The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-11-18
REFUSES LIBERTY LASKER PREDICTS
UNTIL H|SPLAC SUBSIDY MEASURE
in PEN IS filled WILL Be ENACTED
Development Of American
Merchant Marine to Be
Chief Question Coming
Before Special Session

| for plotting the ship subsidy bill
1 through Congress got under way to-
/ day with an agreement by republican,
! leaders to open the door to unlimited
amendment OF the measure on the
| fle or of the House. but with the stip-
ulation thai final vote shall be had
November %. AT the same tine
/ Chairman LaslSer OF the shipping
| board predicted that il would be en-
acted into law because the miracle
! Of America is that at the final mo-
ment OF decision right and common
sense will prevail"
The agreement for vote was at
conference attended by Speaker Gil
| lett. Representative No ndell, republi-
| can floor leader, Chairman Campbell
| of the rules committee and MEM
bers OF the merchant marine and Of
the steering committees. The leaders
agreed that a rule should be present
ed under which The bill would be
taken up for genera debate next
J Thursday. Three days would lie given
/ over 20 general discussion and then
the measure would be taken up
item by item with three days for
amendment before final vote.
Eliminates Party Conference
Chairman Campbell said the agree
ment would eliminate the question
of referring the measure TO party
conference and would give the
House the opportunity to frame the
sort Of merchant marine measure 1t
wanted to pass. There was said to BIO
NigorC US opposition In the republican
ranks to any attempt TO give the
bill right of way under a rule which
would prevent other than committee
amendments. and already with
amendments in order. Indications
were that democrats. working Jointly
With republicans who oppose the bill,
would endeavor to reimpose excess
profits and surfaces as means Of
providing funds for ships Democratic
leaders predicted a flood of amend
| r1ents would be offered including
provision sponsoted by the dry ele-
ment barring liquor IN American
ships; Another point expected TO re-
/ suit in p fight Will be any proposal
under which foreign ships would be
| permitted TO engage in coastwlse
trade.
notwithstanding signs Of an inn
pending fight in the House, the SEN
| ate is regarded as the most danger
| Gus point. No rule limiting debate Is
| possible there and a number OF re
publican leaders have espresso
| doubt whether the legislation can
be disposed OF by March 3, when all
bills die with the end of Congress.
Most Democrats Opposed
The democrats already have de-
+, clared individually through their or
ganization In the last campaign al
| most solidly against the measure
and large number OF republicans
including Senators Borah. Idaho: La
toilette. Wisconsin; Capper, Kansas
and others, have made open deciara-
tons OF war against it, Senator
Ransdell Louisiana; however. has
spoken in its behalf and the admin
istration leaders are counting on
rev more democratic votes II ii is
found possible to obtain a vote be-
fore Adjournment.
The Senate commerce committee Is
expected to report the bill promptly,
but not until after the extra session
lapses into the regular December
session. Considerable amendment OF
the bill is expected in the Senate
committee
President Harding. it was reiterat-
ed today at the White House. Will
stand solidly behind the effort for
prompt enactment Of the measure
and the statement ny Chairman
Lasker said the taxpayer had been
getting "the biggest line OF humbu
and bunkum that could be possibly
Ii
nents of the measure.
Mr.. Lasker said that in the fiscal
! year before the present shipping
board came into office that or 1920,
the operating loss was between
| $3.50, 100000 and 5000 600. 900.
Reduces Operating Cost
With the accounting and operat-
!, ing efficiencies established in tho
| first year OF its existence-f922, he
n No l.t
duced operating losses to $4,000 900
| No miracle could accomplish this,
| only efficiency of management"
rs not such a board that can ac-
complish such things in so short a
| time entitled to confidence Ia fec-
concentrations as to what should be
the future OF the assets that have
been entrusted to it?" the state
| ment asked
! Mr.. Lasker said that notwithstand
ing the encoura cling showing made,
! the experts OF the board were dis
| courag ed because we are wearing out
the ships in operating them"
We are using up the very cream
| and most desirable types or the
| ships" he said. land when they are
| used up there will be no replace
/ ments, for the government will not
build and private ownership withers
and dies In competition with u.s.
Charges misrepresentation
Mr.. Lasker said that IL the pro-
visions of the bill successfully in
spire and insure private operation
| the loss ofsthe shipping board would
| be wiped out. This we on the ship
/. ping board believe. will be accom-
! plished In 80 months" he said. and
!; though opponents of the bill wilfully
or ignorant1y misrepresent, some in
indefensible chicane. the cost OF the
| proposed legislation in direct sub
| sidy II successful in the establish
| ment OF an American merchant ma
| rine. the maximum cost can never
| equal the minimum loss OF govern
mental operation The new bill sim
| ply proposes that lesser amount than
the shipping board islosing be trans
| ferred to aid private owners that
! they may meet established foreign
| competition
| BY making private operation prof
| liable, Mr.. Lasker contended that
ships which cannot be sold now
| would be sold for hundreds OF mil
lions OF dollars which would be re-
turned to the treasury adding that
/, the direct annual cost of subsidy
would be many millions less than
4 governmental operation. ,
/ stripped OF ignorant and wilful
mIsrepr presentations, he said. pass
age Of the pending bin means, for
y.