The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-18
FINISH FIGHT. .|NAUGURATED. .ON SHIP BILL
important Concessions Are Made by Administration Leaders in Effort to Win Votes of LukeWarm
 Senators

WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. IT. (By Associated Press. )-Inauguz ration of fight to the fin- ish in the Senate today on the ad- ministration shipping bill was marked by the presentation by Chairman Jones of the commerce committee of the print of mod flied measure and by the announce ment by the chairman that he ex- pected to hold the Senate to night sessions Monday night and every night thereafter until the bill i3 disposed of or an agreement reached for a final vote.
 With sine die adjournment of the session due at noon two weeks from tomorrow, leaders of the forces supporting the fate of the measure, which has been the prin- cipal legislation considered during the session, would be definitely de- cided. President Harding has let it be known that should a vote not be reached before adjournment he would not call Congress in spe- cial session for further considera- ton of the bill.
 Represent Compromises.
 The notifications shown in the new print of the bill presented by Chairman Jones repr sent comprom, ises reached by the champions of the measure and chose senators wht have been only luke warm toware it. They will be offered by Senator lanes with recommendations thai they be adopted and are understood to have received the approval ot { President Harding and of Chairman . LasSer of the shipping board. Those in charge of the legislation in the Senate said they were hopeful tha, the proposed alterations would draw support to the measure.
 Forescast among the alterations i. the inclusion of section providing government aid shall not be paid ship operators with respect to any vessel other than a vessei purchased from the board after enactment ol the pending act until after the board shall have sold vessels now in its possession amounting to a gross ton. mage of 100000 tons, or approxi- mately one half it's present holdings A proviso to this section provides that the board may contract to pay government aid to any owner for operation of an otherwise qualified vessel eff the owner of such vesse or vessels of a gross tonnage equa to or greater than the gross tonnage of the vessel with respect to which the contract for compensation is made"
 Lessen Expenditures.
 Senator Jones estimated that dur ing the first two years of the op- eration of the bill this section would lessen the government aid payments by three to three and one-half mil. lion dollars. It is designed, it was said, to bring about speedy dis posal of the shipping boards fleet
 A second important change to be proposed by Chairman Jones, alters the rates at which governmnet com pensation shall be paid and furnishes maximum payments of one and six tenths cents on power driven of { knots and over, as against payment ranging from one and one-tentf to two and one-tenth cents on yes sells of 19 to 23 knots and over in tuc dS pdoScu Oy tIc I1OuSe and reported to the Senate.
 This alteration. it was explained is designed to center government aid oh the slow cargo carrying craf, rather than speedy passenger liners and is in line with ideas advanced by Senator McNary, republican. Oregon and other republican senators only lukeworm toward the bill.
 The change also embodes an in crease in the sasic rate from one half of one cent to seven-tenths of one cent for each gross ton for each 100 nautical miles covered by the vessel The rates based on speed up to 19 knots are changed so as to keep the increasing ratio the same.
 Favors Smaller Crafts.
 Another change Is the inclusion oi section providing that any vessel of 10000 gross tons or over shall be considered as if it were a vessel of 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 shipping board in admins- tering the act in favor of one DOT, and against another also has been inserted such section has been advocated by some senators from the