The New York herald., 1922-06-20
-FOUR BLOCS Tie UP
PROGRAM in House
Split Republican Majority
and May Prevent Short
Recesses.
THREE ARE OBDURATE
Mondell- Campbell Fordney
Leadership Blamed Large
ly for Situation.
SHIP SUBSIDY BIG ISSUE
Lasker Begins Campaign
Among State Delegations
to Support Measure.
specia, Dispatch to TIE New YonK HERALD.

specia, Dispatch to TIE New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. c.. june 10.
Four groups or blocs in the House
are splitting the Republican majority
in that branch Of Congress, badly
tangling the Administrations legisla-
tive program and may prevent the
recess Of three day periods which
leaders plan to begin within two
weeks.
These blocs are composed OF menu
bers who favor some particular legis-
lation and the members of-three Of
them are threatening to prevent action
on other matters unless they can have
what they want. In the order Of COM
parative strength these blocs are as
follows:
Administration representatives who
are determined that President Har-
dings request for 'early and final
consideration Of the ship subsidy bill
shall be complied with. They are
opposed, in the main, by Democrats
and Republicans of the agricultural
bloc from middle Western States.
Members of the agricultural bloc
anxious for decision by the House on
Henry Fords offer for the Govern
ment's nitrate plant at Muscle Shoals.
These men have announced their de-
termination to oppose all legislation
favored by the Administration until
they get some assurance Of action on
their pet measure. The majority of
Democrats are in sympathy with this
group.
Middle Western members who are
determined to prevent recess until
consideration has been given to the
Tincher bill. which would regulate
transactions in grain futures. These
men to-day received setback by the
Rules Committee, which refused to
grant to them a special rule to bring
their bill up.
Advocates of the Smith McNary
reclamation bill. who are determined
that this project shall be disposed of
before a recess is taken. This group
is, by far in the minority, and Is
considered to have but small influence.
Lendership Blamed. 1888 7'''
The ''go as you please leadership of
Representatives Mondell (wyo.), Camp
bell (Kan.) and Fordney (Mich.). and
their lack of harmony with the Ad-
ministrative branch Of the Government
are held to be largely responsible for
this. state of affairs. In the bonus con-
troversy they not only failed to keep the
Republican majority in line with the
Presidents request that the legislation
he postponed. unless some feasible way
was found to finance il, but themselves
voted in opposition to the executives po-
sition. -
Every Republican Representative in
the House knows President Harding
keenly desires the passage of subsidy
legislation before adjournment. Yet.
because Of middle Western Republican
opposition to this measure, Chairman
Campbell of the Rules Committee has
requested President Harding to acqui-
esce to postponement of that measure.
,Cie President Is to hold a conference
within the next few days with these
lenders. at which, 1t is thought. a definite
program will be decided.
I 1t is significant. however, that Chair.
man Lasker Of the Shipping Board, i'm
mediately upon his return from week
end cruise with President Harding on
the Mayflower, called to-day on the
members of the Iowa delegation of the
House and urged them to stand behind
the President in his request for an ade-
Mr. Lasker will call on the Pennsylvania
and New Jersey delegations and prob.
ably many others within the next week.
IL is thought by this action he will re-
cruit votes enough TO 80 ahead with the
immediate consideration of the subsidy
bill should the President elect to have
this course followed.
Outlook Regarding Ford Oner.
The consensus is that Henry Ford's
offer for the Government nitrate plant
will not be taken up at this session OF
Congress. Strong pressure Is being ex-
erted or Leader Mondell. however and
he may be persuaded to give this meas
ure preference on the calendar. Should
| the bill come up the vote on it would
be very close. probably In the affirma.
! tive.
Representative Tincher's Kan) bill
for the regulation of trading in grair
| futures was submitted TO the Rules
Committee to-day for a ruling per.
mitting It's immediate consideration
After committee debate II was re.
jected by a vote of . to 3.
Chairman Campbell, who IL Mr.
Tincher's associate from Kansas. IL q
strong advocate OF the grain measure
and voted in the affirmative. He will
make another attempt tomorrow tc
have his committee adopt such a rul,
as Is desired by Afr. Tincher. Should
he fail. Mr.. Campbell said tonight. 4
would practically mean that the bill
would not receive consideration at this
session of Congress.
Leader Mondell, In answer to ques
tons by Democrats on the floor of the
House. has declared that he did MOI
| think the Smith McNary reclamation
bill should be passed at the present
time. lie pointed out that vast recla.
nation scheme was Incorporated in tn,
bonus bill which the House passed. and
that II should be sufficient to meet tn.
demands of its advocates.