
II content myself he continued.
with the statement that Chairman
1-a$ker sought conference with
$ muel Gompers. president of the a.
L. .. l., and made a highly improper
Pr' csaI to group of labor officials
tl-it they disregard the VII and the
In; rests of their membership and
support the pending bill.
This conference took place on
April 9 and :. in the headquarters of
the American Federation OF Labor IN
the city of Washington. Cha -rmau
Lasker then and there. I am IN
provisions in the pending bill dealing
with labor. il he could thereby induce
the labor organizations to abate their
opposition TO the bill.
Let it be said to the everlasting
credit of the representatives of the
working men of this country that they
spurned the bare-faced proposal
Chairman Lasker found he could not
buy American labor"
Favorable Report on Bill.
The bill of Senator Norris, Repub-
lican. Nebraska. to establish a $780,
JOO,O government corporation to
finance sale of agricultural products,
was ordered reported 1avorably today ;
BY the senate agricultural committee.
The house rules committee voted to-
day to give privileged status to the /
Green resolution proposing an amend
nent to the constitution under which ,
further issuance of tax exempt securi- /
-isas ..-rnrnIl ~. .L.a....a