OCR Text |
Show SHIP BILL IS MADEJN ISSUE Washington, Jan. 4. Government purchase of ships as proposed In tho administration bill to creato a shipping ship-ping bourd, finance a $10,000,000 shipping ship-ping corporation and expend not to exceed 130,000,000 for tho purcuuso or chartering of ocean carrlors, bo came today tho foromost Issuo before Congresb. By a voto of 40 to 29 tho Senate mndo tho ship purcuuso bill tho unfinished un-finished business to bo supplanted only by appropriation bills. This action on motion of Senator Flotcher, acting chulrmnn of tho commerco com-merco commltteo, precipitated a showing on tho part of opposition senators which gave cortaln mdtca-tfon mdtca-tfon that thoro wero breakers ahead for tho proposed legislation. Opposition In Earnest Charging that an effort was being mado to rush tho bill with unduo hasto, Republican senators, among thorn Senators Galllnger, Lodgo and Root, served notlco that tho measure would bo fought to tho last ditch. Minority mombers of tho commerce commltteo fllod a report written by Senator Burton and Indorsed by Son ntors Nolson, Porklns, Smith of Michigan nnd Oliver, asserting that tho plan proposed would not relieve shipping conditions becnuso It would bo Imposslblo for tho government to got enough to do any good. It pomt-cd pomt-cd also to tho dangors of International Internation-al complication, doclarlng that ovory craft sot afloat by tho government .would, add! ouo moro risk of our bo- lng drawn Into tho prosont war." 1L Fletcher Opens Debate Senator Flotchor, who has charge of tho bill and who recently confer- fS rod with President Wilson concern- uM lng It, urged tho moasuro In a lengthy speech. Ha Instanced tho fact that, nj cotton sold at 19 cents a pound In tj Germany whon It was bringing , 7 , l cents la tho United SUtoa,r , , '' ,, MM i fWH-Btri .nTnmmumi it yiiii-nmiWMtmiBMIBJ |