Evening star., 1922-06-19
PRESIDENT SHOWS
GOOD GENERALSH|P
Acceptance of Ship Subsidy
Delay Assures Pass
age of Bill.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright. 19"c.)

President Harding's readiness to
agree to Il postponement OF action py
the House of Representatives on the
ship subsidy bill is an Affirmative
step induced by considerations or
strategy which he believes will insure
the passage of the bill at this ses-
sion of Congress.
Details of the Presidents position
became know today after his return
mower, Mr.. Harding will con5ntdhf
cate his views to House leaders
within day or two. In brief. Mr.
Harding is not trying to dictate the
exact day and hour when the subsidy
bills should be passed and is Wiling
to defer to the judgment of House
leaders on this point so long as he
gets the legislation through before
the present session of Congress ad-
journs.
Meets Dilemma Well.
Having made the threat that he will
call Congress into extra session. If
an adjournment is taken without
passing the subsidy bill. Mr.. Harding
found himself confronted with the
alternative of forcing the measure
through now while the House is In
disappointed mood over having been
compelled to stay here against its
will or waiting till members have had
4 little vacation and. gotten an op-
portunity to mend their political
fences" back home.
The President could have forced ac-
ton this week, but it would have
Hot. RI
bill. Mr.. Harding is showing shrewd
signs of generalship in catering to
the wishes of the House leaders at
this time, SO that when the members
get back in six or seven weeks they
will have no excuse for further delay.
The truth is that MIR. Harding was
persuaded to yield to the plan OF
postponement largely because of the
argument made to him by members
of the rules committee that they
hadn't had sufficient time to study
the subject. Mr.. Harding learned, for
instance. that the record of the hear
ings before the merchant marine
committee had not been assembled
and bound. SO that the matter could
be thoroughly digested. Several lead
ers said they thought members would
feel better about II after they also
had had a chance to convass public
sentiment in their communities.
Nothing to Lose.
AS matters stand now Mr. Harding
will lose nothing by keeping on
friendly terms with the House mem
bership. He will get better bill
passed six weeks from now than he
could get this week. Even If the sub
sidy bill were to be passed by the
House within the next few days, rs
Mr.. Harding originally thought would
be the case, the measure would have
to lie over for another month or two
until the Senate finished work on the
tariff bill.
Under the new plan, to which Mr..
Harding has agreed. the House VIII
recess three days at a time under q
| gentlemens agreement between the
| leaders of the democratic and repub-
lican parties to the effect that no
| party matters will come up for con-
sideration while the members take a
vacation. Then when the tarin bill
/ is ready the House will be called
! back and the measure sent to con-
| ference in a few days.
While the tariff bill is in confer
ence the House will act on the snip
subsidy bill and the Senate will take
up the bonus If it has not been given
right Of way over the tariff by tina,
time. The Senate may, Of course. DC
! discussing the subsidy measure while
the House is doing the same thing
but the President is OF, the opinion
! that Congress ought to and VIII place
! q ship subsidy law on the books be-
| fore the autumn elections
Other Advantages in Waiting.
IOther advantages in waiting till
later in the summer for action on the
ship subsidy bill lie in getting a more
dispassionate view later on the ques'
ton of selling liquor on board Amer
lean ships than is possible at the
present time. It is expected thai
facts and figures will be marshalled
first, to prove that American ship'
i will be at serious disadvantage Il
| the sale of liquor is prohibited or
| board American vessels while those
| under foreign flags are unmolstee
| and, second, that treaties will pre-
| vent the application Of American Law
in pending bills, which would pre-.
| vent all ships entering Amertcal
| ports from selling intoxicants OF
Journeys to and from the Unites
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