New-York tribune., 1922-11-30
Harding Forces Win First
Battle by "a Votes, Al
though 90 Republicans
Bolt Their Party Lsnes
Dry Clause Knocked
Out of Measure
Filibuster Awaits Subsidy
When Fight Starts Next
Week i'm Upper Branch
BY David S. Kennedy

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29.--The
merchant marine bill of 1922, pro-
viding compensation for American
vessels to equalize operating costs
with their foreign competitors, COM
monty called the ship subsidy bill,
passed the House to-day by ma
jority of twenty-four, and went to
the Senate. The final vote was 2os
in favor and 1S4 against, a smaller
margin than Administration leaders
had hoped for, but sufficient for the
purpose. Two were present but not
voting.
The measure will be taken up III
the Senate next week, where it's adj
vocates will be confronted by a de-
termined filibuster. 1t is calculated
that there are enough votes in the
upper body to enact it if the oppo-
nents can be worn down.
Passage of the measure came after
the Democrats, upon motion from
Texas, had attempted to recommit the
bill to the Merchant Marine Commit
tee, with Instructions to eliminate
Titles 2 and a, relating to income tax
rebates and the establishment of the
subsidy fund. The vote on this pro-
posal was 172 in favor and 215 against,
with one not voting. Adoption of tho
motion would have rendered the bill
useless.
Bitter Fight Made on Bill
The favorable vote followed three
days Of general debate and three days
for amendments, under rule limiting
debate TO five minutes and requiring
a vote by o'clock this afternoon.
During this time the Democrats and
the farm bloc tried every parliamen-
tary maneuver to kill or hamper the
bill. They succeeded in putting over
several amendments, eliminating the
per cent tax rebate to shippers on
United States vessels and removing in
dustrial ships from the benefits of the
subsidy, which undoubtedly made
enough votes for the measure to in
The Ii lineup s on the bill failto fol-
low party lines in many Instances.
Sixty-nine Republicans voted against
the bill and four Democrats cast their
ballots for it. The greatest OPPOSITION
to the bill as an economic measure
came from the agrarian states in the
interior, The Democrats generally voted
against it as a political move.
After the passage of the bill, Repre-
sentative Edmonds said:
eva have adya mead the first stem In
the establishment OF an American
merchant marine. I hope the Senate
will act rapidly, SO that never again
will our people have to resign the con-
troll of the final carriage of their prod
ucts and the consequent market con-
troll TO their commercial enemies"
Last Minute Changes Made
Several changes were made In the
text of the bill to-day.
Representative E6monds moved to
strike out the section, which the Com
mittee on Merchant Marine inserted
last week, to place the intercoastal
trade under the control of the Ship
ping Board. Speaking in behalf of this
proposition, he said that some of the
members of the committee had OBJ.
iected to such legislation witkout an
opportunity for thorough Msarings.
The subject will be taken up later, he
added. The amendment was adopted
and the provision stricken out.
In considering the sections requiring
government officials to travel on Ameri->
can vessels when practicable, and d
recting the transportation of govern
ment supplies on private American
ships, the Democrats, members made
strong effort TO give the Shipping
Board authority to Impose sreassnabie
ROT fa4sf B..<
amendments on these poirsss was aos
by 93 10 68 and tn second was reiectssl
without record vote.
Dry Amendment Stricken Out
The prohibition issue arose through
an amendment proposed by Represent
ative l.. G.. Craniton, Republican. Of
Michigan, to strike out the Edmonds
amendment adopted yesterday TO With
hold the subsidy from vessels upon
which liquor is sold. Mr.. Cramton said
that the section YVES not as strong as
the existing law and should be eIini
nat4d. Several members asked him liz
he had received orders overnight from
Wayne B. Wheeler and the Anti
Saloon League to take this action.
Ogden L. Mills, Republican, Of New
York, said that .tirt asking the House
to reverse its action OF yesterday upen
orders frops the Anti-Saloon League T
think the gentleman is asking the
House to make itself Ridiculous
Upon the vote the Edmonds amend
nnens was stricken out by 227 to 2i,
with Representative Edmonds voting
against his own proposal. Its was ayi~
dent that the section was considered
imamateriai by the shipping advocates.
The letter from Samuel Gompers,
president of the American Federation
Of Labor, in opposition to the subsidy.
was inserted in the Record by Eepre~
/ sentative Blantoia, Democrat, Of Texas.
| who said that for once he was in ac-
cord with the Federation, The general
chorus Of boos whicn greeted Mr.. Blan-
ton did not seem TO have any effect
upon his conplacency. Andrew Furu-
seth, president of the international
Seamen's Union and vice president of
] the American El tsan Of Labor. va
in the gallery lss khis incident.
Represe ltatiys ii RI RI rev. Repub~