The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-12-02
SHIP SUBSIDY
NOT POPULAR
IN CONGRESS

Nv. SAAS q
Made Against Ad-
ninistration by the
Democrats and IN
dependent Republi-
cans
washington, Nov. 27.-Thirty-
seven shots in the shape Of amend
ments were fired at the admins
tration shipping bill in the house
today and SIX hit spots more or
less vital.
At adjournment tonight the bill
had covered exactly one-third Of
its tempestuous voyage toward the
senate. Representative Graham
(Republican) of Illinois went
home with three Of the. half dozen
amendments in his shooting bag,
all of which were put through with
the aid of Republican votes. Early
in the fight Representative Ed
monds Republican, Of Pennsyl-
yania, ranking Republican of the
merchant marine committee. which
framed the bill. formally announc-
ed on the floor that the section
under which the Standard Oil COM
pany, for example, would share
in the government subsidy for
transporting its own goods in its
own ships, would be stricken out
bodily. This. in the view Of wes-
tern Republicans, added to its
chance of passage.
Rated as the most important
amendment to stand up, was the
Graham proposal which cut out of
the bill the provision under which
shippers, sending their goods
abroad in American vessels, would
receive a per cent. income tax re-
bate, which in some instances, it
was charged in the house, would
have enabled some shippers to es-
cape all payments. It was adopt
ed by a vote OF Sc to ~, after it
had been charac cterized by Mr..
Graham as vicious and extremely
dangerous
Stepping in unexpectedly, Repre-
sentative Oliver (Democrat) Of
Alabama presented on amendment,
acceptance Of which virtually fixed
an upset price for the sale of the
steamship Leviathan, the biggest Of
the government fleet. This provid-
ed that the Leviathan, now being
should not be sold
at price less than the cost Of re-
conditioning. Precise figures OBJ
tanned tonight from the appropria-
tons committee showed that this
cost was s8,166.000. First declar-
ed defeated, the Oliver proposal
won,, 81 to 7S, by a man to man
count as members marched down
the aisle. The fight to riddle the
bill was begun five minutes after
the actual reading started. On his
feet first, Mr.. Graham put forward
an amendment to strike out a sec
ton permitting the shipping board
to sell ships without advertise
ment or competitive sale. Declar-
ing that the worst scandal in the
government was reached in the
sale Of vast surplus stocks "by ne
gotiated sales" Mr.. Graham called
upon Republicans to take section
and throw it out.
Representative Mondell, of Wyo
ming. the Republican leader, as
serted that while he saw no rea-
son why it should not remain he
was not opposed to its elimina-
ton. Mr.. Edmonds also took this
view. A dozen members were
eager to discuss it but a vote was
demanded and the motion was
adopted almost unanimously.
The other Graham amendment
increased the rate of interest on
unpaid balances for ships bought
from the government from not
less than 4 per cent to not less
than Ia per cent. Represen,
tative Frear republican, Of Wis
consin sought to make it per
cent. fat, but failed.
An amendment by Representa-
tive Blanton (Democrat) Of Texas,
that no government en-
ployee should be interested finan-
cially in the purchase of govern
ment ships. was passed with little
opposition.
Out of many offered, Represen-
tative Davis of tennessee, Demo-
cratic member of the merchant
marine committee, got through an
providing that pros
pective ship constructors, borrow
ing from the shipping board re-
volving fund. should pay not less
than IA per cent. interest in
stead of per cent. as stipulated
in the bill.
Touching briefly on the plan to
eliminate the section dealing with
subsidy for industrial ships, Mr..
Edmonds said he was preparing
an amendment to protect industrial
ships.
"It will take industrial ships.
like those of the Standard Oil
company" he said. away from
being the recipients of any subsidy.
This matter was taken up with five
or six Republicans in the commit