The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-12-11

erra1 IN the way in which we have
stunted and hindered the development
of our merchant marine. And now,
when we need ships, we have net got
them.
l have come to ask you to remedy
and correct these mistakes and olnis.
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
Of the national domain, the other to
encourage the use Of the navigabie
water outside that domain for the
generation Of power, have already
Iassed 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 a larger
measure Of self-goveTnment to the peo-
pie Of the Philippines. l cannot believe
that the senate will let this great
measure OF constructive justice await
the action Of another congress. Its
passage would nobly crown the record
Of these two years Of memorable la
Dor.
An Important Duty.
3ut | thin that you will agree
Wit 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 ii We have
not the certain AMI 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
opcned-hy MANI ships and regular
| sailinas and moderate charges-before
streams Of merchandise will flow free
~ and probably through them.
Must Open Gates Of Trade.
Hence the pending shipping bill,
discussed at the last session, but as
vet passed y neither house. In may
Judgment such legislation is impora-
lively needed and can not wisely be
postponed. The government must
open these gates OF trade, and open
them wide, open them before it Is
altogether profitable to oIen them, G.
altogether reasonable 70 ask private
capital to open them at a venture
It II not q question Of the government
monopolizing the field. Il should take
action to make it certain that trans
portation ut reasonable rates will bt
promptly provided. even where tht
carriage is not 1t first profitable; anc
then, when tIe carriage has become
sufficiently profitable to attract ane
engage private capital, and engage i
Ia abundance, the government oueh
10 withdraw. | very earnestly hep'
That tbc congress will be 81 tAia oHsn
ttn. ara shat hoth.haases VIII aaog
Giis exceedingly important b#ll.
The Great subject Ell rural credit
still remains TO ba dealt with. AJAX
it s 1 matter De deer regret that ta.
die c%uItie5 III thc subject have searaet
to reader i'll iul. os 6le to conpjet'
%# f#SF# .@4*@, &%##s@r@ .E @HsE a=r~gcT83x3 I3l
il san net be nalfes yet, and there
fore there aTe 10 er canstrucdF'
measures g}t@ ! roI which
Wil re tlis aua eaIf YOU attentiel
tos hat ! Would BIZ negligent oil
very nlan5fa dnty were not to cal
tie attention of Ile senate 10 the fac
that tie propose convention for salts
fy at sea awaits its confirmation aH.
CHAT the limit axed III tie convention
itself for ita Acceptance is tie las
day Of the present month
charting o. Our Coasts,
There is another matter Of vhiel
must make special mention, if | al
"a discharge my conscience. lest i
should escape your attention. II ma
seem a very small thing. 1t affect
only a single item Of appropriation
But many human lives and man
great enterprises hang upon it.
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 a matte
which, as | have said, seems small
but is ia reality very great. Its in
p%ortance has only to be looked int
to be appreciated.
Economy Is Urged.
Before | close, may I say a fe'
words upon two topics, much dii
cussed out Of doors, upon which it
highly important that our judgment
should be clear, definite and steadfas
One of these is economy in govern
ment expenditures. The duty o. ecol