Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-02-15
HARDING S AIDES
FIGHTING FOR VOTE
ON SHIP SUBSIDY
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
(Leased Wire Service to The Journal.]
DOWNRIGHT 1929

NNupytiSAIS 1oNo.J
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-Monday
began a three-week period which
will have a decisive influence on the
opportunity of The Republican party
to succeed itself in 1924. Only eight
cen legislation days remain in which
the Republicans. with their large
| majorities. in the senate and house,
can push their programs through.
Next session, which convenes in De-
| cember, will see many new faces and
a narrow majority in each house.
| That always means difficulty for
party measures, much debate, much
compromising to suit the minority
and to prevent reflections inside the
party.
President Harding has significant
ly placed as paramount the shipping
bill. He even has given it right of
way over the acceptance in the sem
ate of the British debt terms. The
house put the British debt plan
iii OQ6IL w Oil ONO1 UAlCAAAAAho WIZ 40
short order. The senate will pass
it, too, but Mr.. Harding's lieutenants
in the senate have advised him that
the opponents of ship subsidy will
use as a device for delay the bill
amending the refunding law and per-
hitting acceptance of the British
debt terms.
Debt Left Till Last
r. 70 or Y1rN
longed debate on the British debt
measure, and the ship subsidy bill
could easily be side-tracked by such
tactics So the president and his
supporters feel they should push the
ship subsidy bill UP to the point
where II seems impossible to get a
vote or where a vote is taken, and
then the British debt proposal can
be acted on in ample time.
In the last days Of every session
of congress, bills Of all kinds get
tangled up with each other. The
friends of particular measures press
for action, and will threaten delay
on something that the other fellow
wants unless they can be assured Of
support for their own projects. The
farm bloc is waiting on the house to
act on the Lenroot-Anderson and
Capper bills on rural credits, and if
these two measures are not ham
died satisfactorily there may be de-
lay on the part of the senate in ac.
cepting the report of the conference
committee to be appointed by both
houses to adjust the differences be-
tween the senate and house meas
ures. *
In order to get the maximum
amount of advantage out Of the
eighteen days remaining, admins
tration leaders have decided on night
sessions. This will soon give the
senators who want to talk on ship
subsidy every chance to speak and it
yet will prove conclusively whether
there is a filibuster against the ship
subsidy bill. Should filibuster de.
velop, it would be possible to deter
mine how long the British debt can.
be laid aside before being brought
to the attention of the senate for
final action.
Action on Debt Essential
AS between ship subsidy and the
British debt proposal, the admins
tratlon, OF course, choose the latter,
as the sums involved are greater and.
settlement of the problem is due
Great Britain as a matter of cour-
tesy if not direct obligation, because
the British fastened action in order
to give the United States govern
ment chance to lay the matter be.
fore the present session of congress.
The ship subsidy bill is an admin
1stration measure and a party meas-
ure in every sense of the word. De.
feat would be bitter pill to swal-
low and would reveal that even with
a big majority the Republicans
couldn't get their own presidents
proposals through. The minority
know the political advantage in kill
ing ship subsidy. 1t will aid the op-
ponents of the administration in fur
Their undermining the prestige of the
administrations in the next session of
congress, when SO many radicals
will take their seats. The Republic
ans cannot afford to be beat on the
ship subsidy. The votes are lined
up, but can the administration lead.
ers force a vote? It's a parliament
tary game which will tax to, the ut
most the ingenuity of the Oldest
hands at f1libustering and steering.
And at this writing it looks as if
the administration by night sessions
or cloture may force a vote.