The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1921-12-17

selves and 1t will improve conGition,
..liong our debtors if funding and the set
tlement of defal,ltad intaras3 80 - -
sotiated ' NC '
Merchant Marine.
Inc previous congress, deeply concerned
IN behalf of our merchant marine ir
i'N enacted the existing shipping Ia VS.
designed for the upbuldlng of the Amer.
thin,. merchant marine. Among other
| lungs provided to ENCOURAGE our ship.
ping On the worlds seas. the executive
mas directed to give notice of the terrli-
naeon OF all existing commercial treatie.
IN - oraer TO admit OF reduced duties on
During the life Of the act no executive
nAe complied with this order Of the con-
sEess. When the present administration
lame INTO responsibility. 1t began an early
| inquiry into the failure to execute the
expressed purpose of the Jones act Only
one conclusion has been possible Frank
| ~. members OF house and senate, eager
| am to Join you in the making Of an
| american merchant marine commensurate
| win our commerce. the announcement OF
our commercial treaties would involve us
IN chaos OF trade rela tionships and add
| lnosscrina oly to the confusion OF the al
| READY disordered commercial world
Our power to do SO IL not disputed, but
power and ships, without comfy of re-
iationship. will not give US the expanded
trace which Is inseparably linked with a
applied reduction of duty. for which the
treaty announcements were necessary, en-
conra8ed only the carrying Of dutia BILE
imports to our shores. while the tonnage
which unfuris our nag on the seas Is both
free and dutiable. and the cargoes which
make nation eminent in trade are out
going rather than incoming.
II y not my thought to lay the problem
IN detail before you today. 1t 10 desired
oranch Of tho government uninfiuenced
~ the protest Of any nation. for mono
nAs been made. IL we'll convinced that
your proposal; highly intended and heart
~ supported here, 10 20 fraught with dif-
nculties and 20 marked by tendencies to
discourage trade expansion that invite
your tolerance Of noncompliance fer .
v vsry lev s weeks until . plan may 30 pre-
draft upon the public treasury and which.
though yet too crude TO offer 1t today
gives such promise Of expanding our msr-
cnan, marine that It WI argue its ow.
We are 50 possessed Of ships. and tho
American intention to establish . msr-
chant marine Is 20 unAlterAble, that
plan Of reimbursement. at no other cost
the hope OF all the American people.
Need Of Tariff Legislation.
There 10 before you the completion OF
the enactment OF what has been termed Z
permanent" tartn law. the word per
mAnent" being used to distinguish It from
the emergency act which u the law to-
day. cannot too strongly urge On early
completion Of this necessary legislation.
Il - needed to stabilize our industry It
home: It Is essential to make more definite
our trade relations abroad. More. It -
Vital TO tho Preservation Of many OF our
own industries which contribute 70 notA-
bly, to the very life blood Of eur nation.
There y now. and there always viii Be,
. storm Of conflicting opinion absut any
tariff revision. We can not 20 far wrong
when We base our tariffs On the policy Of
preserving the productive activities which
snn:se s. employment and odd to our ns-
Must D Exchange u Trade.
Again comes the reminder that W
must not b unmindful 81 world osndi- |
tons. that peoples are struggling for In
dustrial rehabilitation and that W can |
not dwell II Industrial and commercial sx- |
clusasn and 1t tho same time do the just |
read3ustment. We do not seek . selfish |
aloofness, and we could not profit ~ Il, |
were II possible. We recognize the ne |
eessity Of buying wherever we sell. and |
able exchanges. We cannot sell to others |
who do not produce. nor can We buy un- |
less We produce At homo.
Every contemplation magnines the dim |
sity Of the revision Is maSnined with It |
Doubtless We are justified In seeking . |
more flexible policy than We have pro- |
vidsd heretofore. I hope way Will be |
ticity. 20 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 fiexibility other than the extension |
Of the powers Of the tariff commission.
20 that 1t can adapt itself to q scientific |
and wholly just administration Of the |
Early Determination Needed.
I am sure about pubic opinion favoring |
policy. There have been reassurinx
signs Of business revival from the deep |
slump which all the world has been ex- |
periencing. Our unemployment. which /
ago. has grown encouragingly less, and
now assurances and renewed confidence |
will attend the congressional declaration |
that American industry will be held %
Something more than tariff protection
b 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 /
iustry. while agricultural prosperity 10
absolutely essential to the general pros
perity Of the country.
The base Of the pyramid Of civilization.
which rests upon the soil, Is shrinking l.
through the drift OF population from farm
o city. For generation we have been
expressing more or less concern about
his tendency. Economists have warned
and statesmen have deplored. We thought
Tor time that modern conveniences and
The more intimate contact would halt the |
movement. but it has gone steadily on.
Perhaps only grim necessity will correct
I, but we ought to hnd a less drastic
Need for Freight Readjustment.
The existing scheme Of adjusting
freight rates has been favoring the
oasing points. until industries are at
:racted to some centers and repealed
rom others. a great volume Of I'M
and wasteful transportation
has attended. and the cost Increased
the nd. grain- milling and
lnstrptinn and the attsnd H co ample
ration is readily apparent. The men
ices in concentration are not limited
o the retardinE influences on agricul-
erms Of railway transportation ought
lot to be permitted to increase this un-
desirable tendency. We have . just
,ride in our great cities but We shall
Which has . larger distribution Of is
population int6 the country; where
self-sufacient smaller
md m.nuiaet9rins Interests n har:
nonious helpfulness and enhanced
rood fortune. Such . movement con-
emplates no destruction Of things
wealth involved; i only looks to
ributed industry. and Of highway
70 encourage the spread
roper balance between city and coun-
~. The problem may well have your
arrest attention.
It has been perhaps the proudest
hat in dealing with human relation
hips IL has constantly moved toward