The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-12-10

erred in the way In which we have
stunted and hindered the development
OF our merchant marine. And now,
when we need ships, we have not got
them.
have come to ask you to remedy
and correct these mistakes and omis-
sions. The time and the circumstances
are extraordinary, and so must our ef-
forts be also.
Use and Conservation.
Fortunately, two great measures,
finely conceived, the one to unlock,
with proper safeguards, the resources
of the national domain. the other to
encourage the use of the navigabie
water outside that domain for the
generation OF power, have already
rassed the house of representatives
and are ready for immediate consider
alton and action by the senate. With
the deepest earnestness ] urge their
prompt passage.
And there is another great piece OF
legislation which awaits and should
receive the sanction Of the senate:
mean the bill which gives larger
measure of selfgovernment to the peo'
pie of the Philippines. cannot believe
that the senate will let this great
measure of constructive justice await
the action OF another congress. lts
passage would nobly crown the record
of these two years Of memorable Ia
Dor.
An important Duty.
But ! thin, that you Will agree
with me that this does not complete
the toll of our duty. How are we to
carry our goods to the empty markets
OF which ! have spoken If we have
not the certain and constant means
of transportation upon which all profit
able and useful commerce depends?
And how are we to get the ships II
we wait for the trade to develop with
out them?
The routes of trade must be actually
opened-by many ships and regular
saillngs and moderate charges-before
streams Of merchandise will flow free
ly and profitably through them.
Must Open Gates Of Trade.
Hence the pending shipping bill,
discussed at the last session, but as
yet passed =, neither house. In may
Judgment such legislation Is impera-
lively needed and can not wisely be
postponed The government must
open these gates OF trade, and open
them wide; open them before 1t Is
altogether profitable to open them, or
altogether reasonable to ask private
capital to open them at a venture
1t is not a question of the government
monopolizing the field. II should take
| action to make it certain that trans
portation at reasonable rates will be
promptly provided, even where the
carriage is not at first profitable; and
then, when the carriage has become
sufficiently profitable to attract and
engage private capital, and engage II
in abundance, the government ought
to withdraw. | very earnestly hope
that the congress will be Of this opin
ion, and that both houses will ADOPT
this exceedingly important bill
The great subject of rural credits
still remains to be dealt with, ant
II Is a matter of deep regret that the
difficulties of the subject have seemed
to render 1t impossible to complete
bill for passage at this session Bu
it can not be perfected yet, and there
fore there are no other constructive
measures the necessity for which
will at this time call your attention
to; but would be negligent Of {
very manifest duty were ! not to cal
the attention of the senate to the fac
that the proposed convention for safe
ty at sea awaits its confirmation ant
that the limit fixed in the convention
itself for its acceptance is the las
day of the present month.
Charting Of Our Coasts.
There is another matter of whicl
| must make special mention, If | an
to discharge my conscience, lest /
should escape your attention. 1t ma,
seem very small thing 1t affect
only a single item Of appropriation
But many human lives and man,
great enterprises hang upon 1t.
1t is the matter of making adequat
provision for the survey and chartin
of our coasts.
1t is Immediately pressing and ex
gent in connection with the immens
coast line of Alaska. This is matte
= which, as | have said, seems smal
but is in reality very great, Its In
portance has only to be looked int
to be appreciated
Economy Is Urged.
Before | close, may ] say FEY
words upon two topics, much di!
; cussed out of doors, upon which 1t
highly important that our judgment
should be clear, definite and steadfas
One of these is economy in govern
: ment expenditures. The duty o: ecoI
. omy is not debatable. 1t is NANTES
0 and important. In the appropriation
y we pass we are spending the none
t of the great people whose servant
y we are-not our own. We are tru
( tees and responsible stewards in th
e spending. The only thing debatabl
h and upon which we should be carefl
: to make our thought and purpos
e clear is the kind of economy deman,
J. ed OF us. | assert with the create!
e confidence that the people of til
y United States are not jealous of th
d amount their government costs