Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-12-08

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 L
will at this time call your attention
to; but would be negligent of a very
manifest duty were 1 not to call the
attention of the Senate to the fact
that the proposed convention for
safety at sea awaits its confirmation
and that the limit fixed in the con-
vention itself for its acceptance is the
last day of the present month. The
conference in which this convention
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
it drop and go by the board as if for
gotten and neglected. 1t was ratified
in May last by the German Govern
men and in August by the Parliament
of Great Britain. 1t marks a most
hopeful and decided advance in in
ternational civilization. We should
show our earnest good faith in q
great matter by adding our own ac-
ceptance of it.
Wants Dangers Charted
There is another matter of which
I must make special mention, if l am
to discharge my conscience, lest 1t
should escape your attention. 1t may
seem 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 pro-
vision for the survey and charting of
our coasts. 1t is imm ediately pressing
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
very important indeed with regard to
the older coasts of the continent. We
can not use our great Alaskan do
main, ships will not ply thither, II
those coasts and their many hidden
dangers are not thoroughly surveyed
and charted. The work is incomplete
at almost every point. Shlps ana
lives have been lost in threading what
were supposed to be well-known main
channels. We have not provided ade-
auate 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
inspectors would not have allowed
private owners to send them to sea.
This is q matter which, as / have
said. seems small, but is in reality
very great. Its Importance has only
to be looked into to be appreciated.
Talks of Expenditures
Before L close may 1 say a few
words upon two topics, much dis
cussed out of doors, upon whlch II IS
highly important that our judgments
should be clear, definite and stead
fast?
one of these is economy in govern
ment expenditures. The duty of econ
omy is not debatable. 1t is manifest
and imperative. In the appropria-
tions we pass we are spending the
money of the great people whose
servants we are,-not our own. We
are trustees and responsible stewards
in the spending. The only thing de-
batable and upon which we should be
careful to make our thought and pur-
pose clear is the kind of economy de-
manded 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 OBJ
iects of which they approve, and that
it is being applied with good business
sense and management
Governments grew, piecemeal,
both in their tasks and in
the means by which those
tasks are to be performed.
and very few governments are or
ganized. venture to say, as wise and
experienced businessmen would or
ganiZe them if they had a clean sheet