Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-12-27
HUGE CORPORATION
ONLY BENEFI C|ARy
Of SHIP BONUS BILL
Indications Are Bill Is
But Sop Thrown to
Friends
.Cnx Associated PreHal

computing compensation fixed by
the shipping board ships going light
OF cargo would receive the same
sx1ns in subsidies as if they carried
full cargo, and that the measure
as it stands Launches the Govern
nent u4on sea of trouble and en-
ormous expense" The bill does not
provide compensation based upon ton
mage carried, but upon size and
speed of ships.
These are only few of the OBJ
iectiOns urged against the presi-
dents pet project by the democratic
minority of the senate, including
Straight" republican and western
progressive republicans will vote to
kill or recommit the measure.
Chairman Lasker and other offic
ais of the Harding administration
are working hard tt prevent the
amendment of the bill to meet the
objections of the democrats and
progressive republicans. 1t is the
opinion of the democratic senators
that rather than eliminate the pro-
visions which they regard as OBJ
aoxious, the president will allow the
bill to be pigeonholed.
Notwithstanding the optimism
which certain advocates of the bill
express regarding its ultimate pas
sage by congress in substantially
its present form, it is known that
the republican hackers of the meas
ure foresee its rejection unless it is
practically rewritten. A filibust-
err against the bill by radical pro-
gressives on the republican side is
at present being organized. Even if
the agricultural legislation which
these progressive republicans and
the democrats are demanding is en-
acted before the final disposition of
the ship bonus bill is undertaken,
the latter will still face a bitter
attack.
The democratic minority has
shown in the formal expression of
its views that the bill will not have
the effect, if it has the purpose, of
upbuilding the American merchant
marine.
at is alleged that the subsidy is
intended for the ebniefit of a suit
able fleet to carry American grain
and provisions and cotton to mar
kets in foreign lands" the DEMOCRAT
ic minority Of the senate commerce
committee declares. "These are des-
cribed as the farmers kind of
ships"
~'It is prefectly plaOin on the other
hand, that the ships which would
chiefly be benefited are not the car
go ships at all, but passenger ships,
and those of other typts.
"For instance, a cargo ship of
$500 gross tons, sush as those YES
sells built at Hog Island, would re-
seive a minimum compensation. Such
a ship, along with practically 1900
others, composing our cargo car
riers. would have about 200 steaming
days year, and which would
amount to about 81 900 per annum.
It is not conceivable that this
amount would induce purchasers to
acquire these ships or be a very
material figure in their operation.1
The democratic minority then
points ont thatt the George Wash
ington, a passenger ship of $4,000
gross tons, would receive approx
imately 100000 a year in subsidies
under tse bill. This ship on a recent
voyage made a profit of more than
$4,000. Her sister ship, America,
made a profit of $4,000 on one Of
her latest voyages. She also would
be entitled to bonses aggregating
sSOG,00O a year under the bill now
before the senate.
Under the bill, the sdemocrat
show, the Minnekahda, 1921 gross
tons. 16 and one half knots, would
Jhaye a rate of compensation of /
cent a mile. Her subsidy on this
bass would be about $15O,OOO9 a
wear. This vessel is owned by the
Atlantic Transport Line, affiliated
with the international Mercantile
Marine.
eve hav enever understood they
were in need of subsidy, or any d.
rect aid by way of compensation"
the democratic members of the COM
mittee say, referring to the Inter-
national Mercantile Marine.
The twelSe vessels of the Pacific
Nail Stean2 hip Company aggregate
10000 - tons, and are engaged
vrinciu1 carrying cargOes. The