OCR Text |
Show SHIP PURCHASE BILL DISCUSSION I Washington, Jan 29. The go em inent ship purchase bill, roceived lis lirsi support from the Republican side .7 today. Senator Norris of Nebraska, declared the plan appealed strongly to him and that if two amendments ho had offered were adopted, he would vote for it. One amendment ha proposed would continue the go eminent em-inent in the shipping business even after the lines It established became profitable. "We should let the taxpayer share the profits as well as bear the losses of any of these entures," he added The second amendment Senator Norris 6ajd would provide that no vessels belonging to belligerent nations na-tions be purchased unless a diplomatic diplo-matic understanding with other belligerents bel-ligerents had been reached, whtci would prevent the possibility of international in-ternational complications. Senator Norris who is regarded as a progressive Republican, said he would prefer to see the shipping board which would be created by the bill so organized as to be taken wholly out of politics, but that he would not insist on any change in the present plan. Senator Kenyon, another progres- Isive Republican, offered two amendments, amend-ments, one to eliminate cabinet officers of-ficers from the proposed shipping board. He also proposed an amendment amend-ment to provide that "none of the ships to be purchased or chartered by the government should engage in transportation of any munitions of war from this country to any belligerent bellig-erent nation or citizens thereof." Senator Norris urged the bill should be amended to prohibit the government leasing its 6hips and going go-ing out of the business His statement state-ment "brought to the surface differences differ-ences among Democratic senators. Senator Hoke Smith inquired if Senator Norris differed "from those of us who vastly prefer the govern ment never to operate the ships at I all." but lease the ships to the vari ous companies to stimulate competition compe-tition . "The idea of leasing these boats." said Senator Owen, interrupting, "proceeds upon the assumption that the lines would compete with each other and thuB rMuce the rates. We have tried that idea to its ultimate conclusion and found that the ships of the United States, Great Britain. Germany, Holland and Italy, instead of competing freoly, are in a great International trust." 8enator Galllnger followed Senator Norris and spoke of the Democratic filibusters in previous congresses. "To hear them exclaim now." he said, "one would imagine that if they met a filibuster In an alley they would call upon the police to rescue them Trom it." Then the senator picked up a morning morn-ing paper and began commenting on the news of the day He read the report of General Carranza's forces entering Mexico City; a story of the White House conference of yesterday relating to government revenues, and an item about the president Then he announced be . felt it -his. duty to read the president's immigration bill veto. "How is It that the senator has dropped the shipping bill and wandered wan-dered off into a general lambasting of the Dmoorats and the president?" demanded Senator Martino. "There are many, hours between this and sunrise," retorted Senator Galllnger. I'll educate the senator on the shipping bill in plenty of time." a: |