Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-03-01
TEXT OF HARDINC'S ADDRESS
TO CONGRESS ON SHIP SUBSIDY

necessity Of q merchant marine to the
national defense, -ungrudgingly expend-
ed at five times the cost Of normal
construction and appropriated billions
where millions had been denied Before.
We acquired vast tonnage. Some Of
it, much Of it, is suitd to the peace
service Of expanded commerce. Some
of 1t, much of it, may be charged to the
extravaganza of wartime anxiety and
haste. The war program and that
completion Of contracts which followed
because such q course seemed best to
those then charged with responsibility,
gave us something more htan 1900
600 gross tonnage not including the fol-
" Of wood construction at total out
lay of approximately three and one
half millions of dollars.
Have Vast Tonnage
We became possessed of the vessels
of a great merchant marine not all of
it practical for use in the trans oceanic
trades; little of it was built for the
speed which gives the coveted class to
outstanding service. But here was vast
tonnage for cargo service; and the
government, in the exceptional call Of
commerce which Immediately followed
the war sought the establishment of
shipping lines in every direction cal
culated to enhance our foreign trade
and further cement our friendly re-
lations.
The movement lacked in most cases
that inherent essential to success
which is found in individual initiative
1t was rather government expert
ment, where lines were established in
high hope and little assurance, be-
cause the public treasury was to bear
the burden. There was the mere sug-
gestion of private enterprise, inasmuch
as ALLEGATIONS and charters were made
under which private management was
to share in profits and private inte-
rests were paid to make the expert
ment, though the government was to
bear all the losses.
Saving in Freight
In spite of the latter losses in opera
ton, however, it is quite beyond ques-
ton that our abundance Of American
tonnage was mainly responsible for our
ability to share in the good fortunes of
world trade during the two years i'm
mediately following the war. In all
probability the losses we have sustain
ed In our shipping activities were fully
compensated to the American people in
the saving OF ocean freights in that
period.
Today we are possessed of vast tom
mage, large and very costly experience.
and the conviction of failure. 1t is fair
to say that mistaken policy was made
more difficult by the unparalleled
1920 and prevailed throughout the wear
so recently closed 1t was the inevitable
reflex of the readjustments which fol-
low great war, and there were heavy
losses in operations which had to be
met by long established and heretofore
successful shipping lines and ships built
at top war costs that took the slump
In prices below the normal levels of
peace.
Have Needed Ships
But We have our ships, the second
largest tonnage in the world and we
have the aspiration. aye, let me say.
the determination. to establish a mer-
chant marine commensurate with our
commercial Importance. Our problem
is to turn the ships ard our experience
and aspirations into the effective de-
velopment of an ocean going shipping
service without which there can be no
assurance of maintained commercial
emlnence: without which any future
conflict at arms viii send us building
again, wildly and extravagantly. when
the proper concern for this necessary
agency of commerce in peace will be
our guaranty of defense in case that
peace is disturbed.
Out of the story Of the making of
great merchant marines and out of our
own experience we ought to find the
practical solution. Happily we are less
provincial than we once were No
body pretends any longer that shipping
is Il matter of concern only to the ports
involved. Commerce on the seas is
quite as vital to the interior as it is
to our coast territory.
Shipping is no more a sectional in
terest than is agriculture or manufac-
turing. No one of them can be pros
pered alone.
Vision in Waterway
We have had Il new manifestation
of this broadened vision in the enthusi- !
assn of the great middle west for the
proposed Great LakesSt. Lawrence
waterway by which it is intended to
connect the Great Lakes ports with |
those of the world. There is far see
ing vision in the proposal. and this !
great and commendablc enterprise de- |
serving your favorable consideration. is !
from great merchant ma /
rine. !
What. then. is our problem: | bring /
to YOU the suggestions which have re