The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-12-17

the safeguarding of our interests which
cannot even be attempted without this
authorization. 1t will be helpful to our
selves and II will improve conditions
among our debtors IL funding and the set
tlement Of defaulted Interest may De ne
gotiated-
The previous congress. deeply concerned
in behalf of our merchant marine, in
1870 enacted the existing shipping laws,
designed for the upbuildlng of the Amer
ican 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 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
1 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
/
iationship. will not give US the expanded
| trade which Is inseparably linked with a
| great merchant marine. Moreover. the
applied reduction of dpty, for which the
coursged only the carrying of dutiabl
| 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.
i. 1t is not my thought to lay the problem
| in detail before you today. IL is desired
only to say to you that the executive
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 dif-
| fculties and so marked by tendencies to
| discourage trade expansion that l invite
| your tolerance Of noncompliance Tor a
very few weeks until plan may be pre-
sented which contemplates no great Ter
draft upon the public treasury and which,
! Though yet too crude to offer II today
gives such promise of expanding our mer-
| chant marine that II will argue It's 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 unalteraole, that
plan of reimbursement at no other cosi
than .s contemplated in the existing act
will appeal to the pride and encourage
the hope of all the American people.
Need Of Tariff. Legislation.
There is before you the completion oi
the enactment of what has been termed I
"permanent' tariff law. the word per
nlanent' being used TO distinguish it from
the emergency act which Is the law 10
day. | cannot too strongly urge an earl!
completion of this necessary legislation
| IL is needed to stabilize our Industry a
home; II Is essential to make more dennit
our trade relations abroad. More, IL !
| vital to the preservation of many OF on
, | own industries which contribute so nota
. bly, to the very life blood OF our nation.
There is now, and there always will be
storm of conflicting opinion about an
, tariff revision. We can not go FAR wron
, when we base our tariffs on the policy o
. preserving the productive activities whic
enhance employment and add to our na
: tional prosperity.
Must Be Exchange of Trade.
: Again comes the reminder that "
must not be unmindful OF world cond
/ TONS that peoples are struggling Tor II
dustrial rehabilitation and that We ca
not dwell in Industrial aid commercial eA
clusion and at the same time DO tne Jus
thing in aiding world reconstruction an
! / readjustment. We do not seek seins
aioofness. and we could not profit by !
: | were il possible. We recognize the M
cessity of buying wherever we sell, An
the permanency OF trade lies in its aceep
: | able exchanges. We cannot sell 10 otnei
: who do not produce. ncr can we GUY III
! less we produce at home
!, Every contemplation magnifes the On
!, Guilty OF tariff legislation, but the neee
I. sity of the revision is magnined Win
: Doubtless we are justified in seeking
!. more flexible policy than we have pr.
: yided heretofore. I houe way VIII
: found to make for fexibility and ella
= ticity, so that rates may De ADJUSTED
= meet unusual and changing condltioi
:. which cannot be accurately anticipate
a / know of no manner in which 20 enc
= this fiexibility other than the extensic
of the powers of the tarin commissio
so that il can adapt itself to scienti,
and wholly just administration, OF q
Is Early Determination Needed.
IS am sure about pubic opinion favorir
il the early determination OF our tar
l. Signs of a business revival from the de-
3 slump which all the world has been e
v periencing. Our unemployment, VIM,
gave us grave concern only few weel
ID ago. has grown encouragingly less. al
,e now assurances and renewed confiden
X will attend the congressional declaratf'
= that American industry will be held
of Something more than tariff protecti,
~ is required by American agriculture.
n the farmer has come the earlier and 4
b. heavier burdens OF readJustment There
pr actual depression in our agricultural
Te dustry, while agricultural prosperity
D. absolutely essential to the general pre-
r. perity OF the country.
"a The base of the pyramid Of civilizatie
IN which rests upon the soil, Is shrinkf
20 through the drift of population from far
L to city. For a generation We have be
- expressing more or less concern abe
e this tendency Economists have warn
A. and statesmen have deplored. We thoue
~ for a time that podern conveniences a
: the more intimae contact would halt {
a. movement, but IL has gone steadily
u Perhaps only grim necessity will corr
% It, but we ought to find q less dras
Ie remedy.
ID Need for Freight ReadJustment.
OF The existing scheme of adjusti
OF freight rates has been favoring {
r basing points. until Industries are
OF tracted to some centers and repen
eS from others. great volume OF
er economic and wasteful transportati
n has attended, and the cost increas
be meat-packing industries offer ami
IN Illustration. and the attending conct
x tration il readily apparent The me
is aces Representation are. not limi,
lal 10 the retarding Influences on agric
he ture. Manffsstly the conditions a
ew terms of railway stransportatio Gus
ill not to be permitted to increase this U
Of desirable tendency. We have = =
tai pride in our great cities. put we sn
re- and a greater pride in, the nat
which has a larger distribution Of
population intb the .country; whs
49, comparatiyely self-sufi1cient Trmal
~ ~ communities may plant agrrunu
mt monious helpfulness and enhan'
,ut good fortune. Such movement g
he Templates no oestruction OF thir
m wrought, of investments MADE
rr wealth inySIyedf ,ransnstation 9n tHSs Of e
Tor ttributed Industry. and OF nighv
,n- construction to encourage the spr'
I've of our population and restore
no proper balance between cix sara nr 90 -,