Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-07

should promptly remove every legal OBJ
stacle that may stand in the way OF this
much To be desired revival OF our old in
dependence, and should facilitate in every
nossible way the building, purchase and
American registration of ships.
Government Must Lead Way
Hut capital cannot accomplish this
Erent tnsk of n sudden. II must embark
upon II by degrees, nS the opportunities
of trade develop. something must he
done mt once; done To open routes and
develop opportunities where they are
as vet undcvclopcdi done to open the
arteries of trade where the currents
have not vet learned to run-espccinlly
between the two American continents,
where they nrc, sinGulnrly enough. yet
to lie created and Iuicicned; and II IN
evident that only the Government can
undertake such beginnings and assume
the initial financial risks. When the
risk has passed and private capital
begins to find it's way in sufficient
abundance into these new channels,
the Government may withdraw. But II
cannot omit to begin. It should take the
first steps, and should take them at once.
our goods must not lie piled up at our
ports and stored upon sidetracks IN
freight cars which are daily needed on the
roads; must not be left without means OF
transport TO any foreign quarter We
must not await the permission of foreign
ship owners and foreign Governments to
send them where we Will
Ship Purchase Bill Modified
With view to meeting these pressing
necessities Of our commerce and avail
ing ourselves at the earliest possible mo-
mcnt Of the present unparalleled oppor-
tunity of linking the two Americas to-
rrnt t,nfs IN nf mi
service, an opportunity which may never
return again If We miss it now, proposals
will be made to the present Congress for
the purchase or construction of ships to
be owned and directed by the Govern
ment similar to those made to the last
Congress. but modified in some essential
particulars.
recommend these proposals to you
for your prompt acceptance with the
more confidence because every month
that has elapsed since the former pro-
pOsnls were made has made the neces-
sity for such action more and more
manifestly Imperative. That need was
then foreseen, II is now acutely felt
and everywhere realized by those for
whom trade Is waiting, but who can
find no conveyance for their goods.
am not so much Interested in the
particulars Of the program as / am in
taking immediate advantage of the
great opportunity which awaits us II We
will but act in this emergency. In this
matter, as in all others, a spirit of COM
mon counsel should prevail, and out of 1t
should come an early solution of this
pressing problem.
Reforms in Philippines
There is another matter which seems to
me to be very intimately associated with
the question of national safety and
preparation for defense. That is our poll
icy toward the Philippines and the people
of Porto Rico. our treatment of them and
their attitude toward US are manifestly OF
the first consequence in the development
of our duties in the world, and in getting
a free hand to perform those duties. We
must be free from every unnecessary bur-
den or embarrassment: and there is no
better way to be clear OF embarrass-
ment than to fulfil our promises and pro-
mote the interests of those dependent on
us to the utmost.
Bills for the alteration and reform of
the Government of the Philippines and
for rendering fuller political justice to
the people of Porto Rico were submit
ted to the SD Congress. They will be
submitted also to you. l need not par
ticulari2e their details. You are most
of you already familiar with them. But
/ do recommend them to your early adop-
tion with the sincere conviction that
there are few measures you could adopt
which would most serviceably clear the
way for the great policies by which we
wish to make good, now and always,
our right to lead in enterprises of peace
and good win and economic and political
freedom.
State of Treasury
The plans for the armed forces of the
nation which l have outlined, and for
the general policy of adequate prepara-
tion for mobilization and defense, involve
of course very large additional expendi-
lures OF money-expenditures which will
considerably exceed the estimated reve-
nues Of the Government
It is made my duty by law, whenever
the estimates OF expenditure exceed the
estimates of revenue, TO call the attention
of the Congress TO the fact and suggest
any means OF meeting the deficiency that
IL may be wise or possible for me TO sug-
gest. I am ready TO believe that 1t would
be my duty to do so in any case; and /
feel particularly bound to speak OF the
matter when 1t appears that the def
cheney win arise directly out of the adop-
tion by the Congress of measures which
/ myself urge 1t TO adopt. Allow me.
therefore. 10 speak briefly of the present
state Of the Treasury and OF the fiscal
problems which the next year will prob
ably disclose
on the S0th OF June last there was an
available balance In the general fund Of
~. r,raasnry of kio4 40 i05 ~ w.. tr..1