Evening star., 1922-11-29
Andrew Attacks Dill.


Andrew Attacks Dill.
Attacking the bill today. Repre-
sentative Andrew. republican. Mass
achusetts. hailing from the Glouces-
ter district. declared the measure still
offered dangerous precedent.
which. if adopted. will hound us for
years to come
Opposing the bill as republican
leaders were speeding it toward the
point of passage. the speech at
tFacted unusual interest. since Mr.
Andrew represents a district in one of
the principal maritime states. The
easiest course. he said. was to support
the bill.
'But~no member wants to see a bill
put through which involves large
expenditure OF public money" he add
ed. unless he Is convinced that eX-
penditure will bring at least an equal
return and will not constitute bad
precedent for future legislation.
Sees No Such Returns.
Il believe that this bill which in
wolves possible expenditure of a
billion dollars of the peoples money
during the next decade. is not likely
to reduce shipping charges sNbstan-
tally or bring an equivalent benefit to
the country as whole. s---.,
And l believe that if adopted it will
offer another precedent in the way of
federal aid and paternalism which
will plague us for the rest of our
days"
On motion of Representative Ed
mondS. Pennsylvania, ranking repub-
b..
committee. the section of the bill
giving the Shipping Board juriSdiC
tion over rates in the coastwise trade
was eliminated. Mr.. Edmonds said the
section was included to curb ruinous
rate cutting. but that it had been de-
cided to withhold it until hearings
could be held.
Republicans Offer Changes.
Although several more or less rad
ical changes in the bill were adopted
yesterday. all of these were offered
by republican members. Nearly two
score more amendments offered by
democrats. hostile to the measure,
were rejected in quick succession.
important among the changes voted
yesterday was an amendment neces-
stating the authorization by Congress
each year of payments from the mer-
chant marine fund to operators of
american ships, this being generally
viewed among members not only as
uolnS away with a permanent appro-
pr1ation. but also as affording check
on expenditures. Other amendments
added to those previously adopted
would exclude from receiving govern
inent ana concerns operating ships for
their own benefit, except where they
transported rargoeS of other shippers:
withhold government aid for all yoy-
age. ON which liquor was carried and
reduce from 1000 to 500 gross tons
the minimum tonnage for sailing YES
sells eligible for government aid.
Wet Penalty Urged.
1t was at the suggestion of Repre-
sentative Edmonds, PENNSYLVANIA
ranking republican on the merchant
marine committee. that the House de-
cided not to make government aid
available to Industrial concerns such
as the Standard Oil Company, for the
operation of vessels carrying their
own products. The bill. as amended
permits such companies, however, to
receive assistance for Transporting
cargoes of other shippers
As expected, Representative Bank
head proposed that the bill sDecify
that compensation was not to be Maid
to any operator whose ships carried
liquor. The Supreme Court, il was
pointed out, might decide that Amer
lean ships outside the three-mile
limit were not subject to the prohibi-
ton law. and the Bankhead amend
ment was offeredto make doubly sure
disbarment of the liquor from Ameri-
can vessels.
Amendments Scope Narrowed,
Mr.. Edmonds quickly offered sub
stitute for the Bankhead amendment
narrowing its scope to provide that
ships should not receive government
aid Tor voyages on which liquor was
carried. After brief discussion the
to 81
There was general assault
on the provisions of the bill
relating to the powers of the
Shipping tipping Board: but they re
stipnlating that the general ac
counting office was not to review the
boards determination of the amount
of compensation to he paid, was
eliminated. at the suggestion of Rep
resentative Graham, republican. Ilii-
hois. by a SO to 46 vote.
Another amendment approved made
sailing vessels of 500 to 1000 gross
tons eligible for government aid. The
change was suggested by Representa-
tive White; republican. Maine. who
nelu tHdt Tue 1'VVV HiIHlHiuHls carried
in the bill as drafted, was not low
enough.
The amendment by chairman Mad
den Of the appropriations committee,
providing an annual congressional
check on the payments of compen-
sation, was offered after Mr.. Davis
had attempted to strike out the pro-
vision creating a merchant marine
fund, from which payments would be
made. Mr.. Davis and others con-
tended that appropriations should be
made annually for the purpose SO the