Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-06-10

ger. Northern Atlantic and Western
Steamship company, spoke upon De-
velopment of Maine Steamship
Lines" New England's manufactur-
ing interests, their scope and their
variety and the suggestion that
Maine keep in touch with her water
line services and support them in
every reasonable way were leading
thoughts.
In part, Mr.. Hashagen declared:
1.-THE ships are in being. They were
built with the peoples money; 1t is
the peoples money which will pay
the bills and will assume the losses.
There are some who think these ships
should be scrapped or sacrificed at
any price to anyone who will buy
them. We should not do anything to
injure their business or their inter-
ests, and they have it all figured out.
That is what this amounts to. To
scrap them or to sacrifice them is an
economic waste which neither bust
ness judgment nor duty to the peo-
pie can justify.
THE only wise thing to do is to
| end, we should each and everyone of
us give thought. This thought rep
resents first of all a chance to re-
duce the burden of taxation, and
means making available capital for
the development of resources. In
the next place. it means the growth
, of our commerce and the broadening
OF markets in which to buy and SELL
Coming down now to nearer
view of our merchant marine. we
| must accept the fact that to make the
ships move we must have a traffic
policy to attract business and aid in
its development. l once heard an
apt expression that a certain traffic
! policy would drive business away
from a post office. This is the op-
posite of that we'll worn, time hon
ored slogan that trade follows the
Flag; 1t has been illustrated so often
/ that it may be accepted as an axiom.
we ought to have what might be
termed an American traffic policy
which must have it's foundation. its
cornerstone. the principle of 1.-THE
open Door" I can illustrate this in
no better way than by quoting from
that great law THE Act to Regulate
Commerce" when it says that all
charges for service performed. or to
be performed, Shall be just and rea-
/ sonable and not unduly discrimina-
| tory"
| The domestic commerce of the
United States is the greatest COM
nerco
couraSed and developed by freedom
from unnecessary restraints and by
uniformity of practices. And it &C.
ours to me to say that the sooner the
Europeans learn this lesson the SOON
er will business begin to move with
some degree of regularity.
Now coming down to our inter-
coastal service. Within the past two
years, there has come to us the op
portunity to enjoy the advantages of
service by way of the Panama Canal
| Ihls, to my mind, represents one of
the most important acquisitions to
our facilities. When I saw that il
equals new four track railroad from
the Atlantic to the Pacific, it may be
considered extravaganza of language
and enthusiasm. But it means that
the vast resources of food and food
products and of raw materials. of
iuxurles and necessities. are placed
within easy reach of the people of
our seaboard and per contra the on
portunity to supply the trade of that
vast territory at reasonable rates is
made possible
You now have a limited service
from Portland. There is no reason
why that service should not be in
creased and improved if there is the
encoura cement In consider;ny
steamship service, it is always well
10 keep in mind that the line is not
permanent ffXture-it is not nailed
down like the railroad and unless
there is business, the Line will dry
up. On the other hand, it NAV be
developed to any extent and be made
a most useful facility contributing TO
the growth of our business, charging
our markets and bringing us into
| close and intimate touch with distant
people.
In conclusion, want to commit
ment you upon this convention. IT
represents the spirit and the purpose
that in matters of business Won in.
tend to keep Maine on the man and
may | say that the interests | repre-
! sent are In thorough accord with that
IDEA. To contribute to that purpose
| VIII be satisfaction, to be identified
with it will be a privilepe"