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Show DEMOCRATS AGREE ON SSHPP1G BILL Measure Will Be Pressed for Passage Regardless of All Obstacles. WASHINGTON, July 8 Democratic senators in caucus late today reached an agreement on the government shipping ship-ping bill to upbuild the American merchant mer-chant marine, ending one of the most serious se-rious party divisions that has occurred within the life of the AVilson administration. administra-tion. Differences which led to a Democratic Demo-cratic revolt at the last session of congress con-gress and resulted in failure of the ship purchase bill, had threatened the pending measure, earnestly advocated by President Wilson, with a like fate. Amendments submitted today, however, ironed out all serious differences, and senators who had been fighting each other on the issue shook hands, resolving to press the bill for passage at this session, ses-sion, no matter how long it may delay adjournment. Changes proposed by the Democrats of the commerce committee and adopted by the caucus do not alter the principle of the bill, which already has passed the house. The amendments include the following provisions: The government shall not purchase anv ship which flies the flag of a European nation at war nor any ship already engaged in American trade unless un-less it is about to be withdrawn from that trade. No ship shall be acquired by the (Continued on Page Fourteen.) j OElGfUSTS AGREE 01 SIIIPP1 BILL (Continued from Page Three.) government which is below 73 per cent of its original efficiency. j The government shall not undertake j to operate merchant ships unless all j efforts to negotiate satisfactory lea or sales to private corporations fr that ; purpose, the government reserving the right, however, to- prescribe conditions . under which ships shrill he operated and j in what servi'-p t hey shall enpaoy. I Among Demo' ratic senators who were i opposed to tho bill its 'it came from the' house, aud who-e support has been won o' cr hy todav "s action are Clarke, leader ! of The opposition; Bankhea-!, Varda m.-m, : H i ( rhenrk, O 'Gorman and Hard wick The closing incident of the caucus was! ator Clarke shook hands with Senator Stone, signalizing the end of the party struggle. When the amendments had been approved ap-proved the commerce committee was authorized to rush consideration of the bill and also to draft a provision regarding re-garding entry of government, ships in American coastwise trade. That issue was discussed pro and con in the caucus and thero was an expression of opinion by the majority of the Democrats that government ships should not be permitted per-mitted to enter into such trade. It was left to the committee to incorporate incorpo-rate a provision relating to this subject sub-ject in the bill. Provisions of the house bill relating to tho selection and makeup of the proposed shipping board wore not amended, although there had been suggestions sug-gestions for the elimination of the secretary sec-retary of the navy and seerctarv. of commerce from its personnel. Neither was there any amendment to the provision pro-vision which limits operation of tho proposed system to a five-year period following conclusion of the Kuropean war. |