The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-06

oU0Clo0 W Bite uOUCo Va th0 sSshAs
nation OF all existing commercial
treaties In order to admit OF reduced
duties on imports carried In Ameri-
can bottoms. During the life OF the
act no Executive has complied with
this order Of the Congress. 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. Frankly. members OF
House and Senate. eager as am to
join you In the making Of an Ameri-
can merchant marine commensurate
with our commerce, the denounce-
meLt of our commercial treaties
would involve US In q chaos OF trade
relationships and add indescribably
to the confusion Of the already dis
ordered commercial world. Our
Perils Trade Expansion.
power to do 20 IL not disputed. but
power and ships, without comfy OF
relationship, will not give US the ex-
panded trade which 10 inseparably
linked with q greater merchant mar
Inc. Moreover. the applied reduction
Of duty, for which the treaty de-
houncements were necessary, en-.
couraged only the carrying OF
dutiable imports to our shores. while
the tonnage which unfurls the rag
on the seas 10 both free and dutiable,
and the carsoes which make . nation
eminent in trade are outgoing, rather
than incoming.
1t 10 not my thought to lay the
problem In detail before you today.
It Ia desired only to say to you that
the executive branch Of the Govern
ment, uninf1uenced by the protest
Of any nation, for none has been
proposal, highly intended and heart
lily supported here, II 30 fraught
with difficulties and 30 marked by
tendencies to discourage trade ex.
pansion. that I invite your tolerance
Of noncompliance for very few
weeks until plan may be presented
which contemplates no greater draft
upon the public Treasury. and
which, though yet too crude to offer
1t today, gives such promise OF ex-
panding our merchant marine. that
1t win argue its own approval. 1t 10
enough to say today that we are
so possessed of ships, and the Ameri-
can intention to establish q merchant
marine Ia 20. unalterable, that q plan
Of reimbursement. at no other cost
than In contemplated In the existing
act, will appeal to the pride and en-
courage the hope OF all the American
people.
Urges Permanent Tariff.
There In before you the compile
ton Of the enactment of what has
been termed a permanent" being
law. the word permanent" icing
used to distinguish II from the
emergency act which the Congress
expedited early in the extraordinary
session. and which IN the law today.
/ cannot too strongly urge an early
completion Of this necessary legisla-
ton. 1t Is needed to stabilize our
industry at home; 1t 10 essential to
make more definite our trade rela-
tons abroad. More. 1t is vital to the
preservation of many of our own in
dustries which contribute 30 notably
to the very lifeblood Of our nation.
There Is now, and there always
will be, q storm Of conflicting opin-
ion about any tariff revision. We
cannot go far wrong whom we base
our tariffs on the policy OF pre-
which enhance employment and add
to our national prosperity.
Secs Madness In France.
Again comes the reminder that
we must not be unmindful Of
world conditions, that peoples are
struggling for industrial rehabili-
tation and that we cannot dwell
in industrial and commercial ex-
clusion and at the same time do
the just thing in aiding world re-
construction and readjustment. We
do not seek a selfish aloofness. and
we could not profit by II, were
1t possible. We recognize the ne
cessity Of buying wherever we sell.
and the permanency Of trade lies
in its acceptable exchanges. In our
pursuit Of markets We must give
as well as receive. We cannot sell
to others who do not produce. nor
can we buy unless we produce at
home. Sensible Of every Obliga-
ton Of humanity. commerce and
finance, linked as they are In the
present world condition, IT is not
to be argued that We need destroy
ourselves to be helpful to others.
With all my~heart wish restora-
tlOH " liz pcopicb uh8htcu w shS
awful world war, but the process
Of restoration does not lie in our
acceptance of like conditions. IT.
were better to remain on firm
ground, strive for ample employ
ment, and high standards of wage
at home. and point the way to bal
anced budgets, rigid economies.
and resolute, efficient work as the
necessary remedies to cure dis
aster.
Everything relating to trade.
among ourselves and among ma
tons, has been expanded, excessive.
inflated. abnormal. and there Is a
madness i'm finance which no Amer.
lean policy alone will cure. We
are q creditor nation, not by nor
NAL process, but made 30 by war.
It Is not an unworthy selfishness
to seek to save ourselves. when
the processes Of that salvation are
not only not denied to others. but
commended to them. We seek to
undermine for others no industry
by which they subsist; we are OBJ
Iigated to permit the undermining
of none of our own which make for
employment and maintained activi-
ties.
Favors Elastic Policy.