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Show SHIP PURCHASE BILL DISCUSSION Washington, Jnn. 30. Tho government govern-ment ship purchaso bill, received Its first support from the Republican side today. Senator Norrls of Nobraska, declared the plan appealed strongly to him nnd that If two amendments he had offered were adopted, ho would voto for it. Ono amendment ho proposed would continue tho government gov-ernment In the shipping business even ev-en nfter tho lines It established bo-came bo-came profitable. "Wo should let the taxpayer share the profits as well as bear the losses of any of these ventures," ho added t Tho second amendment Senator Norrls said would provido tliat no vessels bo'onglng to belligerent nations na-tions bo purchnsed unless n diplomatic diplo-matic understanding with othor bel-llgorei.ts bel-llgorei.ts had been reached, which would prevent the possibility of International In-ternational complications. Senator Norrls who Is regarded as a progressive Republican said he would prefer to see the shipping board which would bo created by tho bill so organized as to bo taken wholly whol-ly out of polltliS, but that ho would not Insist on nny change In tho present pres-ent plan. Senator Kenyon, another progressive progres-sive Republican offered two amendments, amend-ments, ono to o mlnlato cabinet officers of-ficers from tlio proposed shipping board. Ho nlso proposed an amendment amend-ment to provido that "none of tho ships to bo purchased or chartered by the government should engago In transportation of nny munitions ot war from this country to any belligerent bel-ligerent nntlon or citizens thoreof." Senntor Norrls urged tho bill should be amended to prohibit tho government leasing Its Btjlpa, and go- ing out of tho business. His statement state-ment brought to tho surface differences differ-ences among Democratic sonators. Senator Hoko Smith Inquired If Senator Nor"ls differed from thoso of us who vnstly profor tho government nover to operato tho ships nt all," but leaso tho ships to tho various companies to stlmuluto competition "Tho Idea of leasing these boaa," said Senator Owen, interrupting, "proceeds upon tho assumption that tho lines would competo with each other nnd thus rcduco tho rntos. We havo tried that Idea to Its ultimate joncluslon nnd found that tho ships of tho United States, Great Hrltnln, Germany, Holland nnd lta'y, Instead of competing freely nro In n pent International trust." Senator Gnllinger followed Senator Norrls and spoko of tho Democratic filibusters In previous congresses "To hear them exclaim now," ho said, "ono would lmaglno tlint If they met n filibuster In nn alley they would call upon tho police to nMcuo them from It." Then tho senator picked up n morning morn-ing paper and began commenting on tho news of tho dny. Ho read tho roport of General Carranza's forces cjitorlng Mexico City; a story of tho Whlto Houso conference of yesterday relating to government rovenucs, and nn Item about tho president. Then ho announced ho fo't it his duty to rend tlio president's Immigration It'll veto. "How is it that tho sonaror has dropped tho shipping bill and wandered wan-dered oft Into n general laminating of Democrats and tho president? demnnded Senator Mnrtlno. "Thero nro many hou'B between this and sunrise," rotorted Senator Gnllinger. I'll educate the soiutor on tho shipping bill in plonty of time." |
