New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09

velop without them? To correct the
many mistakes by which we have DIS
couraged and all but destroyed the
merchant marine Of the country, to re-
trace the steps by which we have, II
seems almost deliberately, withdrawn
our flag from the seas, except where,
here and there, ship of war is hidden
carry it or some wandering yacht DIS
PLAYS it. would take long time and IN
volve many detailed items OF leglsla-
ton, and the trade which we ought I'M
mediately to handle would disappear or
find other channels while we debated
the items.
Plea for Shipping Bill.
The case is not unlike that which
confronted us when our own continent
was to be opened up to settlement ana
industry, and we needed long lines Oh
railway, extended means of transporta-
ton prepared beforehand, if develop
ment was not to lag intolerably and
wait Unfortunately. We lavishly sub
sidized the building of transconti-
mental railroads. We look back upon
that with regret now, because the sub
sides led to many scandals OF whleh
we are ashamed but we know that the
railroads had to be built, and II we
had it to do over again we should, OF
course, build them, but in another way:
Therefore, ] propose another way Oh
providing the means of transportation,
which must precede, not tardily follow,
the development of our trade with our
neighbor states of America. 1t may
seem a reversal of the natural order Oh
things, but it is true that the routes OF
trade must be actually opened-Dy
many ships and regular sallings and
moderate charge before streams OF
merchandise will flow freely and proht-
ably through them. :.
Hence the pending shipping bill, dis
cussed at the last session, but as yet
passed by neither house. In my JUG
ment such legislation is imperstively
needed and cannot 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. 1t is not a question of the
government monopoliZing the field. IL
should take action to make it 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 be-
come sufficiently profitable to attract
and engage private capital, and engage
it in abundance, the government ought
to withdraw. | very earnestly nope
that the Congress will be of this opin-
ion, and that both houses will adopt
this exceedingly important bill.
Rural Credits.
The great subject of rural credits
still remains to be dealt with, and IT is
a matter of deep regret that the dim
culties of the subject have seemed TO
render it impossible to complete bill
for passage at this session. But II
cannot be perfected yet, and therefore
there are no other constructive meas
ures the necessity for which | Will at
this time call your attention to; but |
would be negligent of q very manifest
duty were | not to call the attention of
the Senate to the fact that the pro-
posed convention for safety 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. The conference in
which this convention originated was
called by the United States; the rep
resentatives 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 adj
mirable. II would hardly be consistent
with the part we have played in tie
whole matter to let it drop and go by
the board as if forgotten and neglected.
] IA II -, lao kty he
man government, and in August by the
Parliament of Great Britain. 1t marks
a most hopeful and decided advance in
show our earnest good faith in a great
matter by adding our own acceptance
of it.
There is another matter Of which |
must make special mention, if am to
discharge my conscience, lest it 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 enter
/ prises hang upon it. II is the matter
| of making adequate provision for the
survey and charting of our coasts. 1t
is Immediately pressing and exigent 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 10 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 sur
veyed and charted. The work is incom-
plete at almost every point. Ships and
| lives have been lost in threading what
were supposed to be we'll known main
/ channels. We have not provided ade-
auate vessels or adequate machinery
/ for the survey and chsrting. 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 pri-
vate 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 Imperative.
Before close may say few words
upon two topics, much discussed out OF
doors. upon which it is highly impor-
tant that our judgments should be
clear. definite and steadfast?
One of these is economy in govern