The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1922-12-01

mails is no new expenditure. II
should be kept in mind that the loan
fund TO encourage building IS not
new; II is the law already, enacted
by tn essentially unanimous vote of
Congress. II IS only included in the
pending bill in order to amend so as
to assure the exactlon of minimum
interest rate by the Government,
whereas the existing law leaves the
grant of building loans subject to
any within Of favoritlsm.
II should be kept in mind, also,
that there are assured limitations
OF the Government aid proposed. The
direct aid. with ocean carrying main
tanned at our pr sent participation
will not reach twenty millions a year,
and the maximum direct aid, that we
carry one-half OF our deep seas com
merce. will not exceed thirty mill
lions annually. At the very maxi
mum of outlay we should be saving
twenty millions Of our present an
nual operating loss II the maxi
mum IL every reached. the establish
ment OF our merchant marine will
have been definitely recorded and the
Government-ownod fleet fortunately
liquidated.
From this point OF view It is the
simple incontestable wisdom OF bust
ness-like dealing to save all that Is
possible OF the annual loss and avoid
the millions sure to be left to the
Governments capital account in sac
rificing our fleet. But there is big
ger, broader. more inspiring view
point, aye. patriotic viewpoint. I
prefer to the constructive action Of
today which offers the only dependa-
BILE promise OF making our wartime
inheritance OF ships the foundation Of
great agency OF commerce in peace
and added guaranty OF service when
II is necessary TO our national de-
tense.
Thus far / have been urging Gov
eminent aid to American shipping,
having In mind every interest Of our
producing population, whether Of
mine. factory or farm, because ex-
banding commerce Is the foremost
thought of every nation in the world
today.
Believes In Government Aid
| believe in Government aid be-
comingly bestowed. We have aided
industry through our tariffs; we
have aided railway transportation in
land grants and loans. We have aid
ed the construction Of market roads
and the improvement OF inland wat
erways. We have aided reclamation
and irrigation and the development
OF wter power; we have loaned for
seed grains in anticipation of har-
vests. We expend millions In inves-
tigation and experimentation to pro-
mote common benefit, though a
limited few are the direct beneficial
ries. We have loaned hundreds of
millions TO promote the marketing OF
American goods. II has all been
commendable and highly worth
while.
At the present moment the Amer
lean farmer is the chief sufferer
from the cruel readjustments which
follow wars mutations, and befitting
Government aid to our farmers is
highly essential TO our national well
fare. No people may safely boast
good fortune which the farmer does
not share.
Already this Congress and The ad-
ministrative branch OF the Govern
ment have given willing ear to the
agricultural plea for postwar relief,
and much has been done which has
proven helpful. Admittedly 1t is not
enough.
Credit Systems Must BE s,rUndencd.
Our credit systems. under Govern
ment provision and control, must be
promptly and safely broadened to
relieve our agricultural distress.
To this problem and such others
of pressing importance as reason
ably may be dealt with in the short