Evening star., 1923-02-10
SHIP BILL TO PASS
I IF CHANGED, CHIEF
EXECUTIVE IS TOLD
Senate Delegation Submits
Amendments to President at
White House Farley.
RATE CHARGE REVISION
MAY WIN DOUBTFUL VOTES
Senators Express Hope That Meas,
ure Will Pass With New
Schedules.

Another effort to smooth the trou
bled course of the administration ship
bill in the Senate was made today at
a White House conference attended
by some senator's who are opposed 10
the bill in it's present form, but who
presented drafts of amendments de-
signed to lead to compromise insur
ing passage.
The delegation of senators, headed
by Senator McNary of Oregon, called
at the White House and assured Presi-
dent Harding that the bill, if brought
to a vote, would pass this session, il
it undergoes certain changes.
Would Change Rates.
The delegation was not confined to
to republican members, and, accord
ing to Senator McNary. spokesman
they desire to see the bill amended so
as to change the rates with special
aim to devote the greater part of the
governmental aid to the freight-car-
rying boats rather than those en-
gagged more or less entirely in passen-
rate should be increased for the
freight carriers and lowered for the
passenger or tourist boats. which are
more generally of me high speed
type. Those with Senator McNary
were Senators Moses of New Hamp-
shire, Stanfield Of Oregon. Shortridge
of California. Bursom of New Mexico
Do al Of si
No intimatIon was gwen by the dele
CATION, when it left the President.
whether or not the suggestion met with
his approval. Senator McNary stated
that in his opinion the administration
cannot pass the so-calied ship subsidy
bill unless il is amended. and then ne
feels assured that the amendments. as
offered by the delegation today, will
bring enough votes TO the front 10 hD-
tain its passage He stated that ths
senator's are more interested in extend
ing governmental aid to boats deVoting
their entire time carrying cargoes
rather than to promote the tourist and
pleasure business.
Senate Lfne-Up Doubtful
Senator McNary said that the admin
istration leaders are mistaken il they
think that they now have sufficient votes
to insure the passage of the shipping
bill In its present form. According to
him, the administration has only forty
three positive votes. whereas there are
forty four votes in opposition, with the
remainder indecisive.
He contends, however, that practi-
cally every one of the present inde-
cisive votes will be counted for the
bill if it is amended as proposed by
the delegation today.
Senator Moses, while being in clear
accord with Senator McNary regard
ing the necessity for some amend
ments, disagrees with him regarding
the probable outcome of the admin
istration's bill in its present form
He said that there are f1fty-three
sure votes for the bill as 1t now
stands. but that the principal diff1-
Guilty at present is to succeed in get
ting Ii to a vote.
The administration shipping bill was
called up again in the Senate Yesterday
day by Chairman Jones of the COM
merce committee, with the announce
ment that it would not be laid aside
except by a vote of the Senate.
Taking the floor Immediately after
the Senate had passed the Army ap-
preparation bill, the last of the Dig
supply measures, Senator Jones as
serted that I'VE are now ready to
proceed with the shipping bill and we
will pass it or we will reject 1t as
the majority of the Senate shall deter
mine.
Never Such Problem.
Never before has Congress been
confronted with the problem of doing
something to get a substantial sum
out of a three billion dollar war in
vestment and to put ships ALREADY
built into active operation, .sala sala
is far more justification for this leg
islation than there would be IL we
had no ships.
"It is said that this aid is not given
to build ships, but that we propose
men to run them. Not at all. We
cannot give our ships away now on
the condition that they be operated.
We hope to make it worth while to
buy our ships at falr price ana
then to operate them.
Senator Jones discussed at some
length the comparative costs of build
ing and operating ships in this coun-
try and abroad He contended that
the higher costs in this country have
been shown in the hearings before
the committee on commerce.
Never Grew Before.
1--WE are told that we do not need
and it will grow and prosper" said
Senator Jones. I'VE did this for fifty
years, with the result that we had
only fifteen ships in the overseas trade
when the war broke out in 1914. II our
shipping did not grow then. what is
there to lead us to think it will now?
81 do not know that this bill, II
passed. will build up an American
merchant marine and put it upon
permanent basis. No one can tell un-
til it is tried. 1t think it will do it,
If we do not pass it / think l know
what will happen. The organization
created to deal with the chaotic prob
lens turned over to this administra-
ton by the last one will disintegrate
if it's efficiency will be destroyed.
THE Shipping Board and the Elmer
gency Fleet Corporation will become
the haven of discredited and impe-
cunious politicians, and of persons
scheming to defraud the government
by getting its property for song, or
securing the allowance of stuffed and
fraudulent claims. Our ships will rot
at the wharves or be run at a great
loss to the Treasury, and within five
or ten years the hundreds of millions
of value that we now have in our
-; will ha diSxinafadD