The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-27
NEW PLAN To.
SAVE: MARINE.
FLEET READY.
"StartIingly Novel" Method
Will Be Given Out, Accord
ing to Chairman Lasker,
When Shipping Bill Is
Killed

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-The
administration shipping bill was
kept alive in the Senate today by
further debate, but executive Of
ficials, recognizing the end to be
near, began formulation of plans
for dealing with the governments
war-impelled merchant marine ven
ture without the aid of the legisla-
ton.
Chairman Lasker of the shipping
board conferred with President
Harding, then met with the other
members of the board and after
wards announced that the policy of
the administration would be worked
out and made public this week. He
declined to give any indication of
the plans under consideration be-
yond saying they were of start
lingly novel" nature.
hopeful until last week that the
shipping bill would be enacted, adj
ministration officials have given no
indication of what alternative they
have in mind. President Harding,
in making his final appeal for pas
sage of the legislation in his ad-
dress February on the British debt
settlement, said that if the legisla-
tive branch refused to approve the
shipping bill or submit an alterna-
tive, 1.-THE executive branch of the
government may proceed as best it
can to end the losses in liquidation
and humiliation.
Early Liquidation Possible.
Inasmuch as the President has do
clared one of the prime purposes of
the ship bill Is to get the government
out of the shipping business. it was
generally believed today that the
ADMINISTRATORS policy contemplated
quick and thorough liquidation. Mem
bers OF Congress conversant with
shipping board affairs suggested that
the administration through invoca-
ton of such indirect aids as are con-
tanned in the merchant marine act
of 1920 might endeavor to make OPP
GRAFTON of vessels under the American
flag attractive enough TO provide a
sale of the government-owned ton
mage. Mr.. Lasker said Chairman
Jones of the Senate commerce COM
mittee has urged the President to
carry out Section 81 of the merchant
marine act directing abrogation of
some 20 commercial treaties with
leading foreign nations prohibiting
use by the United States of discrim-
inatory duties against products
brought to the United States in for
eign bottoms. Because Of the inter-
national aspects of the matter Mr.
Harding, like President Wilson, has
refused to carry out the direction.
o O o
Advocated In Senate.
Use of this action was advocated
in the Senate today during the debate
which served to defer action on the
pending Robinson motion to recon-
NIT the shipping bill. Senator Rams
dell, democrat, Louisiana, in declar-
ing he regretted the prospective
death of the measure, declared alb
rogation of the commercial treaties
would aid in building up merchant
marine, but expressed doubt whether
such abrogation could ever be
brought about.
Senator Walsh, democrat, Massa-
chusetts, sought an agreement for a
vote on the substitute bill by Sena-
tor Mcclellan, democrat, Tennessee,
which provides for indirect aids to
American ship operators and for alb
rogation of the commercial treaties
by direct action of Congress, but
Senator Curtis of Kansas, the repub-
lican whip, objected, saying an OPP
portunity had been given for q vote
but opponents of the legislation had
prevented 1t by their filibuster
Further debate is in prospect to-
morrow before vote on the Robin
son motion and some sentiment de-
veloped today toward holding the
ship bill technically before the SEN
ate until adjournment next Sunday
as buffer against other legislation.