The Washington times., 1921-04-12

return for money expended.
CURB STATE EXPENSES.
Large Federal outlay demands a
Tederal voice in the program of ex-
penditure. Congress cannot justify .
mere gift from the Federal purse to
the several States. to- be prorated
among counties for road betterment.
Such a course will invite abuses which
IL were better to guard against In the
beginning.
The laws governing Federal aid
should be amended and strengthened.
The Federal agency OF administration
should be elevated to the Importance
and vested with authority comparable
TO the work before II. And Congress
ought to prescribe conditions to Fed
eral appropriations which will neces-
state consistent program OF uni
formity which will justify the Fed
eral outlay.
know of nothing more shocking
than the millions of public funds
wasted In improved highways. wasted
because there is no policy OF main
tcnance. The neglect Is not universal,
but ii Is very near it. There Is moth.
ing the Congress can do more effect
lively to Shu tIiiS SuoChlHB WASte tn6u
condition all Federal aid on provisions
for maintenance. Highways, no mat
ter how generous the outlay for con-
struction, cannot be maintained with
out patrol and constant repair. Such
conditions insisted upon in the grant
of Federal aid will safeguard the pub
lie which pays and guard the Federal
Government against political abuses,
which tend to defeat the very pur-
poses for which we authorize Federal
expenditure.
Linked with rail and highway is the
problem of water transportation---in-
land, coastwise. and trans-oceanic. 1t
is not possible, on this occasion, to
suggest to Congress the additional
needful to meet the aspira-
tions of our people for a merchant
marine. In the emergency Of war we
have constructed tonnage equaling
our largest expectations. Its war cost
must be discounted to the actual
values Of peace. and the large differ
ence charged to the war emergency
and the pressing task is to turn our
assets in tonnage to an agency Of
HERALDS BIG u. .. MARINE.
1t is not necessary to say 1t to Con-
gress, but I have thought this to be
a fitting occasion to give notice that
the United States means to establish
and maintain a great merchant
marine.
Our differences OF opinion as to
policy OF upbuilding have been re-
moved by the outsts nding fact OF our
having buildcd. II the intelligent
and efficient administration under
the existing laws makes established
service impossible. the Executive will
promptly report to you. Manifestly
II our laws governing American ac-
tivities on the seas are such as to
give advantage to those who compete
with us for the carrying Of our own
cargoes and those which ough' rat
urally come In American bottoms
through trade exchanges. then the
spirit OF American fair play will
assert itself to give American car
riers their equality OF opportunity.
This Republic can never realize it's
righteous aspirations IN CONNIE rce.
can never be worthy the traditions of
the early days OF the expanding Re-
public until the millions of tons OF
shipping which we now possess are
co-ordinated with our inland trans
portation and our shippir> has Gov
ment operation, in carrying ou- car
goes under our flag, over regularly
operated routes, to every market in
the world agreeable to American ex-
changes. 1t will strengthen Amer
lean genius and management to have
1t understood that ours is an abid-
ing determination. because carrying Is
second only to production in estab-
fishing and nta ming he flow OF
commerce to which we risbtfuiiv As-
pire.
CABLE QUESTION IMPORTANT.
1t is proper to invite your attention
to the Importance of the question Of
radio communication and cables. To
meet strategic, commercial. and po-
litcal needs, active encouragement
should be given to the extension of
owned and operated cable
and radio services Between the
United States and its possessions there
should be ample communication facil-
tiles providing direct services at rea-
sonable rates. Between the United
States and other countries not only
should there be adequate facilities, but
these should be. SO far as practicable,
direct and free from foreign inter
Friendly cooperation
should be extended to international
efforts aimed at encouraging improve
ment of international communication
facilities and designed to further the
exchange of messages. Private mon
opolies tending to prevent the devel-
opment of needed facilities should be
prohibited. Government-owned facil-
tiles, wherever possible without un-
duly interfering with private enter
prise or Government needs, should be
made available for general uses. Par
ticularly desirable is the provision
of ample cable and radio services at
reasonable rates for the transmission
of press matter, so that tho American
reader may receive a wide range of
news, and the foreign reader receive
full accounts of American activities.
The daily press of all countries may
we'll be put in position to contribute
to International understandings by the
publication of Hteresting foreign
news.
Practical experience demonstrates
the need for effective regulation of
both domestic and international radio
operation II this newer means OF in
accommodation is to be fully uti-
f,t l.