The L'Anse sentinel., 1915-12-11

trade. and are without means to extend
our commerce even where the doors are
wide open and our goods desired. Such
q situation is not TO bo endured. 1t is
OF capital importance not only that the
United States should be It's own carrier
on the seas and enjoy the economic In
dependence which only an adequate mer- 4
chant marine would give II, but also that
the American hemisphere as a whole
should enjoy q like Independence and self n
sufiicIency. IL II Is not to be drawn into
the tnngle OF European AFFAIRS. Without
such Independence the whole question OF
our political unity and self-determinatlon
is very seriously clouded and complicated
indeed.
Moreover. we can develop no true or ef-
fectve American policy without ships OF
our own--not ships of war. but ships OF
peace. carrying goods and carrying much
more: creating friendships and render
ing indispensable services to all interests
on this side OF the water They must
move constantly back and forth between
the Americas. They arc the only shuttles
that can weave the delicate fabric OF
sympathy. comprehension. confidence and
mutual dependence In which We clothe
our policy OF America for Americans.
Ships Are Needed.
The task OF building up an adequate
merchant marine for America private
capital must ultimately undertake and
achieve. as II has undertaken and
achieved every other like task amongst
US the past. with admirable enterprise,
intelligence and ,vigor. and II seems to
me a manifest dictate of wisdom that we
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
possible way the building. purchase and
American registration of ships. But cap
tal cannot accomplish this great task of
a sudden. II must embark upon II by de-
grees. as the opportunities of trade de-
velop. Something must be done at once:
done to open routes and develop oppor-
tunt!es where they are as yet undevel-
oped: done to open the arteries or trade
where the currents have not yet learned
to run-especially between the two Ameri-
can continents. where they are. singularly
enough. yet to be created and quickened;
and It is evident that only the govern
ment can undertake such beginnings and
assume the initial financial risks. When
the risk has passed and private capital
begins to find Its way In sufficient abund-
ance into these new channels the gov
ernment may withdraw. But 1t cannot
omit to begin. II 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
ship owners and foreign governments to
send them where we will.
With a view to meeting these pressing
necessities Of our commerce and availing
ourselves at the earliest possible moment
OF the present unparalleled opportunity OF
linking the two Americas together In
bonds Of mutual interest and service. an
opportunity which may never return
again II we miss II now. proposals Will
be made to the present congress for the
purchase or construction OF ships to be
owned and directed by the government
similar to those made to the last con-
gress. but modified In some essential par
ticulars. recommend these proposals
to you for your prompt acceptance with
the more confidence because every month
that has elapsed since the former pro-
posals we're made has made the necessity
for such action more and more mani
testify imperative.
Question Of Finance.
The plans for the armed forces OF the
| nation which have outlined. and for
| the general policy OF adequate prepara-
| tion for mobilization and defense. In
| volve of course very large additional ex-
| penditures OF money-expendltures which
| will considerably exceed the estimated
| revenues of the government 1t Is made
| my duty by law. whenever the estimates
| OF expenditure exceed the estimates OF
| revenue to call the attention of the con-
| gress to the fact and suggest any means
| OF meeting the deficiency that II may be
| wise or possible for me to suggest. I am
| ready to believe that II would be my duty
| to do so in any case. and I feel particu-
| larly bound to speak OF the matter when
| II appears that the deficiency will arise
directly out OF the adoption by the con-
| gress of measures which ! myself urge
| II to adopt Allow me. therefore. to
| speak briefly OF the present state OF the
treasury and of the fiscal problems
which the next year will probably dis
| close.
On the thirtieth OF June last there was
| an available balance In the general fund
| OF the treasury OF s1oi,i7o,lo5.7s. The to-
tai estimated receipts for the year 1916.
| on the assumption that the emergency
revenue measure passed by the last con-
gress will not be extended beyond its
| present limit, the thirty-frst of Decem-
ber. 1915. and that the present duty OF
one cent per pound on sugar will be dis
| continued after the first OF May. 1916.
| will be S670.365,500 The balance OF June
| last and these estimated revenues come.
therefore. to a grand total OF $774 535. COSTS
| The total estimated disbursements for the
| present fiscal year. including s25.00O.00J
| for the Panama canal. s12, 600 for prob
able deficiency appropriations and $780,
| 900 for miscellaneous debt redemptions
| will be $753. .S91, 900: and the balance in the
| general fund OF the treasury will be re-
| duced TO $20.644 .605.7s. The emergency
revenue act. II continued beyond its pres
| ent time Limitation, would produce. dur
| ing the half year then remaining. about
| forty-one millions. The duty of one cent
| per pound on sugar. II continued. would
| produce during the two months of the
| fiscal year remaining after the frst OF
| May. about fifteen millions. These two
sums. amounting together to s56.0O0.000.
| II added to the revenues of the second
| half OF the fiscal year. would yield the
| treasury at the end of the year an avail
/ able balance OF $76,644.605.7s.
| The additional revenues required to
carry out the program OF military and
| naval preparation OF which have spok-
| en-, would. az at present estimated, be
| for the fiscal year 1917. sss.soo.Ooo. Those
| figures. taken with the figures for the
present fiscal year which I have already
| given. disclose our financial problem for
| the year 1917
How shall we obtain the new revenue? ?
| II seems to me clear dictate of pru-
| dent statesmanship and frank finance
| that in what we are now. ! hope, about
| to undertake we should pay as we go.
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