Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-12-10

erred in the way in which we have
stunted and hindered the development
Of our merchant marine. And now,
when we need ships. we have not got
them.
1 have come to ask you to remedy
and correct these mistakes and omis-
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 resources
Of the national domain, the other to
encourage the use of the navigable
water outside that domain for the
generation Of power, have already
rassed the house Of representatives
and are ready for immediate consider
alton and action by the senate. With
the deepest earnestness l urge their
prompt passage.
And there is another great piece of
legislation which awaits and should
receive the sanction of the senate:
I mean the bill which gives 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 Ia
Dor.
An important Duty.
But l 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 1 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
sailings and moderate harges-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 it 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 I 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 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 1 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 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
l must make special mention, if am
to discharge my conscience, lest it
should escape your attention. It may
seem a very small thing. 1t affects
only a single item of appropriation.
But many human lives and many
great enterprises hang upon it.
1t is the matter of making adequate
provision for the survey and charting
of our coasts.
It is Immediately pressing and ext
gent in connection with the immense
coast line of Alaska. This is a matter
which, as l have said, seems small,
but is in reality very great. Its i'm
portance has only to be looked into
to be appreciated.
Economy Is Urged.
Before I close, may say few
words upon two topics, much dis
cussed out of doors, upon which it 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 important. In the appropriations
we pass we are spending the money
of the great people whose servants
we are-not our 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. I 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
l-crnd IN Mo,;Ia IN - 1-oo-