The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-07-13
ABANDON SHIP
SUBSIDY BILL
Conference at Lodge Home
Votes TO Inform Harding Meas
ure Has No Chance 10 Pass.


ship subsidy bill has been agreed upoi
by the Republican leadership o. th'
senate, At an all night conference al
The home Of Senator Henry Cabot
Lodge Republican leader, a program
was mapped out for the rest Of the
session which not only scraps Presi
dent Harding's pet merchant marine
measure. but kills OF the Dyer anti,
lynching bill and leaves the bonus
situation very much up In the air.
Prospects for the speedy passage OF
the bonus bill are less bright than at
any stage thus far.
Unless President Harding can force
the leaders to reverse themselves the
ship purchase bill probably is dead un-
Ill the new Congress, to be elected in
November, comes into office. The first
regular session Of that Congress does
not convene until December, 1928.
President Harding has made It clear
several times that he thought the ship
subsidy bill so important that II no
vote were obtained on ii he would call
an extra session. This view was eX-
pressed at time when IL was thought
the session might conclude its work
and go home early this summer. Now
that the schedule calls for Congress
running through the summer anyhow,
on top OF the fact that 1t Is impossible
10 hold the lawmakers In session dur
ing October in campaign year, this
threat fades so far as the present Con
gress is concerned.
The short session, beginning this De-
cember and expiring by law on March
4, will not have time TO put through a
measure to which there Is anything
like the amount Of opposition that ex-
lists TO the ship subsidy bill. The
christmas holidays and the necessity
OF passing all the regular appropria-
ton bills limits the time Of this session
so sharply that determined filibuster
could prevent the passage Of practical
ly any measure.
All doubt that the ship subsidy bill
will become an important issue in the
congressional campaign this fall is re-
moved by this decision. President
Harding already has expressed salts
faction at the idea OF members Of the
house getting in touch with the senti-
ment OF their districts on the bill be-
fore casting their votes. This followed
his hearing that a majority could not
be mustered In the house for the ship
subsidy bill Now 1t is apparent that
the Issue will be carried TO the polls
in November, with the whole strength
Of the administration pounding for the
measure.
President Harding also will find the
bonus bill back on his doorstep. The
Republican leaders at the same confer
ence decided to consult the chief exec
utlye Immediately on his return and
make another attempt TO reach an
agreement with him, so that they can
frame a bonus bill which he will sign.
They agreed that they did not want to
force through a measure which he
would certainly veto.
In telling of their discussions and
decisions, however, the Republicans
did not carry much conviction as to
the compromise which might be reach
ed and which might be satisfactory to
the President. On the contrary, they
baked again at the sales tax, the one
measure to provide funds for the bonus
which the President has Indicated his
to accept, and failed also
10 agree upon any plan for raising the
money which the President might ac
rept.
The truth seems to be that the Re |
leaders have very little hope /
d reaching an agreement with the |
President on the bonus bill, but that |
ley will ask him to repeat his public
y expressed desire for further post
oonement Of the bonus legislation
This, suffering under the same phys
cal difficulties just described with re
gard to the ship subsidy bill. would
postpone bonus legislation until the
lew Congress.