The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-06

bY your SuSLalnme1t or the rigid ecODO-
mics already 1naugurated, with hoped tor
extension of these economics and added ct
ficiencies in administration l believe fur
Their reductions may be enacted and hin
dering burdens abolished
In these urgent economies we shall be
Immensely assisted by the budget sys-
TEN for which you made provisions in the
extraordinary session. The first budget
is before YOU. Its preparation is a signal
achievement and the perfection of the sys-
TEN, a thing impossible in the few months
available for its initial trial will mark its
enactment the beginning of the greatest
reformation IN governmental practices since
the beginning of the republic. There IS
pending a grant of authority to the au-
thoritative branch of the government for
the funding and settlement of our vast
IofelSh loans growing out of our grant OF
war credits. With the hands of the execu-
i've branch held impotent to deal with
these debts, we are hindering urgent re-
adjustment among our debtors and aeA
comprising nothing. for ourselves | think
It Is falr for the congress TO assume that
the executive branch of the government
would adopt no major policy in dealing
Win these matters, which would conflict
80. ~ puI Pose ot congress IN author-
lllng the loans, certainly not without ask
ing congressional approval but there are
minor problems incident to prudent loans
transactions and safeguarding of our in
terests which cannot even be attempted
without this authorizati ton. 1t will be
neIpIqi to ourselves and it will improve
and the settlement of defaulted interest
may be negotiated.
Must Encourage Marine.
Inc previous congress. deeply concerned
IN behalf of our merchant marine in 1920
enacted the existing shipping law designed
Tor the upbuilding of the American mer-
chant marine. Among other things We
pIoIIueu 70 encourage our shipping on the
worlds seas, the executive was directed
TO give notice of the termination of all
existing commercial treaties In order 10
ADMIT OF reduced duties on imports carried
in American bottoms. During the life of
me act no executive has complied with
this order of congress. When the present
administration came into responsibility 1t
began an early inquiry into the failure to
execute the expressed purpose OF the Jones
act. Only one conclusion has been pos
slble, frankly, members of house and sen
ate, eager as am to join you in the making
or an American merchant marIIfe com
lnensurate with our commerce, the de
nouncement of our commercial treaties
would involve US in a chaos of trade re-
lationships and add tndescribably to the
confusion of the already disordered com
mercial world. Our power to DO so is noy
disputed, but power and ships, without
comfy, of relationship will not give us the
expanded trade which is 1nseparably
linked with a great merchant marine. More
over, the applied reduction or duty, for
which the treaty announcements were nee
essary encouraged only the carrying OF
dutiable imports to our shores, while the
tonnage which unfurlS the flag on the seas
is both free and dutiab-e and the cargoes
which make 4 nation eminent IN trade are
outgoing, rather than incoming.
1T is not my thought to lay the prob
lem in detail before you today. 1t is
desired only to say to you that the eXecu-
tive branch of the government, uninflu-
enced by the protest of any nation for
none has been made. is we'll convinced
that your proposal, highly intended and
heartily supported here, is so fraught with
difficulties and so marked by tendencies
vite your tolerance of non compliance for
a very few weeks until n plan may be
presented which contemplates no greater
draft upon the public treasury and which.
tho yet too crude to offer today, gives
such promise of expanding our merchant
marine that it wiz argue its own ap
prevail 1t is enough to say today that we
are so possessed of ships, and the Ameri-
can intention TO establish n merchant ma
rine is so unalterable. that a plan of re
endorsement at no other cost than is con-
templated in the existing act, will appeal
to the pride and encourage the hope of
all the American people There is before
you the completion of the enactment of
what has been termed a permanent tar
iff law, the~wOrd permanent being used
which the congress expedited early in the
extraordinary session and which is the law
today. cannot too strongly urge an early
completion of this necessary legislation 1t
s needed to stabilize our industry at
nome; it is essential to make more definite
our trade relations abroad. More, it is
vital to the preservation of many of our
9wn industries, which contribute so nota-
ply to the very life blood of our nation.
Must Make Tariff Equitable.
There is now, and there always will be,
storm Of conflicting opinion about any
ariff revision. We cannot go far wrong
when we base our tariffs on the policy of
preserving the productive activities, which
nhance employment and add to our ma
ionaI prosperity.
again comes the reminder that We must
lot be unmindful of world conditions, that
,eopies are struggling for industrial re
laDlutatlon and that we cannot dwell In |
and commercial exclusion and !
It the same time do the just thing in aid |
ng world recognition and read iustment |
\ e do not seek a selfish gIhOfnnSS nd We
ould not profit by it. were it possible /
We recognize the necessity of buying |
wherever we sell and. the permanency OF /
rade lies in its acceptable exchanges.
In our pursuit of market we must give |
IS well as receive. We cannot sell to |
'thers who do not produce, nor can we buy !
lnIesS We produce at home. Sensible or I
very obligation of humanity, commerce. |
md finance. linked as they are in the !
rgued that we need destroy ourselves to |
re heldful to others. With all nv heart /
wish restoration to the peoples, blighted !
" the awful world war. but the process
# restoration does not lie in our accept |
nee of like conditions. 1t were better TO /
ema1n on firm ground. strive for ample |
Employment and high standards of wages |
It home, and point the way to balanced |
budgets, rigid economy. and resolute. eff /
lent work as the necessary remedies to /
ure disaster. Everything relating to trade |
monG ourselves and among nations has /
'een expanded, excessive, inflated, abnOr- I
nal. and there is a madness in finance |
which nc American policy alone can cure. We !
re a creditor nation, not by normal pro /
esses. but made so by war. 1t Is not an
Unworthy selfishness to seek to save our
elves, when the processes of THAI salvation !
re not only not denied to others but COM
1ended to them. We seek TO undermine
or others no industry by which they sub
list: we are obligated to permit the IN
ermining of none of our own which make
or employment and maintained activities.
Make Policy More Flexible.
"Eyery contemplation. it HteSe matters in
-hich direction turns, maE0ifiPS the
of tariff legislation but the ne
essity of the revision is magnified with
/. Doubtless we are justified in seeking
more flexible policy than we have pro-
ided heretofore. I hope n way will be
ound to make for flexibility and elasticity
0 that rates may be adjusted to meet
nusual and changing conditions, which
annot be accurately anticipated. There
re problems incident to unfair practices,
nd to exchanges which madness in money
ave made almost unsolvable / know OF
o manner in which to effect this flex- |
oility other than the extension of the +
rowers of tariff commissions so that it
an adapt itself to scientific and wholly
1st administration of the law