The New York herald., 1922-12-13

clear that he was in favor of going
the limit to kill the ship subsidy
project and make the rural credits bill
cost the Republican Treasury as much
as possible. so that any political ad-
vantage in the situation would accrue
TO his party. The most definite plan
yet developed by the Democratic mi
nority is to burden the Treasury and
pile on the heaviest taxes possible.
The Republican leaders both in and
out of the farm bloc are fully aware
of this scheme. They assert that IL
the farm credits bill recommended by
the President fails 1t will be due to
Democratic opposition. 1t is hardly
probable, however, that In the face OF
their altruistic pretensions the Demo
cratic leaders will carry their fight
against the Republican farm credits
scheme to the extent of accomplish
ing the defeat of 1t.
Democratic as we'll as Republican
members OF Congress are committed
to the agricultural relief project rec
commended by the President. The fact
IS they are thinking of nothing else
at the moment, and their chief con-
Germ is to sidetrack the ship subsidy
bill to give clear field for the farm
credits plan. The indications are that
the shipping bill will be shunted
within the next week, despite the hope
expressed by President Harding this
afternoon that the bill be kept before
the Senate until decision is reached
one way or the other.
Circulation of Petition.
Even while the President was COM
municating his wishes to the leaders
of his party in the upper house the
insurgent managers were circulating
petition pledging Senator's to vote
to replace the shipping bill with the
agricultural measure Mr.. Brookhart,
who already has established himself
as whip of the insurgent group, an
nounced tonight that he had OBJ
tanned the signatures Of fifty-four
Senators-six more than enough to
replace the shipping bill-to the peti-
ton. .
"We are proceeding entirely on nom
partisan lines in our effort to give the
farmers quick and practical relief"
said Mr. Brookhart, "and our move
ment is not directed against the Ad-
ministration. We are simply agreed
that the farmer is in more urgent need
Of immediate relief than the private
shipping interests"
The list of Senator'S pledged to vote
to replace the shipping bill is said to
contain the names Of some who have
consistently supported the policies of
the Administration, but who are con-
WINGED that the subsidy measure is
neither acceptable to the majority of
Republican Congressional leaders nor
desired aby the people. The plans of
the opposition to the shipping bill con-
template the launching Of an effort to
replace it in the next four or five days
and the enactment of the farm credits
bill under forced pressure before the
Christmas holidays have passed.
The shipping measure encountered
rough weather from the moment it
was read to the Senate early this
afternoon. Before Chairman Jones
(Wash.) could explain it's terms, which
are clearly understood in Congress-
Senator Simmons began his fight
against 1t. Further attacks on il were
withheld to permit Mr.. Jones to enter
into detailed discussion Of the meas
ure.
To Keep Bill Under Fire.
The opposition will center their fire
on it tomorrow and keep IL up until
movement is made TO set 1t aside. The
weight OF Senatorial opinion is that
the shipping bill will be relegated to
the reserve calendar Of the Senate and
that 1T will require a great deal Of
/. pressure to revive II even after the
farm credits bill has been acted on.
The Agricultural and Banking and
Currency Committees are trying to re-
model the Lenroot farm credits bill so
as to make more liberal provisions
than are contained in II. The'Lenroot
measure will probably be used as the
basis for the finished product.
Estimates of the amount that will
be finally decided on to help the farmer
range from $4,000 900 to 5000, 900 900.
the latter in the nature of revolving
fund, as suggested by Bernard NJ.
Baruch during a recent hearing on
bills relating to the agricultural prob
lem. 1t appears to be quite certain
that at least $780, 900 900 will be pro-
vided TO tide the farmers Of the coun-
try over the period of depression.