The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-12-08

altogether reasonable to ask private
II 10 not a question OF the government
monopolizing the field. II should take
action 10 make il certain that trans
porta;ion 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 1t
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
Rill remains TO be dealt with. and
II is matter OF deep regret that the
difficulties OF the subject have seemed
10 render II impossible TO complete
a bill for passage at this session. But
II 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 call
the attention OF the senate to the fact
that the proposed convention for safe
I ty at sea awaits its confirmation and
! that the limit fixed in the convention
itself for its acceptance is the last
day OF the present month. The con-
! ference In which this convention or
| iginated was called by the United
! States; the representatives OF the
, United States played a very influen.
tial part indeed in framing the provi.
sions OF the proposed convention; and
| those provisions are in themselves
| for the most part admirable. II would
hardly be consistent with the part
we have played in the whole matter
TO let 1t drop and go by the board
as II forgotten and neglected 1t was
ratified in May last by the German
government and in August by the
parliament OF Great Britain. 1t marks
a most hopeful and decided advance
in international civilization. We
should show our earnest good faith
in great matter by adding our own
acceptance of IT,
Chartine of Our Coasts.
There is another matter OF which
must make special mention, If | am
to discharge my conscience, lest it
should escape your attention. 1t may
seem very small thing 1t affects
only a single item of appropriation
But many human lives and many
great enterprises hang upon IT,
1t is the matter OF making adequate
provision for the survey and charting |
OF our coasts
1t is Immediately pressing and ext |
gent in connection with the immense |
coast line of Alaska. A coast line |
greater than that of the United States |
themselves, though it is also very |
important indeed with regard to the |
older coasts OF the continent We |
cannot use our great Alaskan domain,
ships will not ply thither, If those
coasts and their many hidden dangers
are not thoroughly surveyed and
charted.
The work is incomplete at almost
every point. Ships and lives have
been lost in threading what were sup
posed TO be well-known main chan
nels. We have not provided adequate
vessels or adequate machinery for the
survey and charting We have used
old vessels that were not big enough
or strong enough and which were so
nearly unseaworthy that our inspec-
tors would not have allowed private
owners to send them to sea. This Is
a matter which as | have said, seems
small, but is in reality very great Its
importance has only to be looked into
to be appreciated.
Economy Is Urged.
Before close, may | say a few
words upon two topics, much dis
cussed out OF doors. upon which II is
highly important that our judgments
should be clear. definite and steadfast.
One of these is economy in govern
ment expenditures. The duty OF econ
omy is not debatable II is manifest
We pass we are spending the money
Of the great people whose servants
We are-not our own. We are trus-
tees and responsible stewards in the
spending The only thing debatable
and upon which We should be careful
to make our thought .and purpose
clear is the kind or economy demand
ed OF us | assert with the greatest
confidence that the people OF the
United States are not Jealous OF the
amount their government costs II
hey are sure that rhey get what they
reed and desire for the outlay. that
he money is being spent for objects
VI which they approve, and that it is
icing applied with good business
ense and management {
Governments grow. plecemeal, both I
n their tasks and In the means by J
which those tasks are to be per. !
ormed, and very few governments are 5
rganiZed I venture to say, as wise