The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-11-20
'GOLD8G0NGRESS
EAGESPRESIDENT
F0R||IIHISMESSAGE
IRosenbIooin Expected to Be
Strong Supporter of
Ship Subsidy.
3 GHARLEs nRooke SMITH

NAASk4A1NHAONe ~ Va NONs1
q. That President Harding will
confront q cold" Congress when
he goes to the Capitol today or
Tuesday to deliver In person \
message that Is expected to con-
sist principally Of an argument
In favor Of ship subsidy, is fore
easted here. Students OF atmos-
phere dramatic, psYcAologlcoE
and otherwise-are looking for
ward with euro interest to the
event as a decidedly worthwhile
scene for them to observe closely
and to interpret.
rhe last time that the Presl-
dent gazed into the faces Of 4
Joint session he beheld P SIstain-
ing body OF his apparently happy
and satsfid party colleagues, ouL-
Numbering the opposing minority
side BY 40. the most uncqually
divided membership In the history
Or Congress. This time, lie viii.
have the privilege OF looking in
to- the up-turned faces Of tho larg-
est collection OF lame ducks that
ever limped back to the Capitol 10
answer to a roll call. Gloom is
expected to hang suspended over
the Joint session us thick as the
fog banks along the Potomac
swamp lands thees early nornigs
In view Of these circumstances
the way in which the Presidents
advocacy Of ship subsidy Is re-
ee;yed at the capitol is a large
topic headllning the conversation
In the capital today. The cond.-
Hons under which he will launch
his proposal are generally charat-
terrified as most unflvorable. Tho
most favored prediction is that
the House may pass It by no large
ma oEty, but that the Senate Is
most likely not to. 1t Is limited
that one of the outstanding
phases OF the address will be an
attempt TO establish the legisla-
tive Undertaking on a nonpartisan
hasis. The success OF that under
taking is held to be very doubt
There are indications that, 10,
the West Virginia delegation 80
instance, the administrat
merchant marine program is no:
regarded with US high favor as 1t
was a month ago or n month be-
fore that. Signs Of u simlla:
change are to be seen in other
delegations. West Virginia's IN
.terest, in view Of Its large export
business. in having merchant
marine established and maintain
ed on a prosperous business
basis Is admitted by the states
delegation. II that could b.
brought about by some other
scheme than a subsidy. they
would not object, nor would any
other delegation or the admins:
for the matter OF that.
The latter has had an offer stand
ing for months inviting tho o.
lpdnents Of subsidy to suggest
Something better. Tho genius OF
American OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES,
mechanical and otherwise-It
would appear has failed In this
instance,
The proponents OF subsidy as
.sert the fact that the leading M
lions that have a merchant mar
,rine are SO favored because they
have supported it with subsidies
They also make the argument
that mainta ming what merchant
Shipping this nation has Is cost
ing now at the rate Of an annual
deficit Of S52,000O00, and that
subsidy would cost tho govern
.ineGt not more ttan $4,000. 600 a
year The discussion does not as
vet concern itself much with ner-
chant marine as most import
ant Inc Of defense In time OF war
'ijnt President Harding Is expected
to stress that argument.
BY reason OF his membership
on the committee on marine and
Fisheries. Representative Ben
jamin Il. Rosenbloom OF the First
District, is the West V!rg nian IN
that branch who Is moro familia'
with all detailed phases Of the
subsidy matter than any other.
That committee has been busy for
d year with the subject of NOR
3ehant marine ond, the Wheeling
member has made such an In
tanse study Of It as to be able t"
handle a discussion Of II like an
expert, which, az matter OF
fact, he may be said to have be-
come. He has, time ann again.
put himself on record In speech
and newspaper statements as be-
ing in favor of this country hav-
ing a merchant marine Of its own
al any costs.
One Of the most striking illus
tradols made In any speech in
Congress was made by him sew
erat months ago. when he request
ed his hearers to imagine two big
department stores. competitors
in a city and one OF them con-
rattsng with the other to do its
competitors fleet Of motor
trucks. Representative Rossn-
bloom may be expected TO take q
prominent and a leading part in
The forthcoming discussion Oh
merchant marine both before his
committee and in the House.
Nffi9latfIs
SULTAN ARRIVES IN MALTA.