Omaha daily bee., 1922-06-11
Harding to Urge Ship
Subsidy Legislation

tCensinusd srem rsss ossl
ey corporation and show how much
il knows about operating a merchant
fleet.
Dlseoufagsmsnt Unworthy.
For congress 10 ignore the recon.
mendations OF those responsible TOR
the conduct OF the governments mef.
chan, shipping organization, who
have pointed out the dangers that
threaten q continuance OF present
conditions. Is regarded by the ad'
minis,ration as a encouragement un'
worthy OF the legislative branch.
These things show the temper OF
the presiden, and his advisers. There
is nothing about the ship subsidy bill
10 grip the ina eination OF the country
and Il is somewhat difficult to arouse
public interest. The word Subsidy"
has an unpleasant sound 10 Amer.
lean ears and the administration real
izes that is has a psychological prob
lem to deal with in that connection.
II prefers that the measure be called
a ship Compensation" or a ship re
muneration" bill. One OF the fore
most advocates OF the bill, = leader
in agricultural movements, has said
that the only thing he did not like
about il was the word subsidy" and
he admitted that this was mere pref
udice against the word itself. Some
OF the congress leaders who have
conferred with President Harding
give as one reason for their belief
that il would be impossible 10 pass
the bill at the present session that
the middle west was opposed TO sub
sides. That the middle west is so
disposed is denied by advocates oi
the measure. Many bodies OF busi.
ness men OF that section have adopted
resolutions in favor OF the enactment
OF the proposed legislation.
Delay Might Kill Bill.
The main fear OF the administration
is that postponement beyond the
current session will mean the death
OF the measure, or even il il should
be assured OF passage at \ later
time, the damage will have been done
and the government have been
obliged to retire from the merchant
shipping business at a tremendous
sacrifice OF valuable property. As
the president and his supporters view
the situation there will be no oppor-
tunity, by reason OF lack Of time, to
dispose Of the subsidy bill in the
regular session OF congress which
will be begun in December. That
session must end, by constitutional
Limitation, on March 4, 1928, giving
the session a life Of only three
months. During these three months
congress must enact all the annual
supply bills and experience has
shown that short sessions are usual
ly consumed in attending to these
measures, with little, if any, time for
other legislation.
In these circumstances President
Harding, and those in his admins
tration with whom he has taken
counsel OH the subject, believe that
the only hope for the enactment Of
the subsidy bill within any measur-
able period lies i'll obtaining action
on it at the present session. Oppos-
ing their aim is large body Of con-
gressmen who are not objecting to
the bill on principle, but are worried
over their political fences and are
anxious to get back to their con-
stituencies in this congressional elec-
ton year. The president holds, how
ever, that the salvation of the mer-
chant marine is of more importance
than the mending OF political fences,
and he has refused to be impressed
by any such considerations.