Middletown transcript., 1914-12-12

htAOu du0 dStAOA ny tAA1 bC4chScs WAtA
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-government to the peo-
pie Of the Philippines. 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.
But / thin that 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 l have spoken If we have
not the certain and constant means
of transportation upon which all profit
able and useful commerce depends?
And how are we to get the ships if
we wait for the trade to develop with
out them?
The routes of trade must be actually
opened-by many ships and regular
saiIings and moderate charges-before
streams Of merchandise will flow free
ly and proftably through them.
Must Open Gates Of Trade.
Hence the pending shipping bill,
discussed at the last session, but as
yet passed - neither house. In may
judgment such legislation is impera-
lively needed and can not wisely be
postponed. The government must
open these gates of trade, and open
them wide; open them before 1t Is
altogether profitable to open them, or
altogether reasonable to ask private
capital to open them at a 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. livery 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 a matter Of deep regret that the
difficulties of the subject have seemed
to render it impossible to complete
a bill for passage at this session. But
it 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 we're | not to call
the attention of the senate to the fact
that the proposed convention for safe |
ty at sea awaits its confirmation and |
that the limit fixed in the convention |
itself for its acceptance is the last
day Of the present month.
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. It Affects
only single item of appropriation.
But many human lives and many
sreat enterprises hang upon It.
It is the matter Of making adequate
for the survey and charting
If our coasts.
It is Immediately pressing and exI-
rent in connection with the immense
,oast line Of Alaska. This is a matter
which, as l have said, seems small,
'ut is in reality very great. Its i'm
'ortance has only to be looked into
o be appreciated.
Economy Is Urged.
Before close, may / say a few
Vords upon two topics, much dis
ussed out Of doors, upon which it is
ighly important that our judgments
hould be clear, definite and steadfast.
)ne Of these is economy in govern
nent expenditures. The duty o. econ
my is not debatable. It is manifest
nd important. In the appropriations
re pass we are spending the money
the great people whose servants
Fe are-not our own We are trus-
ses and responsible stewards in the
The only thing debatable
nd upon which we should be careful
) make our thought and purpose
lear is the kind of economy demand ]
Of us. assert with the greatest
onfidence that the people Of the
Inited States are not jealous Of the
mount their government costs If !
ley are sure that they get what they 7
eed and desire for the outlay. that J l