Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-12-10

should facilitate in every possible way
the building, purchase and American
registration of ships. But capital an
not accomplish this great task of a
sudden. 1t must embark Upon it by
degrees, as the opportunities of trade
develop. Something must be done at
once; done to open routes and devel-
op opportunities where they are as
yet undeyeloped; done to open the ar
teries of trade where the currents
have not yet learned to run-special-
ly between the two American conti-
nents, where they are, singular
enough, yet to be created and quick
ened; and it is evident that only the
government can undertake such be-
ginnings and ssum the initial finan-
cial risks. When the risk has passed
and private capital begins to find its
way in sufficient abundance into these
new channels, the government may
withdraw. But it cannot omit to be-
gin. 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 side tracks in
freight cars which are daily needed
on the roads; must not be left with
out means of transport to any foreign
quarter. We must not await the per-
mission of foreign ship-owners and
foreign governments to send them
where we will.
Must Provide Ships.
With a view to meeting these
pressing necessities of our commerce
and availing ourselves at the earliest
possible moment of the present I'M
paralleled opportunity of linking the
two Americas together in bonds of mu-
tual interest and service, an oppor-
tunity which may eve 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 essen
tial particulars. l recommend these
proposals to you for your prompt &C
SCpldhCO WILL NhO
because every month that has elapsed
since the former proposals were made
has made the necessity for such action
more and more manifestly imperative.
That need was then ~foreseen; it is
now acutely felt and everywhere real
lied by those for whom trade is wait
ing but who can find no conveyance
for their goods. l am not sc much in
terested in the particulars of the pro-
gram as | am in taking immediate adj
vantage of the great opportunity which
awaits us If we will but act in this
emergency.
There is another matter which
seems to me to be very intimately as
ISOLATED with the question of national
safety and preparation for defense,
That is our policy towards the Philip
pines and the people of Porto Rico.
Our treatment of them and their atti.
tude towards US are manifestly of the
first consequence in the development
of our duties in the world and in get
ting a free hand to perform those du.
ties. We must be free from every un'
necessary burden or embarrassment;
and there is no better way to be. clear
of embarrassment than to fulfill ouT
promises and promote 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 Sixty-third congress. They
will be submitted also to you. l need
not ~particularize their details. You
are most of you already familiar with
them. But / do recommend them to
your early adoption with the sincere
conviction that there are few meas
ures you could adopt which would
more serviceably clear the way for
the great policies by which we wish to
make good, now and always, u right
to lead in enterprises of peace and
good will and economic and political
freedom.
The plans for the armed forces of
the nation which l have outlined, and
for the general policy of adequate
preparation for mobilization and de-
tense, involve of course very large adj
ditional expenditures of money-ex-
p%enditures which will considerably ex-
coed the estimated revenues of the
government. 1t is made my duty by
law, whenever the estimates of ex-
penditure exceed the estimates of
revenue, to call the attention of the
congress to the fact and suggest any
means of meeting the deficiency that
it may be wise or possible for me to
suggest. l am ready to believe that it
would be my duty to do SO in any case;
and feel particularly bound to speak
of the matter when it appears that the
deficiency will arise directly out of
the adoption by the congress of meas
ures which l myself urge it to adopt.
Allow me, therefore, to speak briefly
of the present state of the treasury
o1d of Tho 6eoal probInnc which tho