The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-12-15

Merchant Marine.
The previous congress, deeply concerned
in behalf Of our merchant marine, IN
1920 enacted the existing shipping laws,
designed for the upbuildng OF the Amer
lean merchant rarne. Among other
things provided 10 encourage our snip
ping on the worlds seas, the executive
was directed to give notice Of the termi-
nation of all existing commercial treaties
In order to admit Of reduced duties on
imports carried in American bottoms.
During the life Of the act no executive
has compiled with this order OF the con-
gress. When the present administration
came into responsibility, 1t began an carry
inquiry into the failure to execute the
expressed purpose Of the Jones act. Only
one conclusion has been possible. Frank
", members Of house and senate, eager
as | am to JON you in the making OF an
American merchant marine commensurate
with cur commerce, the announcement OF
our commercial treaties would Involve US
in a chaos of trade relationships and add
ndescrlbably to the confusion Of the al
ready doordered commercial world.
Our power to DO so is not disputed, out
power and ships, without comfy of re-
latonship, will not give US the expanded
trade which is inseparably linked with
great merchant marine. Moreover, the
applied reduction of duty, for which the
treaty announcements were necessary, en-
couraged only the carrying of dutiable
imports to our shores, while the tonnage
which unfurls our flag on the seas is both
free and dutiabie, and the cargoeS which
make a nation eminent in trade are out
going rather than Incoming.
1t 10 not my thought to lay the problem
In detail before you today. 1t Is desl: ed
only to say to you that the executive
branch of the government, uninfluenced
by the protest Of any nation, for none
has been made, is well convinced that
your proposal, highly intended and heart
lily supported here, is so fraught with diff
tcult!es and SO marked by tendencies to
discourage trade expansion that invite
your tolerance Of noncompliance for
very few weeks until plan may be pre-
scented which contemplates no greater
draft upon the public treasury and which,
though yet too crude to offer 1t today,
gives such promise of expanding our mer-
chant marine that it will argue its own
approval. 1t is enough to say today that
we are so possessed of ships. and the
American intention to establish mer-
chant marine Is so unalterabe, that
plan Of reimbursement, at no other cost
than Is contemplated in the existing act,
will appeal to the pride and encourage
the hope of all the American people.
Need of Tariff Legislation.
There Is before you the completion Of
the enactment of what has been termed a
permanent" tariff law, the word per
manent" being used to distinguish it from
the emergency act which is the law to-
day | cannot too strongly urge an early
completion of this necessary legislation.
1t is needed to stabilize our industry at
home, it Is essential to make more definite
our trade relations abroad. More, it Is
vital to the preservation of many of our
own industries which contribute SO nota-
bly, to the very life blood Of our nation.
There Is now, and there always will be,
storm Of conflicting opinion about any
tariff revision. We can not 90 far wrong
when we base our tariffs on the policy OF
preserving the productive activities which
enhance employment and add to our. ma
tional prosperity.
Must Be Exchange Of Trade.
Again comes the reminder that we
must not be unmindful of world condi-
tons, that peoples are struggling for in
dustrial rehabilitation and that we can
not dwell in industrial and commercial ex-
cluson and at the same time do the just
thing in aiding world reconstruction and
readjustment. We do not seek selfish
aloofness, and we could not profit by it,
were 1t possible. We recognize the ne
cessity of buying wherever we sell, and
the permanency Of trade lies in its accept
able exchanges. We cannot sell to others
who do not produce, nor can we buy un-
less we produce at home.
Every contemplation magnifes the diff
| Guilty of tariff legislation, but the neces-
sity of the revision Is magnifed with 1t.
Doubtless we are justified in seeking a
more flexible policy than we have pro-
vided heretofore. | hope way will be
found to make for flexibility and elas-
| ITCHY, so that rates may be adjusted to
meet unusual and changing conditions
which cannot be accurately anticipated.
| know of no manner in which to effect
this flexbillty other than the extension
of the powers Of the tariff commission,
| so that it can adapt itself to scientific
and wholly just administration Of the
law.
Early Determination Needed.
am sure about pubic opinion favoring
the early determination Of our tariff
policy. There have been reassuring
signs Of business revival from the deep
slump which all the world has been ex-
periencing. Our unemployment. which
gave us grave concern only a few weeks
ago, has grown encouragingly less, and
now assurances and renewed confidence
will attend the congressional declaration
that American industry will be held Sc
cure.
Something more than tariff protection
Is required by American agriculture. To
the farmer has come the earlier and the
heavier burdens Of readjustment There Is
actual depression In our agricultural In
dustry, while agricultural prosperity Is
absolutely essential to the general pros
perity Of the country.
The base Of the pyramid Of civilization,
which rests upon the soil, is shrinkinp
through the drift of population from farm
70 CITY. For generation we have been
expressing more or less concern about
THIS tendency. Economists have warned
and statesmen have deplOred. We thought
lor time that modern conveniences and
the more intimate contact would halt the
movement, but 1t has gone steadily on.
pernaps only grim necessity will correct
II, out we ought to find less drastic
remedy.
Need for Freight Read ustment.
The existing scheme OF adjusting
| freight rates has been favoring the
basing points, until industries are at
| tracted to some centers and repelled
from others. A great volume of un-
economic and wasteful transportation
has attended, and the cost increased
accordingly. The milling and
meat packing industries offer ample
| Illustration and the attending concen-
tration Is readily apparent, The men
aces in concentration are not limited
to the retarding influences on agricul-
ture. Manifestly the conditions and
terms OF railway transportation ought
not to be permitted to increase this un-
desirable tendency. We have a just
pride in our great cities, but we shall
find a greater pride in the nation
which has a larger distribution Of Its
population intb the country; where
comparatively self-sufflcient smaller
communities may plant agricultural
and manufacturing interests in har-
monious helpfulness and enhanced
good fortune. Such movement con-
templates no destruction Of things
wrought Of investments made or
wealth involved. 1t only looks to a
general policy Of transportation Of dis.
tributed industry. and of highway
construction to encourage the spread
Of our population and restore the
proper balance between city and coun.
try. The problem may well have your
earnest attention.
1t has been perhaps the proudes,
claim Of our American civilization
| that in dealing with human relation
ships 1t has constantly moved toward