The Spectator., 1914-12-08

altogether profitable to open them, or altogether reasonable to ask private capital to open them at venture It is not question of the government monopolizing the field. It should take action to make it certain that trans portation 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 it Is matter of deep regret that the difficulties of the subject have seemed to render it impossible to complete 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 l will at this time call your attention to: but l would be negligent of a very manifest duty were I not to call the attention of the senate to the fact that the proposed convention for safe ty 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 con- ference in which this convention or iginated was called by the United States; the representatives of the United States played very infiuen- tial part indeed in framing the provi- sions of the proposed convention; and those provisions are in themselves for the most part admirable. It would hardly be consistent with the part we have played in the whole matter to let it drop and go by the board as if forgotten and neglected. It was ratified in May last by the German government and in August by the parliament of Great Britain. It marks 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 l must make special mention, if 1 am to discharge my conscience, lest it should escape your attention. It may seem very small thing. It affects only single item of appropriation. But many human lives and many great enterprises hang upon it.
 It is the matter of making adequate provision for the survey and charting of our coasts.
 It is immediately pressing and exi- 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 l close. may say few words upon two topics, much dis cussed out of doors, upon which 1t 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. It is manifest and imperative. In the appropriations we pass we are spending the money of the great people whose servants we are-not OUT 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 of 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 if they are sure that they get what they need and desire for the outlay, that the money is being spent for objects of which they approve. and that it is being applied with good business sense and management.
 Governments grow, piecemeal. both in their tasks and in the means by which those tasks are to be per formed, and very few governments are