Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-12-07
UNCLE TED's BED TIME STORIES
UNCLE TED RETURNS AND
TALKS SHIPS AND OTHER
THINGS.

sters waiting at the station for the
evening train from the South. Uncle
Ted was returning after two weeks
trip and Ruth and Jack had refused
to eat any supper in their haste to get
to the station.
''The train is on time" called Jack
as he returned to the place in the
station where Ruth was anxiously a.
waiting the report. It's due in ten
minutes"
The ten minutes We're long ones but
soon tn big engine had stopped at
the end of the long journey and Uncle
Ted came down the steps of one of
the first cars. Hello there little
pals" he called. an tell you it's
great to be back home again.
Were sure glad to see you Uncle
Ted,' said Jack as he planted kiss
on both cheek
"Come on" said Uncle Ted, 'lets's
get home fast as we can. I'm nearly
starved"
1t wasn't long before the three pals
were home, finished supper and had
Uncle Ted cornered for another story.
"You wouldn't let tired traveller
rest for minute, would you? Well
l had great trip and if could it
would be this, that everywhere went
l found prospecting and booming towns
and cities. And remember that for
the bigger part Of my trip I went
through section of the country gen.
orally know to be Democratic and in
poor condition. The South is going
strong from every standpoint. She is
satisfied, generally speaking, with
the way in which the Fedral govern
ment is being run and that is saying
a lot The farmers are getting back
on their feet everywhere and they arc
looking to the Harding Administra-
ton oback them with farm credits
legislation to help them over the last
stages of the after-war depression.
1t is expected that President Hard
ing will discuss the, need for this leg
islation with Senate leaders in the
near future They know from his past
interest in their needs that he has
their interests at heart.
Zone of the most interesting things
learned from this trip was the gen.
eral attitude throughout the country
toward the Ship Subsidy Bill to take
the merchant marine out Of expensive
government operation directly and
made it possible for us to have a real
bunch of ships in which to carry on
our foreign trade and at the same
time accomplish this without the ire
mendous loss of money to the tax
payers. / found, even in the interior
of the country feeling that Presi-
dent Harding is absolutely right in
urging this legislation. They know
it will save money and at the same
time get what we want. For that
reason / cannot understand the Oppose
ition to this plan from certain mem
bers of Congress. The men opposing
this plan surely don't realize that
they are doing exactly what pleases
our foreign shipping rivals such as
Great Britain and Germany. Those
countries know this plan will keep
them jumping because it will put
American goods in American ships
and keep our rivals from alot of bust
ness. Those members of Congress who
have fought the proposed plan have
no other plan to take its place. That
to me would be mighty embarrassing.
81 don't believe have ever told you
the real facts that have been brought
out by the debates so far on this i'm
portant piece of legislation. The
United States government owns a
merchant marine totaling about / 400
steel ships. Now, without counting
any money for the natural deprecia-
ton Of these ships, it was costing the
government about $150,000,00o every
year to run the ships for which cargo
could be found up to the time Presi-
dent Harding came into office. Since
the present administration has been
in power nearly $100,000,000 year
has been saved out of that sum but it |
means that the present plan is still
costing around $50,000,000 a year to
operate about one-third of the beet |
while the rest of the ships rest at
anchor or tied to docks, rusting and
rotting.
every effort in the world has been
made to use all these ships by getting |
them into trade that will pay under
private ownership. But it .cnanot be
done. The plan which President /
Harding knows to be the only prac-
teal and sensible one, will through
this bill give the necessary aid and