The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-12
TEST VOTES To
FIX FATE Of
SHIP BILL
A Administration Leaders Con.
fident Of Passage 40 Final
Battle Nears.
BY WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON,
International News Service Staff
CmrPaarnndank


International News Service Staff
Correspondent.
The Administration ship sub.
sidy bill, heralded by it's supporters
as the only means Of saving the
American merchant marine from
destruction, today entered the clos.
ing stages Of the long fight for its
enactment.
A series OF legislative obstacles
faced the measure in the form Of
test votes, which must be hurdled
In the next two or three days. to
insure ito passage by the present
Congress. If supporters of the bill
are defeated on any one OF the
tests, all chance for it's ultimate
enactment probably will be lost.
While Administrator forces were
still hopeful as they rallied their
ranks for the test votes, there was
no assurance their fight would be
successful.
Amendments Deeired.
One ray Of hope appeared today
in . report that farm bloc" Re.
publicans, hitherto unequivocab1y
opposed to the bill, would give It
their support II It were amended to
substitute only cargo ships. This
proposed amendment, however, did
not meet the favor OF Democratic
opponents. The latter declared the
measure would have to be limited
to a single year before they would
permit it to come to q final vote.
This provision would eliminate the
fifteen.year contracts Incorporated
in the bill.
An announcement by Senator
Jones RepD of Washington, In
charge OF the bill, that he would
request unanimous consent for
limiting debate after Friday, stirred
the opposition. 1t was conceded
the request would be refused and
there was possibility Jones might
force a test vote Immediately by
putting his request as a formal
Democratic opponents, led by
Senator'S Robinson Of Arkansas and
Fletcher OF Florida, meanwhile
planned another test vote late today
or tomorrow on a motion to re-
the measure. If this mo.
ton is adopted 1t will spell defeat
for the subsidy. There was every
indication today the independent"
and a number Of farm
bloc" Republicans would support
this Democratic move. II they do
Administration forces cannot hope
for. victory.
A third assault on the bill prob.
ably viii come, when farm bloc"
Republicans, led by Senator Capper
(Rep) of Kansas, move to take up
the truth in fabrics bill. The
farm bloc" has insisted this bill
be enacted by the present Congress
and with Democratic support the
motion to consider it probably will
prevail. II IL does this act too
will spell defeat for the subsidy.
Debate to Be Lengthy.
The British debt agreement bill
will be called up about Wednesday
and II the subsidy has survived all
attacks to that time, it will be laid
aside while the Senate ratifies the
settlement. Debate on the debt bill
will last several days and on it's
conclusion, opponents of the sub
sidy will stage another attempt to
prevent its further consideration.
Confronted by this series of OBJ.
stacles. 1t was generally conceded
today that the bill will either be as
sured of passage or abandoned to
defeat before the end of the week.
Senator Jones, who directed the
subsidy fight, declared today he
was not certain of the Administra.
tons future plans.
GT Vvfl1 HxN, - IA $3.50, A,,k
gram for keeping the bill before
reached as best l can" said Jones.
"I must take the results as they
come and I can't cross bridges until
I come to them. We can only hope
for the best
Opponents Hopeful.
Opponents of the measure were
more hopeful. Senator Robinson
declared the motion to recommit
would be made by tomorrow after.
noon when 1t probably will pre-
vail"
II expect the motion to take I'D
the debt agreement will also pre-.
vail. and it will receive an almost
solid Democratic support" said
Robinson. ut should not take
longer than three days to consider
1t. and the attack will then be re.
newer against the subsidy"
Republican members Of the farm
bloc" were unwilling to discuss
their program toward the subsidy
except to say the motion to con-
slider the truth in fabrics" bill,
would be made about Wednesday, "
Republican Senators reported as ia.
voring this move were Ladd Of
North Dakota. Norris of Nebraska,
Brookhart Of Iawo, Capper of Kan.
sas, Norbeck Of South Dakota.
Sterling Of South Dakota, Nichol.
son of Colorado, CouZens Of Michi.
gan, La Foleltte of Wisconsin and
McNary Of Oregon.
BURGLARS ALARM FAILS