Evening star., 1922-12-20
SHIP BILL T0PASS
WITHIN FORTNIGHT,
PRESIDENT IS TOLD
Senate Leaders Predict
Harding Victory in Fight
of His Career.
PARTISAN LINES MAY GO
IN FIGHT ON BLOC RULE
Fear of Legislative Stale Mate In.
clines Conservatives of Both
Parties to Stand Together.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
The ship subsidy bill will pass the
Senate within the next fortnight, ac-
cording to the advices given the ad-
within the last twenty
four hours by leaders who have made
a careful canvass Of the whole sit
uation.
The fight to displace the ship sub
sidy measure with farm credits bill
has been going on for several days.
with the administration getting
President Harding ostensibly has
been absorbed in dealing with the
delicate problems of European eco
nomics. the truth is he has been max
ing the fight Of his career to mold
the republicans into a solid unit as
against the obstructionists of the va
rious "blocs"
Seek to Counteraet Filihusterers.
There are some senators who do not
favor the subsidy bill itself ana who
but the administration has succeeded
in convincing many OF them that ir-
respective Of the merits Of the subsidy
bill they ought not to lend themselves
to the campaign OF the fllibusterers
and obstructionists. who have thought
they could kill the subsidy measure
by keeping It from getting to a vote.
The fear of tnsurgent members Of
the republican party who have set
out on campaign of obstruction and
destruction of the administration has
been that the subsidy bill would have
be passed. They have interjected the
Norris farm credits bill as an effort to
displace the subsidy measure and give
the shipping bill such a psychological
blow as to weaken its champions and
quietly smother the whole proposal.
Test Of President's Strength.
But the administration has realized
that II It were unable to force its own
pet measure to a vote 1t would be
confession OF impotence which would
make 1t impossible to get any other leg
islation through this Congress or per-
haps the next The test has meant a
great deal to Mr.. Harding. His lieu
tenants in the Senate have made good
use Of this line OF reasoning: they
have said in effect to some republicans
who are opposed to ship subsidy and
even to some democrats: You may
not like the ship subsidy bill and may
want to vote against 1t. but why do
you lend yourself to government by
blocs and minority rule. If you want
to keep on friendly terms with the ad-
ministra ton. here is a chance to do
something for the administration with
out compromising your own position
on ship subsidy. Permit it to come to
a vote. give 1t fair chance-that's
all We ask. and vote against the meas
ure itself II you want to-we shall not
hold that against you"
This. indeed. solves the problem
which many senators have been wor-
rying about. They didn't want to
break with the administration and
vote against ship subsidy, but some
Of them feel they must. They can pal
late their act to some extent by help
ing the administration get the bill to
vote. Enough OF them have con-
sented to do this, so that a vote on
the ship subsidy seems assured.
Vote Expected to Be Close.
Now as to the final tally. it will be
very close. The proponents of the
measure think they have a comfort
able margin. and they insist that as
the debate develops they will have
more votes. because republicans will
have to make up their minds whether
they will vote against a party meas
ure or stand by the administration.
The democrats have not yet shown
their hand. 1t looks as IL only one or
possibly two OF them will vote for the
~ fv,t fv,w III Gav
is that the democrats have not be-
come party to the obstructionist tao
tics of the insurgent republicans. The
danger of such a coalition is that
1t might work both ways and that
measures which the democrats may
their respective states will not get
the necessary cooperation from re-
publican leaders II a bipartisan OBJ
structionist bloc Is formed.
Two Democratic Camps.
Another phase of the situation Is
the two camps in the democratic
party. the one interested in radically
obstructing whatever 1t is possible to
obstruct SO as to hurt the republican
party's chances at all cost and the
other. more conservatively inclined.
which fears that all progress in gov
ernment will be blocked unless they
stand with the conservative repub-
licans and prevent bloc" rule by the
radicals.
The administration is thoroughly
satisfied with the shipping bill framed
in the Senate. In fact, it Is preferred
over the House bill. The principal
changes made by the Senate ar. the
limitation of the amount that can be
expended for subsidy to $30.000.o0o a
year. The Shipping Board Is confident
the cost will not run over that sum
anyway, SO the amendment is ac-
ceptable. The other change, which
eliminated the Madden amendment re-
quiring annual appropriations and au-
thorizations. is also satisfactory. SO
shippers can buy vessels with an as