Evening star., 1923-02-18

e.
vessel or vessels of a gross tonnage
equal TO or greater than the gross
tonnage of the vessel with respect
20 which the contract for compensa-
sation is made"
Would Dispose of Fleet.
Senator Jones estimated that dur
ing the first two years of the opera
ton Of the bill this section would
lessen the government aid payments
by three to three and one-haif mil
lion dollars. 1t is designed, it was
said, to bring about speedy disposal
OF the Shipping Boards fleet.
A second important change to be
proposed by Chairman Jones alters
the rates at which government COM
pensation shall be paid and fixing Il
maximum payment of one and six
tenths cents for power-driven ves-
sells Of nineteen knots and over as
against payments ranging from one
and one-tenth cents to two and one
tenth cents on vessels of nineteen to
twenty-three knots and over in the
measure as passed by the House, and
reported to the Senate. This altera-
,ion, it was explained, is designed
to center government aid on the slow
cargo-carrying craft rather than
speedy passenger liners, and is in
line with ideas advanced by Senator
McNary, republican, Oregon, and
other republican senators only luke
warm toward the bill
Favors Smaller Ships.
The change also embodies all in
crease in the basic rate from one-half
Of cent to seven -tenths Of l cent for
each gross ton for each 100 nautical
miles covered by the vessel. The
rates based on speed up to nineteen
knots are changed SO as to keep the
increasing ratio the same.
Another change Is the inclusion of 4
section providing that any vessel of
10000 gross tons or over shall be
considered as II it were a vessel CT
10000 gross tons in computing the
rate of government aid. This like
wise Is designed to favor the smaller
and slower cargo carriers.
Provision against discrimination by
the act in favor of one port and
against another also has been IN
serted. such a section having been ad-
vocated by some senators from the
Pacific coast.
Proposals advanced by Senator Nc
Nary relating to the duties OF the
Joint board to be created by the
Shipping Board and the interstate
comm ission also are included. These
provide that the joint board shall
make an investigation as to the
causes Of and remedies for congestion
IN certain American ports and the
control, Improvement and extension
Of water terminals; advise with COM
inunities on harbor, river and port
improvements in connection with for
eign and coastwtse trade, and study
generally the interrelations Of rail
and water traffic.
Threatens Long Sessions
Senator Jones, in giving notice Of
night sessions In an attempt to drive
the bill through, said he expected "to
stand up to 1t as long as the majority
ol lHC DCudlC "All Sldiu bChiuu iHc,
and, in reply to an inquiry from Sem
ator Swanson. democrat, Virginia, as
to how long each night session would
last. said. I'VE may remain in session
all night. depending on the progress
we make on the BILL
Contrary to anticipation there was
no effort made yesterday by support
ers Of other measures to get their
hills UP and displace the ship bill, but
proponents of the commonIy-terme ID
to take is UP Monday, while those
backing the Capper truth-in-fabric
measure asserted they would endeavor
10 get that legislation UP for Senate
consideration Tuesday. Both OF
these bills have opponents. who. al
though not Favorable to the ship bill.
may not vote to displace 1t.