The Adair County news., 1921-12-13

cannot even be attempted without this
authorize ton II will be helpful to our
among our debtors IL funding and the set
tlement Of defaulted interest may be ne
gotiated.
Merchant Marine.
The previous congress, deeply concerned
In behalf of our merchant marine, In
1920 enacted the existing shipping laws,
designed for the upbuilding Of the Amer
lean merchant marine. Among other
things provided to encourage our ship
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 complied with this order of the con-
gress. When the present administration
came into responsibility, ii 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 1 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 a chaos of trade relationships and add
indescribably to the confusion of the al
ready disordered commercial world.
Our power to do so is not disputed, but
power and ships, without comfy of re-
lationshfp, will not give us the expanded
trade which is inseparably linked with
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 dutiable, and the cargoes which
make a nation eminent in trade are out
going rather than incoming.
1t is not my thought to lay the problem
in detail before you today. 1t is desired
only to say to you that the executive
branch of the government, uninfiuenced
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
fculties and so marked by tendencies TO
discourage trade expansion that I invite
your tolerance of noncompliance for
very few weeks until 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 1t 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 unalterable,. 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.
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. l cannot too strongly urge an early
completion of this necessary legislation.
It is needed to stabilize our industry at
home; It Is essential to make more definite
our trade relations abroad. More, IT is
| own Industries which contribute SO nota-
| bly, to the very life blood of our nation.
There Is now, and there always will be,
q storm OF conflicting opinion about any
rrfoiny TUn nNf for 10
when we base our tariffs on the policy Of
| 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-
| tons, that peoples are struggling for In
| dustrial rehabilitation and that we can
not dwell in Industrial and commercial ex-
clusion and at the same time do the just
| thing in aiding world reconstruction and
| readjustment. We do not seek a selfish
| aloofness, and we could not profit by 1t,
| were it 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 magnifies the diff
! Guilty of tariff legislation, but the neceS-
sity of the revision is magnified with 1t.
| Doubtless we are justified in seeking a
| more flexible policy than we have pro-
| yided heretofore. l nope a way VIII be
| found to make for feXibility and elias
ticity, 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 fieNibility other than the extension
| Of the powers of the tariff commisslo on,
| so that it can adapt itself to scientific
and wholly just administration of the
| law.
Early Determination Needed.
am sure about public opinion favoring
! the early determination of OUR tariff
| policy. There have been reassurin 9
| si@ns of a business revival from the deep
| slump wlich all the wOrlG has been eX-
| periercing. Our unemployment, which
| gave Is grave concern only a few weeks
| ago, has grown encCuragingly less, and
now assurances and renewed confidence
| viii 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 shrinking
through the drift Of population from farm
to city. For a generation We have beer
expressing more or less concern about
this tendency. Economists have warned
| and statesmen have deplOred. We thought
for time that modern conveniences an.
the more intimate contact would halt the
movement, but it has gone steadily on
Perhaps only grim necessity will correct
it, but We ought to find a less drasti,
remedy.
Need for Freight Readjustment.
The existing scheme of adjusting
| freight rates has been favoring thC
basing points, until industries are at
tracted to some centers and repealed
from others. A great volume of un.
| economic and wasteful transportation
has attended, and the cost increased
accordingly. The grain-milling ant
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 ant
, terms of railway transportation ough
not to be permitted to increase this un
desirable tendency. We have a jus
pride in our great cities but we shall
fnc a greater pride in the natiol
which has a larger distribution of IT
population intb the country; where
comparatively self-sufficient smalle
communities may plant agriculture
and manufacturing interests IN har
t monious helpfulness and enhance,
good fortune. Such a movement con
: templates no destruction of thing
wrought, of investments made 0
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