The Forrest City times., 1914-12-11

or our merchant marine. And now, when we need ships, we have net got them
 l 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 atlon and action by the senate. With the deepest earnestness I 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 larger measure of selfgovernment to the peo- ! 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 bor.
 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 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 sailings and moderate charges-before streams of merchandise will flow free ly and profitably through them.
 Must Open Gates of Trade.
 Hence the pending shipping bill,
  yet passed Ny 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 $ altogether profitable to open them. CT altogether reasonable to ask private capital to open them al a venture. It is not a question Of the government monopolizing the field | should take action to make t certain that trans portation at reasonable rates will be promptly provided. eYe1 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. l 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 bill for passage at this session. But it can not be perfected yet, and there 1 fore there are no other constructive measures the necessity for which l l will at this time call your attention | to; but l would be negligent of a very manifest duty were 1 not 10 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
 chartns 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 very small thing It affects only single item of appropriation. But many human lives and many great enterprises hang upon 1t.
 It is the matter of making adeouate 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, 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 close, may say a 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 O: econ. omy is not debatabe, 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 l 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.