The Washington times., 1922-08-27
c. D. ?. CHIEFS
FEAR TO RISK
VOTE ON SHIP
&, SUBSIDY NOW
Too Many Congressman Fight
ing for Political Lives in
Fall Campaign.
RECESS PLAN AGREED UPON
MondeII Promises Harding to
Act Promptly When He Can
Rally His Forces.
BY WINDER r. HARRIS,
Universal Service.

BY wINDER r. HARRIS,
.. Universal Service.
The Administration ship sub
sidy bill will be passed by the
House Immediately after the Con-
gressional elections on Novem-
Der 7, House leaders announced
yesterday.
The Senate, then will have
ample time to dispose of it with
out delaying the annual appro-
,priation bills which must be enact
ed in the short session beginning
the first Monday in December.
1 President Harding's reluctant
consent to the opportunities of
House leaders that the legislation
be deferred until after the elec-
tion was predicated on solemn
assurances that more than a suffi-
.cient number of Republican rep
resentatives to insure its passage
would support it at that time.
'"The Last PostpOnement."
"This will be the last postpone
ment, and practically everybody on
ouI SluO Wlll DC AOL IL allCI lhc ~NO-
vember election" was the substance
of the promise given the President
by the Republican chieftains. MI.
Harding nailed down this promise
by demanding q formal note from
bal statement of the situation, and
in his reply to Mr.. Mondell, in which
he said:
II am so earnest about the pas.
sage of this measure, l think it so
important in furthering our COM
mercial good fortunes and so es-
sential to our self-dependence and
our national defense, that I had
much rather the bill should WIT
consideration until we can rivet the
attention of Congress with a full at.
tendance than jeopardize its sue
cess by pressing for an immediate
decision" .. -~.
Situation in House.
Here is the situation in the House
as it was outlined. to the President,
according to a leader in the fight
for the subsidy:
l. Owing to the fact that many
members have stiff opposition for re-
nomination and reelection, it would
than 800 Of the 435 Congressman
here for the vote.
2. The Democrats largely are op-
posed to the legislation for political
reasons. The bulk of the minority
members. come from the "Solid
South" where they have no fears Of
the election, and, therefore, would
be OH hand to knife the bill.
3. Besides the large number Of alb
sentees on the majority side, some
G. o. p. members, who at heart are
strongly for the BILL. are too weak
kneed to vote the courage Of their
convictions before the election.
4. In view Of this condition Of af-
fairs, passage of the bill would be
seriously jeOpardiZed II brought up
now, and failure of the bin to pass
would strike fatal blow at the hope
Of building up an adequate American
merchant marine. Defeat now would
mean at least a decade before au-
other effort could be made with any
promise OF success. By that time,
the nucleus the Government now has
for a merchant fleet would be de-
stroyed.
Want No Extra Session.
Republican Leader Mondell said
there was no doubt that the House
will come back between the election
and the beginning of the regular
session in December. An extra
session of the new Congress, which
comes into power next March, will
be aVoided If humanity possible, Ad-
ministration leaders have deter
mined. This will mean that a num-
Der of important matters in addition
to the subsidy must be disposed of
); without interfering with the appro.
Y priation measures.
The subsidy bill will be the first
thing considered by the House, how
ever. Not more than week will be
required to pass 1t, leaving at least
two weeks for consideration of other
pressing matters before the session
must end.
Plan for Recesses.
To carry out Mr.. Mondells pro-
gram it will be necessary for the
House to recess instead of adjourn
ing over the election period. 1t Is
now hoped that the recess may be
started by October /, although this
with the tariff bill, now in confer
ence. and the soldier bonus bill, pend.
ing in the Senate.
By the end of this week II Is hoped
to have everything of Importance on
the House calendar cleaned up, in.
Guiding the legislative program for
dealing with the industrial situation
and the measures requested by Al.
torney General Daugherty in connec,
ton with prosecutions of war fund
cases.
Three-day recesses then will be in.
Hugurated pending action by the Sen
Hte on the bonus by the conferences
on the tariff measure.