The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-04-12

be . betting occasion to give mo-
tice that the United States means
10 estAblish and nnAintaln 3 great
merchant marine.
II the intelligent and eficient ad-
ministration under the existing
laws makes established service i'm
possible the executive will prompt
~ report to you. Manifestly II our
laws governing American activi-
ties on the seas are such as to give
advantage to those who compete
with Ne for the carrying Of our own
cArSoes and those which ought nat
urAlly to come in American bottoms
through trade exchanges, then the
spirit OF American fair play will
assert itself to give American car
riers their equality Of opportunity.
This republic can never realize
its righteous aspirations in COM
merce, can never be worthy the
traditions Of the early days Of the
expanding republic until the mil
lions Of tons Of shipping which we
now possesses are coordinated with
our inland transportation and our
shipping has government encour-
agement, not government operation,
in carrying our cargoes under our
nag, over regularly operated routes.
to every market in the world, agree
able to American exchanges. 1t
will strengthen American genius
and management to have it under
stood that ours is an abiding de-
termination, because carrying is
second only to production in estab-
fishing and maintaining the flow of
commerce to which we rightfully
aspire.
Radio and Cable.
. 1t is proper to invite your atten-
ton to the importance of the ques-
ton Of radio communication and
cables. To meet strategic, COM
mercial and political needs, active
encouragement should be given to
the extension of American owned
and operated cable and radio serv-
ice. Between the United States
and its possessions there should be
ample communication facilities pro-
viding Greet services at reasonable
rates. Between the United States
and other countries not only should
there be adequate facilities, but
these should be, SO far as practic-
able, direct and free from foreign
INTERPRETATION. Friendly coopera-
ton should be extended to interna-
tional efforts aimed at encouraging
improvement of International COM
municatiOn facilities and designed
to further the exchange Of mes
sages. Private monopolies tending
to prevent the development of
needed facilities should be prohib-
tied. Government owned facilities,
wherever possible, without unduly
interfering with private enterprise
or government needs, should be
made available for general uses.
Particularly desirable is the provi-
sion Of ample cable and radio serv-
ices at reasonable rates for the
Transmission OF press matter. so
that the American reader may re-
ceive wide range Of pews and the
foreign reader receive full accounts
Of American activities. The daily
press of all countries may well be
put in position to contribute to in
tefnAtioral understandings by the
publication Of interesting foreign
news.
Practical experience demon
strates the need for effective recog-
milton Of both domestic and inter
national radio operation if this new
er means of INSTRUMENTATION is
to be fully utilized. Especially
needful is the provision Of ample
radio facilities for those services
where radio only can be used. such
as communication with ships at sen,
with air craft and with out of the
way places. International commun-
ication by cable and radio requires
cooperation between the powers
concerned. Whatever the degree of
control deemed advisable within
the United States government IL
censing Of cable landings and of
radio stations transmitting and re-
ceiving international traffic seems
necessary for the protection Of
American interests and for the Sc
curing Of satisfactory reciprocal
privileges.
Encourage Aviation.
Aviation is inseparable from
either the army or the navy and
the government must. in the inter-
ests OF national defense, encourage
its development for military and
civil purposes. The encouragement
Of the civil department Of aeronau-'
tics is especially desirable as re-
lieving the government largely of
the expense of development and of
maintenance Of an industry, now
almost entirely borne by the gov
eminent through appropriations
for the military, naval and postal
air service. The air mail service is
an important initial step in the d.
rection of commercial aviation.
1t has become a pressing duty of
the federal government to provide
for the regulation of air navigation;
otherwise Independent and conflict
ing legislation will be enacted by
the various states which will ham
per the development Of aviation.
The national advisory committee
for aeronautics, in a special report
on this subject, has recommended
the establishment Of a bureau of
aeronautics in the department of
commerce for. the federal regula:
ton Of air navigation, which rec
ommendation ought to have legisla-
tive approval.
I recommend the enactment of
legislation establishing a bureau of
aeronautics in the navy department
to centralize the control of naval
activities in aer0nautics and re-
moving the restrictions on the per
sonnet detailed to aviation in the
navy.