Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-06-17
Leader to Talk
Over Ship Subsidy
with Harding Today


leaders of the House win confer
again tomorrow with President
Harding on the question of taking
up the administrations ship subsidy
bill prior to adjournment.
Indications tonight were that they
would rciterate the belief that con-
sideration of the measure ought to
so over until the December session
but all leaders declared they would
take it up and force it to a vote if
the President still insisted.
The bill was reported today to tho
House 10y the merchant marine COM
mittee which rejected-~the Bankhcad
amendment providing that no gov
eminent aid should go to ships on
which liquor was sold There was
no action on the f,dmonds proposal
for imposition of $4,000 fines on all
ships, American or foreign, which
sold liquor on any voyage starting
or ending at an American port.
Defeated by the committee, Mr..
Bankhead announced he would de-
mand a vote on his amendment in
the House. There was no record
vote in committee on the amendment
but it was opposed by Republicans
and supported by Democrats.
The prohibition question had
wrapped itself so closely about the
bill that many leaders admittedly
were in doubt as to how it might
stand up in the House. Injection of
the ship liquor issue into the fight
according to Republicans opposing
action at this time invited defeat of
the bill.
Texas, told the House today what
most members had been hearing for
ten dayS-that Speaker Gillette Rep
reSentative Mondcll. the cRpubican
leader, Chairman Campbell Of the
Rules Committee, and Il majority of
the Republican steering committee
were against consideration of the
bill prior to the election. There was
no answer from any of those men,
toned by the Texan.
When the bin formally was pres
cnted to the House by Chairman
Greene of the merchant marine COM
mttcc, Democratic members were
given until Thursday to file a minor
ity report. There was objection at
first unless it should be specifically
agreed that this should not delay
action if the bill should be calleG up
tomorrow. Representative HARDY,
Texas, ranking Democrat of the COM
mittec, explaining, however, that this
time limit was agreeable to Republi-
can committeeman, which was inter-
preted as meaning that the measure
is not likely to be called up next
week
The committee vote on reporting
the bill was nine to four, Republic
cans voting aye and Democrats nay,
except Representative Cullen, Demo-
crat, New York, who voted present.
Tho majority report presented by
Chairman Greene contained detailed
explanation OF each important section
of the bill and an argument for its
passage.
Declaring the situation today with
respect 10 establishment of a merchant
iiihi me vas hllltltHl litIi lll6l Optdtil-
ing at any time heretofore the report
added
1T is not question whether We
wish a merchant mariue-for we have
it. 1t is not a question of subsidy or
no subsidy, because to meet the gov
loss of $50. 00n,N00 a year in
the operation Of our merchant marine
hp nCpr1lo bNipc fo hovnpI
what would he needed were the ships
brought into efficient commercial oper-
alton"
The main question, the report said.
was disposal of the present fleet so
that with the past cost to the taxpay-
crs 1T may Je made of the greatest
use to the country as whole, both in
peace and war"
The alternatives are plain" it add
ed. Either make it possible for pri-
Nate enterprise TO take this nucleus
which we now have and add to it un-
til II becomes A great and efficient en-
tity, an American merchant marine.
or refuse the relatively slight amount
of aid necessary therefor and continue
at a great expense tho inefficient meth
DDS of government operation until the
ships are worn out"
Continuation of tho marine part gov
and part privately owner. said
the report simply means that the
private owners will he driven out OF
business" adding that successful GOV
directly or indirect
~ is an impossibility.
"Ry tho extending Of moderate
amount Of national aid" tho report as
serted. ''the maintenance IF adequate
service under private owner
ship can hc insured and tho govern
ments heavy loss can be ended. Only
by making private operation profitable
can the government find market for
its own tonnage. With such aid we
can promptly dispose of our saleable
ships for private operation. get rid of
our worthless tonnage and an annual
operating loss of $1,000 900. give our
people a better and more assured
service on the seas than America has
ever enjoyed heretofore. and success
fully turn wartime and war-built
enterprise into great instrument of
peace-time profit and peace insur-
ance."