The Pulaskian., 1921-12-08

T
 authorization. It will be helpful to our
 selves and it will improve conditions
 among our debtors if funding and the set
 tlemens of defaulted interest may be ne-
 gotiated.
 Merchant Marine.
 The previous congress, deeply concerned 1 in behalf of our merchant marine, in
 1920 enacted the existing shipping laws, designed for the upbuildIng of the Amer l ican merchant marine. Among other
 things provided to encourage our ship | ping on the worlds seas, the secutive | was directed to give notice of t termi- nation ot all existing commercial treaties Tn 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 Sress. When the present administration came Into responsibility, it began an early inquiry into the failure to execute the expressed purpose of the Jones act. Only one conclusion has been possible. Frank
 ly, members of house and senate, eager as am to join you in the making Of an American merchant marine commensurate With our commerce, the Announcement of
 our commercial treaties would involve us in chaos of trade relationships and add
 lndescribably to the confusion of the all
 ready diSordered commercial world
 Our power to do so is not disputed. but
 power and ships. without comity of re- lationship, 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- eouraged only the carrying of dutiable imports to our shores, while the tonnage
 which unfurls our flag on the seas is both free and dutiable. and the eargoes which
 make a nation eminent in trade are out going rather than incoming.
 It IS not my thought to lay the problem In detail before you today. It is desired only to say to you that the executive branch of the government, uninf1uenced by the protest of any nation, for none has been made, is well convinced that your proposal, highly intended and heart fly supported here, is so fraGght with dif- nculties and so marked by tendencies to discourage trade expansion that I invite your tolerance of noncompliance for a very few weeks until a plan may be pre- sented which contemplates no greater draft upon the public treasury and which, though yet too crude to offer it today, gives such promise of expanding our mer- chant marine that it will argue it's own approval. It is' enough to say today that we are so possessed of ships, and the American intention to establish a mer- chant marine is SC unalterable. that q 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
 permanent tariff law, the word per
  the emergency act which is the law to- day. l cannot too strongly urge an early completion of this necessary legislation. It is needed to stabilize our industry at home; 1t 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- ply to the very life blood of our nation.
 There is now, and there always will be, a storm of conflicting opinion about any tariff revision. We can not go far wrong when we base our tariffs on the policy or preserving the productive activities which enhance employment and add to our na- tional prosperity.
 } Must Be Exchange of Trade.
 Again comes the reminder that we must not be unmindful Of world condI- tions, that peoples are struggling for in dustrial rehabilitation and that We can not dwell in industrial and commercial ex- cluson and al the same time do the just thing in aiding world reconstruction and readjustment. We do not seek a selfish i and we could not profit by it. were it possible. We recognize the ne cessity of buying wherever We sell, and the permanency of trade lies in it's 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 difi- culty of tariff legislation, but the neces- sity of the revision is magniied with it. Doubtless we are justified in seeking l -A--NA~@~ N--@~@A Vided heretofore. l hope a way will be | found to make for fexibility and elas- l ticfty, so that rates may be adjusted to | meet unusual and changing conditions which cannot be accurately anticipated | l know of no manner in which to effect i this heXibility other than the extension l of the powers of the tariff commission. i so that it can adapt itself to a scientific l and wholly just administration of the i law
 Early Determination Needed.
 I am sure about pubic opinion favoring i the early determination of our tariff | signs of business revival from the deep l slump which all the world has been ex- | periencing. Our unemployment. which l gave us grave concern only a few weeks | now assurances and renewed confidence ] will attend the congressional declaration t that American industry will be held se- cure.
 Something more than tariff protection i Is required by American agriculture To 1 the farmer has come the earlier and the l actual depression in our agricultural in l dustry. while agricultural prosperity Ia | absolutely essential to the general pros 1 perity Of the country.
 The base Of the pyramid of civilization.
 hlch rests upon the soil, is shrinking | i.s rough the drift of population from farm | l0 city. For generation we have been i expressing more or less concern about | : is tendency. Economists have warned I nd statesmen have deplored. We thought l tor time that modern conveniences and | ne more intimate contact would halt the | movement, but it has gone steadily On. erhaps only grim necessity will correct l E, but we ought to find a less drastic ] remedy.
 Need for Freight ReadJustnent.
 The existing scheme of adjusting freight rates has been favOrInz the i } asing points. until industries are af- fracted 10 some centers and repeIIed | rom others A great volume of un- sonomic and wastefuI transportation as attended, and the cost increased |
 ecordIBgly- The grsfu-milIing and 3eat-packtng industries offer ample ] ustration. and Ehe attending concen- ation Is readily apparent The men ses in concentration are not limited ] the retaFding influences on agricuI- : Ire. Manifestly the conditions and ! rms of railway transportation ought l ot to be permitted to increase this un-
 eslrable tendency. We have a just tide in our great cities. but we shall nd greater pride in the nation which has larger dtstrI button Of frs