The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-11-22
AID To SHIPPING 1
ECONOMY IN END, /
SAYS P'!!!i:::::s; Sc l. :
Asks Congress for Quick Action
on Subsidy Measure
WOULD ASSIST TREASURY
Refutes Intimations that Bill
Would Constitute Raid on
Country's Finances

Washington, Nov. 22.-President
Hard ng in an address yesterday to a
joint session of Congress urged speedy
enactment OF the administration ship
ping bill as means of cutting down
present losses through operation OF
government ships and putting America
at the forefront 'in the peace triumphs
on the seas of the world"
At the very outset of the Commute
speech, which was heard with the
closest attention the president frankly
declared that those standing with him
might as we'll recognize that there was
divided opinion and determined oppo-
sition.' 1t would be helpful, in clear
ing the atmosphere, to start with the
recognition Of this fact, he sad, add
ing that it was no new experience,
With great emphasis the president
challenged every ins!nuation' that
the bill was framed for the benefit Of
Favored interests" or for the enrich
ment of the special few at the expense
OF the public treasury. He declared
that first OF all he was appealing TO
save the treasury
Calling attention to the hostility in
the popular mind to the word sub
sidy," stressed, he said, by the opposi-
ton, the president asserted that gov
ernment aid would be fairer term
than subsidy in defining what he was
seeking to do for upbuilding of the
American merchant marine.
But call it subsidy since there are
those who prefer to appeal to mistaken
prejudice, rather than make frank and
logical arguments" he said.
I'VE might so call the annual loss
of s5O,OOO,O0O which we are paying
now without protest by those who
most abhor the term. We might as
well call that subsidy If so, am
proposing to cut it in half, approxi'
mately;'
Discussing the problem confronting
Congress. the president outlined three
courses of action. The first, he said.
was constructive, which embraced pas
sage of the bill; second. obstructive
continued government operation and
attending government losses - and
third, destructive, involving the sacri-
flee and scrapping of the merchant
fleet.
Il have come to urge the construc-
tive alternative, to reassert an Ameri-
can we WILL" he exclaimed, which
brought the first applause during de-
livery of the speech. The next ap-
plause greeted the presidents declara-
tion that he rejoiced that higher stand
ards for labor on American ships had
been established and that merest JUS
tice suggested that when Congress
fixes these standards, IL is fair TO ex-
tend government a!d in maintaining
them until our shipping lines are so
firmly established that they can face
world competition alone"
There was variety of comment by
members, but for the most part this
followed party lines.
Representative Mondell. Wyoming,
the republican leader, said:
Il consider the presidents message
an exceptionally strong and forceful
one. do not recall ever having heard
case more logically or convincingly
presented. The presidents arguments
in favor of legislation along the lines
proposed are unanswerable.
The view OF opponents of the bill
was expressed by Representative Gar.
rett. Tennessee, democratic leader,
who said ,nFef
From the standpoint of those who
favor the bill, the president placed the
matter in what | suppose will be gen.
orally regarded as a strong light. OF
course, from the standpoint of those
of us who are opposed to the measure
he did not answer the fundamental OBJ
ject ons.'