New-York tribune., 1922-06-14
Harding Announces That
He Will RecOnvene Con-
gress Unless House Pro-
ceeds TO Take Action
Formal Demand
After Conference
Difficult and Discourage
ing Situation VIII Result
if Bill Fails, He Says
in Letter to Campbell

w A > III i y u " -, Juit 10
Throwing the full weight Of his
office as Chief Executive Of the gov
ernment into the ship subsidy bill
situation, President Harding made It
clear to-day that he is prepared 70
resort TO every means at his COM
mand TO force immediate action on
the bill. He has served notice on
Congress, it was learned, that unless
il is enacted before the close Of this
session. he will call all members
back 10 Washington in extra session.
thereby thrusting the question be-
fore them.
White House spokcsmen to-day
gave additional evidence Of the yigor
back Of his demand when they said
the President feels that Congress viii
have left It's greatest task unGonc if
II fails TO pass the bill.
Predicts Difficult Situation
Mr.. Harding's formal demand upon
Congress was made in letter %
Chairman Campbell Of the House Rules
Committee. which was written May 28
but is just made public. following an
other conference between the President
and Republican Floor Leader Moadei,
Urging Mr. Campbell to seek from
his committee privileged status Tor the
subsidy bill. the President said.
80 much is involved and such difl-
cult and discouraging situation viii fol-
low II Congress fails 20 sanction the
merchant marine bill that / should
feel myself obligated 10 call Congress
Immediately In extraordinary session
20 especially consider it if Il went over
through any neglect or delay beyond
the present term
+ II understand that ir 2 very short
time the merchant marine bill is % be
fayorably reported 20 the House" 10
said. II am waiting % express the
hope that your Committee on Rulcs
will report whatever provision Is
necessary for It's early and final con-
sideration. ! cannot convey % you how
very earnestly feel the necessity ot
pss..ng this act. So much is involved
and such n difficult and diseo1raging
situation will follow if Confrees fails
20 sanction the merchant marine bill
thot l should feel myself Obligated 10
call Congress Immediately IN cxtraor-
dinary session 10 especially consider
IL II il went over through any neglect
or delay beyond the present term.
Favorable Action Necessity
81 should be more than glad 20 co.
operate in any way that | can in i'm
messing the House with the urgent
necessity Of the favorable considcra-
tion OF this bill. | am vIitin. an
expression Of my oarnostnoss - you
al this time because I understand II
Is within the province Of the Rules
Committee 20 report q provision under
which there may be secured carly, and
nope. favorable consideration"
The President feels that II the ship
subsidy measure is not passed at this
session Of Congress that 10 has 10
chance at all, according 20 the White
House statement. lie looks with mis-
giving on any proposal 10 allow the
legislation TO wait until a special scs-
sion, which at best would last but
seven weeks and would not allow sufi-
cient time TO consider appropriations
and appointments.
Urged Passage In Message
IL was made clear at tho Wh.ts
House that the President has set his
heart on the passage Of the bill cstab-
fishing the American merchant marine
on the high seas, and, In 50 doing, that
L.. A.. ..tHUfuI Its fIANfm4a
since his days in the United States
Senate. The Executive has told mem-
hers Of Congress that when he went be-
fore that body In joint session, and
In special message urged the passage
Of the ship subsidy he was giving 70
Congress and the country the most
earnest appeal Of which he was capable.
Yet on several occasions Representa-
tiyes have conferred with the Presi-
cent and asked him II he really meant
what he said.
The President has told members Of
both Houses that he could conceive OF
no greater failure on the part Of Con-
gress than its failure % pass the ship
subsidy bill. His special message was for
the specific purpose Of emphasizing the
importance Of the measure, and he
leeF tNat H. p'iNApHg IT. "an lt'N ~
strong as il might have been, Il was
as earnest as he knew how 20 make II.
Grave Doubts Of Action
The signs az the capitol arc that.
regardless OF all he may do, President
Harding is facing an insurmountabls
wall, so far as obtaining action,
especially Of favorable character, on
the merchant marine legislation. In
the Senate the attitude Of Administra-
tion leaders Is apparently one OF
were too busy with prior matters
Just now 10 even think about the sub
sidy, and II we were not, Il Is such a
and controversial matter IL
Is hard 20 say what ws weuld do as
one member expressed IL.
The party helmsmen In the House.
though ss~a even among their ranks
are opposed 10 u, are understood, as
a result Of their conferences with ths
President during the last two geeKk.
TO be ready 20 make the attempt %
NJ the bill over. They have so OK
,esscd themselves, but AZ the scmsl
time they hold out grave doubts that
sufficient strength con be mustered 20
pass the bill in the Lower House.
There is known 20 be strong opposition
10 Il among large number Of mem.
bcrs OF the agricultural bloc and on
the Democratic side only a bout 4
dozen will cast their votes for Il.
These two House elements, tcgsther
with q scattering opposition from va