The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-12-09

stroyed the merchant marine OF the
country. to retrace the steps by which
we have, IT. seems almost deliberately.
Withdrawn our flag from the seas, ex-
cent where, here and there, a ship Of
war isA hidden carry It or some wan
dcriRg yacht displays it, would take
long time and involve many detail
ed items OF legislation, and the trade
which We ought Immediately to ham
dleS would disappear or find other
channels while we debated the items.
The case Is not unlike that which
confronted us when our own continent
, was to be opened up to settlement
and industry, and we needed long
lines OF railway, extended means OF
transportation prepared beforehand,
IL development was not to lag intol-
erably and wait interminably. We
lavishly subsidized the building of
transcontinental railroads. We look
back upon that with regret now, be-
cause the subsidies led to many
scandals OF which we are ashamed:
but we knew that the railroads had
to be built, and II we had it to do
over again we should of course build
them. but in another way. Therefore
| propose another way OF providing
the means OF transportation. which
must prece6e, not tardily follow, the
development Of our trade with our
neighbor States of America. 1t may
seem reversal Of the natural order
OF things, but IL Ia true, that the
routes OF trade must be, actually open-
ed-by many shics~ ~and regular sail
ings and moderate charges-before
streams OF merchandise will flow free
ly and profitably through them.
Hence the pending shipping bill.
discussed at the last session but as
vet passed by neither house. In my
Judgment such legislation is impera-
lively needed and can not wisely be
postponed. The government must
open these gates oe trade, and open
:fiem wide; open them before 1t is al
together profitable to open them, or
altogether reasonable to ask private
capital to open them at venture. It
Is not question OF the government
monopolizing the field. It should take
action to make 1t certain that trans.
postation at reasonable rates will be
promptly provided. even where tho
carriage ts nee c: arst pT5taittaahbia; pT5taittaahbia;
ana then, when the carriage has be-
come sufficiently profitable to attract
~AeeoO PAlat0 Cdpllhl, anu en-
gage 1t In abundance. the government
ought &C withdraw. -sry sarasst,y
hope that the congress will be of this
opinion. and that both houses will
adopt this exceedingly important bill.
The great subject Of rural credits
Still remains to be dealt with, and II
Is matter OF deep regret that the
difficulties OF the subject have SEEM
ed TO render 1t impossible to complete
Ie bill for passage at this session. But
II can not be perfected yet, and there
fore there ara no other constructive
measures the necessity for which I
VIII at this time call your attention
TO; but would be negligent Of very
manifest duty were I not to call the
attention OF the senate To- the fact that
she proposed convention for safety at
sea awaits fta confirmation and that
the limit fixed in the convention tt
self for its acceptance Is the last day
OF the present month. The conference
In which this convention originated
was called by the United States; the
Representatives OF the United States
played q very influential part indeed
In framing tho provisions OF the pro-
posed convention; and those provis-
ions are In themselvef for the most
part admirable. It would hardly be
consistent with the part we have
played in the whole matter to let ft
drop anu go by the board as IL for
gotten and neglected. It was ratified
In May last by tho German govern-
ment and In August by the parlia-
nient OF Great sEritain. 1t marks q
most hopeful and decided advance in
international civilization. We should
show our earnest good faith sn a great
OF Il.
There is another matter Of which
muEt make special mention, IL / am
to diseharEe my conscience, lest it
should escape your attention. It may
seem very small thing. It atsects
only q single item Of appropriation.
But many hnman ltses and many
great enterprises hang upon It. 1t is
the matter OF making adequate pros
yiRion Tor the survey and chartiie or
our coasts. It is immediately press
ing and exigent ie aonneetian with
the inmense coast line OF Alaska, n
coast line greater Tran that OF the
United States themselves, though n
IS also very Important indeed with
resara 70 the older coasts OF the con-
tinent. We can not use our great
Alaskan domain, shiz; Win not ply
thither. 4 ks-sa coasts and their laiany
|hidden danger. are not thorouehIr
surveyed and charted. The work is]