Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1922-11-25
Special Session Hears PreSi-
dents Plea for Aid for U. S.
Merchant Marine.
SPEAKS TO JOINT SESSION
Declares It Would Sc Most Disceur.
aging Should a Measure OF such
Transeendina National lmpor.
lance" Have Its Fate De-
pend on Partisan OBJ
lection.

4eCkon.
Washington. Nov. 22.-Enactmeur ei
the administration merchant marine
bill was urged upon congress BY Presl-
dent Harding as necessary TO relieve
he government OF present staggering
losses In operation Of the war.buut
merchant fleet, and TO establish pro.
gram Of assured shipping to serve the
nation In war and give a guaranty Of
commercial independence in time of
peace.
Personally addressing Joint SEES
sion Of The house ana senate. the eN-
ecutiye declared an actual monetary
saving 10 the government would re.
suit from the proposed law He chal-
lenged every inSlnuatlon Of favored
Interests ana the enrIchmen; of the
special few at the expense Of the pub
lie treasury The legislation he as
serted. automatically guarded against
enrichment or perpetual bestowal
Tie President said:
Text Of Message.
Members of the Congress: Late
last February l reported to you rein.
tive to the American merchant marine
am recommended legislation which
he executive branch OF the govern
mtnt deemed essential to promote our
merchant marine and with II our
national welfare
"Other problems were pressing and
other questions pending. and for one
reason or another, which need not be
I recited, the suggested legislation has
not progressed beyond a favorable
recommendation 10y the house com
mittee. The committee has given the
( question fun aud pansiakng ~.
CURRY and study aud | hope that It's
favorable report speedily viii be given
/ the force Of INV
Would Clear Atmosphere
1T will be helpful IN clearing the
atmosphere If we start with The frank
recognition OF divided opinion and do
termined opposition II ia 30 new
+ experience Like proposals have a.
vided the congress on varinus prevI
i ous occasions Perhaps more resnlntc
hostility never was manifest nefore.
and nm very sure the need tor de
( eiSiye notion decisive favorable me-
Hon-never was So urgent before.
we are not uaW dcuilug with r.
policy founded on Theory: we lave Il
prohIcm which is grim actuallly
! We are focinR Insisipni cundB ions. opt
/ If which IN come either additional
and staggering government losses and
national Impotence on the seas. or else
+ the nfnrling Of the flag on n great
American merchant marine common
suraie with our commercial lnpar
/ lance 10 serve MS az cnrripr OF our
cargoes in peace and meet The ueces
Stiles Of our defense IN war.
There is no Thought here ana nov
to magnify The relation of merchant
marine to our national defensp. II H.
enough to recall that we entered the
+ World war almost wholly dependent on
our allies for transportation hy son
4 We expended approximately three hi.
lions, feverishly, eXtravagantIy waste
fully and impractically. Out 81 our
/ eagerness to make no for tho nrnia
sions ~ peace and 10 meet The var
emergency we huilded and Otherwise
acquired the hest merchant fleet, which
/ the government owns today.
Gives U. S. Figures.
"The war construction and the Iatet
completion Of war contracts. where
/ completion was believed to ne The
greater economy to the public treasury.
left MS approximately l3.2o0000 gross
Tonnage IN ships The agurea are
nearcr 12500O00 tons now, awI0g "a
the scrappng Of The wooden feet
More than bnlf this tonnage is gov
eminent owned. and approximately 2.
10000 tons are under government on
GRAFTON III one form or another. The
net loss to The United States trcasnr,
-suus actually taken therefrom lr
this government operation-averaged
approximately S1Go00OOn per month
during tbe year prior 10 the assunp
/ tlou of responsibility by the present
administration.
"a constant warfare On this loss
OF public funds and the draft a.
service Of capable business manage
ment and experienced operating III.
rectors. have resulted. in applied Eff.
cheney and eLfo ced economies. II Is
very gratifying to report the dimunl-
nr nnrnNT0o IN nrrLn-