Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1914-12-12

altogether profitable to open them or
altogether reasonable 70 ask private
capital to open, them at a venture.
It is not question Of the government
monopolizing the field. II should take
action to make it certain that trans
portatOn 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 It
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. and
il is matter Of deep regret that the
difficulties Of the subject have seemed
TO render II impossible to complete
a bill for passage at this session. But
1t 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 a
very manifest duty were | not to call
the attention OF the senate to the fact
that the proposed convention for safe
y at sea awaits its confirmation and
that the limit fixed in the convention
itself for its acceptance is tbs last
day Of the present month. The con
ference in which this convention or
lginated was called by the United
States; the representatives OF the
United States played a very inAuen-
tial part indeed in framing the provi-
sions OF the proposed convention. and
those provisions are I'm themselves
for the most part admirable. II would
hardly be consistent with the part
we have played in the whole matter
to let il 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.
Charting 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. Il 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 |
If our coasts.
1t is Immediately pressing and ext |
gent in connection with the immense |
'oast 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
'lder coasts of the continent. We
'annot use our great Alaskan domain,
hips will not ply thither, if those
casts and their many hidden dangers
ire not thoroughly surveyed and
harted.
The work is incomplete at almost
very point. Ships and lives have
'een lost in threading what were sup
'osed to be well-known main chan
els. We have not provided adequate
essels or adequate machinery for the
urvey and charting. We have used
Id vessels that were not big enough
r strong enough and which were so
early unseaworthy that our inspec-
ors would not have allowed private
wners to send them to sea. This is
matter which. as have said, seems
mall, but is in reality very great. Its
Importance has only to be looked into
D be appreciated.
Economy Is Urged.
Before | close, may | say a few
lords upon two topics, much dis
used out Of doors, upon which it is
ighly important that our judgments
hould be clear, definite and steadfast.
me of these is economy in govern
lent expenditures. The duty of econ
my is not debatable. 1t is manifest
nd imperative. In the appropriations
e pass we are spending the money
the great people whose servants
e are-not our own. We are trus-
ees and responsible stewards in the
pending. The only thing debatable
nd upon which we should be careful
} make our thought and purpose
ear is the kind of economy demand
] of us. l assert with the greatest
onfidence that the people Of the
nited States are not jealous of the
mount their government costs II
ley are sure that they get what they
eed and desire for the outlay, that
lie money is being spent for objects
which they approve, and that 1t is
cling applied with good business
ense and management.
Governments grow, piecemeal, both
their tasks and in the means by
hich those tasks are to be per-
rmed and very few governments are
.ganiZed I venture To saw as uiee |