The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1914-12-11
PRESIDENT WILSON'S MESSAGE TO
FINAL SESSION OF 63RD CONGRESS

I will let this great measure Of constructive
justice await the action of another Con-
gress. Its passage would nobly crown the
record Of these two years Of memorable
labor. ll.u
But think you will agree with 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 ships? How are we to
build up great trade II we have not the
certain and constant means of transporta-
tion upon which all profitable and useful
commerce depends? And how are we to
get the ships II we wait for the trade to
develop without them?
Flag Must Be Restored to Seas.
To correct the many mistakes by which
we have discouraged and all but destroyed
4he merchant marine Of the country, to
retrace the steps by which we have, 1t
seems almost deliberately. withdrawn our
flag from the seas. except where, here and
there. ship Of war is bidden carry 1t or
some wandering yacht displays 1t. would
take a long time and involve many detailed
items of legislation, and the trade which
we ought Immediately to handle would dis
appear or find other channels while we de-
bated the items
The case is not unlike that which con-
fronted US when our own continent was to
be opened up to settlement and industry
and we needed long lines Of railway ex-
tended means Of transportation prepared
beforehand If development was not to lag
intolerably and wait interminably. We Law
ishly subsidized the building Of transcon,
tinental railroads We look back upon that
with regret now. because the subsidies led
to many scandals of which we are ashamed; /;
but we know that the railroads had to be
built. and II we had 1t to do over again
we should. of course. build them. but in
another way. Therefore propose another
way of providing the means of transporta-
tion. which must precede. not tardily fol-
low. the development of our trade with our
neighbor states of America. 1t may seem
a reversal Of the natural order of things.
but 1t Is true that the routes Of trade must
be actually opened-by many ships and reg
ular sailings and moderate charges-before
streams of merchandise will flow freely and
profitably through them.
a. Shipping Bill Imperative.
Hence the pending shipping bill. discussed
at the last session, but yet passed by
neither house. In my Judgment such legis-
laton is mperatively needed and cannot
wisely be postponed. The Government must
open these gates Of trade and open them
profitable to open them. or altogether rea-
sonable to ask private capital to open them
at venture 1t is not q question Of the
Government monopolizing the field. It
should take action to make 1t certain that
transportation at reasonable rates will be
promptly provided, even where the carriage
is not at first profitable; and then. when
the carriage has become sufficiently prof
and engage 1t in abundance, the Govern
ment ought to withdraw. earnestly hope
that the Congress will be Of this opinion,
and that both houses will adopt this ex-
| ceedingly important bill
Rural Credits Deferred.
The great subject Of rural credits still re-
mains to be dealt with, and It is a matter
| OF deep regret that the difficulties of the
subject have seemed to render 1t impossible
to complete bill for passage at this session.
Dttt Ia Aa al ryat thAra
fore there are no other constructive meas
ures the necessity for which will at this
| time call your attention to, but I would be
negligent Of manifest duty were not to
call the attention Of the Senate to the fact
| that the proposed convention for safety at
sea awaits it's confirmation and that the
| limit fixed in the convention itself for Its
acceptance is the last day of the present
month. The conference In which this con-
vention originated was called by the United
| States; the representatives Of the United
States played very Influential part indeed
| in framing the provisions of the proposed
| convention, and those provisions are in
themselves for the most part admirable.
1t 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 q most hopeful and decided advance
| in International civilization. We should
SHOW our earnest BOou 1Ailn IN great mat
ter by adding our own acceptance of 1t.
Coasts Should Be Charted.
| There is another matter of which must
make special mention, II am to discharge
my conscience, lest it, should escape your
attention. 1t may seem small thing. 1t
affects only single item of appropriation.
But many human lives and many great en-
| terprises hang upon 1t. 1t Is the matter
Of making adequate provision for the survey
and charting Of our coasts 1t is immediate
and exigent in connection with the immense
coast line of Alaska, coast line greater
than that Of the United States themselves,
though it is also important, indeed, with
regard to the older coasts of the continent
We cannot use our great Alaskan domain
| ships will not ply thither II those coasts and
their many hidden dangers are not thor
oughly surveyed and charted. The work Ia
Incomplete at almost every point. Ships and
| lives have been lost in threading what were
supposed to be well-known main channels
We have not provided adequate vessels OIL
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 ouI
inspectors would not have allowed private
owners to send them to sea.
This is a matter which, az I have said
seems small. but is In reality very great
Its importance has only to be looked into
to be appreciated.
Economy Is Enjoined.
i Before / close may I say few wordi
upon two topics, much discussed out Of
doors, upon which 1t is highly important
that our judgments should be clear. definite
and steadfastf
i One of these is economy in Government
expenditures. The duty of economy is no
debatabla. It is manifest and imperative
In the appropriations we pass We ar'
spending the money Of the great peopl,
whose servants we are--not our own. W,
are trustees and responsible stewards In tht
spending. The only thing debatable ant
upon which we should be careful to max,
our thought and purpose clear is the kind
of economy demanded of US. assert with
the greatest confidence that the people o.
the United States are not Jealous OF thu
amount their Government costs IL they ar
sure that they get what they need and de
sire for the outlay. that the money is beini
spent for objects of which they approv
and that it is being applied with good bust
ness sense and management.
y Governments grow piecemeal. both In thei
tasks and in the means by which thos
tasks and in tho means by which those task
are to be performed and very few govern
ments are organized. venture to say, as wis
: and experienced business men would organic
! them IL they had a clean sheet of paper I
i write upon. Certainly the Government o
the United States Is not. I think that 1t
generally agreed that there should be
] systematic reorganization and reassembin
! or its parts SO as to secure greater efficienc
and effect considerable saving in expense
: But the amount of money saved in tina
way would. believe. though no doubt con
siderable in itself running 1t may be- int
millions. be relatively sma1l-small, mear
i in proportion TO the total necessary outlay
of the Government. 1t would be thorough
worth effecting. as every saving woult
! great or small. Our duty Is not altere
J by the scale Of the saving.
Necessities Not CurtaiIed.
e. ..f. L. A. Ts..f