Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-12-08

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Therefore, ] propose another way OF
providing the emans Of transportation
which must preeede, not tardily follow,
the development of our trade with our
neighbor states of America. 1t may
seem a reversal OF the natural order of
things, but il is true, that the routes
of trade must be actually opened-by
many ships and regular sailings and
moderate charges-before streams of
merchandise will flow freely and prof
itably through them.
Hence the pending shipping bill, dis
cussed at the last session, but as yet
passed by neither house. In my iudg-
ment such legislation is imperatively
needed, and cannot wisely be postpOn-
ed. The government must open these
gates of trade and open them wide;
open them before it is altogether prof
liable to open them, or altogether rea-
sonable to ask private capital to open
them at venture. 1t is not a ques
ton Of the government monopolizing
the field. 1t should take action to make
it certain that transportation at rea-
sonable rates will be promptly provid-
ed, even where the carriage is not at
first profitable; and then when the
carriage has become sufficiently prof
itabl3 to attract and engage" private
capital, and engage it in abundance, the
government ought to withdraw. 1 very
earnestly hope that the congress will
be Of this opinion, and that both houses
will adopt this exceedingly important
bill.
Rural Credit Must Wait.
The great subject of rural credits
still remains to be dealt with, and it
is a matter of deep regret that the
difficulties Of the subject have, seemed
to render it impossible to complete
bill for passage at this session. Bu.
It cannot 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 mani
fest duty not to call the attention Of
the senate to the fact that the pro-
posed convention for safety at sea
awaits its confirmation and that the
limit fixed in the convention for its
continuance is the last day of the pres.
emu month. The conference in which
this convention originated was called
by the United States the represents
tives Of the United States played a
very influential part indeed in framing
lhe provisions of the proposed conven-
ftiols, and those provisions are in them
serves Tor the most part admirable. 1t
would hardly be consistent with the
part we nave played in the whole mat
Ter TO let IT drop and 60 by the board
as If forgotten and neglected. II was
ralliied IN May last by the German
government and in August by the par
lament Of Great Britain. 1t marks a
most hopeful and decided advance in
international civilization. We should
SNOW our earnest good faith in a great
matter ny adding our own acceptance
Oh IT,
Must Chart Coasts.
There is another matter of which I
must make special mention. If am to
discharge my conscience. lest il sbopj6
escape your attention. II mov seem
a very small thing. II affects onIv a
single item of appropriation. Rnt msrv
human lives and many great enterprises
hang upon it. 1t is the matter of
making adequate provisica for the snr.
vey and chartmp or our COASTS II is
impressing and exigept in connection
with the immense coast line of Alaska,
a const line greater than that of the
United States themselves, though il is
also very important indeed with regard
TO- tne older coasts of the continent.
We cannot use our great Alaskan do.
main, ships will not ply there, if those
coasts and their many hidden dangers
are not thoroughly surveyed and chart
ed Ihe work is incomplete at almost
every point Ships and lives have been
lost IN threading what were supposed
TO be well known channels. We have
not provided adequate vessels or ade.
quate machinery for the survey and
cnartlng, We have used ed vessels
that were not big enough or not strong
enough or were 30 nearly unseaworthy
mat our inspectors would not have al.
lowell private owners to send them TO
sea. lhls is matter which, as | have
said, seems small, but Is in reality very
great It's Importance has oily to be
looked INTO to be appreciated
Belote ! close may say few words
upon two topics, much discussed out
OF doors upon which IL is highly i'm.
poiiant, that our judgments shoild be
clear, definite and sleadfastl
Insists on Economy.
One of these ia economy In goverp.