Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-02-08
To Make Sure Admins
tration's Plans Are
HOnOred
PLANS ARE BROKEN
Unexpected Union Of
Ship Subsidy and Debt
Legislation Leaves
Leaders Disconnected
OBy United Press.D


TO force the decision on the ship
subsidy bill demanded by Presi-
den. Harding was decided on to-
day by leaders as the House
ways and means. committee took
I'd the bill approving the british
war debt settlement.
Mf. Harding's unexpected
coupling of the debt funding and
the subsidy bill in his message
Yesterday left congressional lead
ers somewhat disco2crted, with
their carefully arranged plan for
quickly disposing of the debt leg
is!ation thrown askew.
A quick effort was made to get
together on q new plan that
would meet the presidents wish
es and not endanger passage OF
the debt legislation by March ),
when the present congress eX-
pires.
Il was decided that the House
ways and means committee
should go to work today on the
bill introduced by Representative
Burton to approve the British
settlement .trems. Burton will
appear before the committee to-
day to give it the historical back
ground of the negotiations, and
to submit to questioning by dem
ocratic members on the interest
rate granted the British govern
ment and other points.
House leaders meanwhile eX-
pected to determine their plan Of
procedure in the House. Rep.
Mondell, republican floor leader,
expects to pass the bill in one
day. Whether it will be passed
Friday of this week or about the
middle of next week may depend
to some degree on developments
in the senate.
That body, caught in one Of the
most remarkable fiibusters in its
history, aimed at the ship sub
sidy bill, will attempt to extri-
cate itself by rushing the pend
ing army bill to a vote as early
as possible, and then taking up
the ship subsidy bill. In the
meantime, the finance committee
on Friday will begin considera.
ton of the debt legislation.
The subsidy bill has been
showed ahead of the dert meas
ure on the senate calandar as a
mans of either braking the fill
buster being conducted by demo-
Gratis and some republican insur-
gents, or failing that, of putting
the responsibility for the sen-
ate's failure to reach a decision
on subsidy squarely on the fill
buffers.
Present plans call for conside-
ration of the ship bill for three
or four days Immediately follow
ing passage Of the army bill.
The exact date is indefinite, be-
cause of the slow progress Of the
army measures. When tho ship
bill comes up, an effort Wi. be
made after reasonable time to
get the senate to agree to a date
for a final vote. If this fails,
tn tactics to be pursued thereaf-
ter will be decided by adminjstra
ton leaders.
The subsidy bill, if not dis
posed of, will be laid aside in
plenty of time to assure of the
debt bill before March 8, lead
ers said. They anticipate con-
siderable debts on the debt bill.
The provision granting the presi-
dent power to approvee su5se-
ouent debt settlemnts with other
nations will be fought by the
democrats who insist congress
should have the final say. They
also will renew their demand for
democratic representation on the
American funding commission.
Senator Borah will offer his
economic conference resolution
az an amesdment to the debt law,
according to his present plane,
and that may cause extension of
debate.
With but three weeks of work
ing tie left, leaders therefore
were confronted today with a
ticklish problem. as there are
other matters that must be con-
sidered. These include the con-
ference reports on several ap-
propriation bills, and a number
of important nominations.
Senatorial discussion of the
presidents twin demand for i'm
mediate action on both debt and
subsidy legislation was to begin
today with a speech by Senator
Pat Harrison, Miss. democrat.
Harrison was expected to ask, in
one of his Enthusiastically iron
ical speeches. why the President
Didn't say something about the
farmer in his message.