New Britain herald., 1922-11-21
|u|kENS SHIP BILL
 ID GOOD HIGHWAYS President, in Address, Says Ship Subsidy Would Aid All
 NOT SECTIONAL MATTER

Tells Congress American Shipping
 Would Insure Supplies in Case of
 War and Commercial Independence
 During Times of Peace
 Washington. Nov 21.- Enactment of the administration merchant mar inc bill was urged upon congress to- day by President Harding as neces- sary to relieve the government. of present staggering losses' in opera ton of the war built merchant heet, and to establish a program of assured shipping to serve the nation In war and give a guaranty of commercial independence in time of peace.
 Appears Personally Personally addressing a joint ses- sion of the house and senate. the ex- ccutive declared an actual monetary saving to the government would re- suit from the proposed law. He chal- lenged every insinuation of favored interests and the enriching of the special few at the expense of the pub- lie treasury. The legislation, he a. serted. automatically guarded agatnse enrichment or perpetual bestowal. If success attends. as we hope ie will" he added, the government out | lay is returned. the inspiration of op- portunity to earn remains and Ameri- can transportation by sea is maintain- ed.
 Foreign Opposition | The president said concern about the American merchant marine policy was not limited ito our own domain, adding that the maritime nations of l the world were in complete accord with the opposition here to the pend ing measure" He declared those na- tions had particular right to such an attitude, but that hc wished to stress the American viewpoint which he said should be the viewpoint from which one sees American carriers at sea, the t dependence of American commerce and American vessels for American reliance In the event of war"
 Belittles Objections
 MT, Harding declared it would he most discouraging if a measure ot l such transcending national import ance'' must have it's fate depend on geographical, occupational, profess sional or partisan objection. com mercial eminence on the seas and am- ple agencies for the promotion in car- | ryinR of American commerce, he as- serted were of no less importance to the people of the Mississippi and the Missouri valley, the great northwe& and the Rocky mountain states than to the seaboard states and industrial communities inland.
 Tt is a common cause with ita benefits commonly shared" said he.
 Just Like Good Roads
 If government aid is a fair term to Iapply to aggregating $75.0oo,oo0 to promote good roads for market high ways. the president added, 1t is equal ly fit to be applied to the establisn- ment and maintenance of American market highways on the ''salted seas"
 AS to present government opinion of the shipping board fleet, MT. Hard ing said there was the unavoidable task of wiping out fifty billion doi- lar annual loss and losses aggregatine many hundreds of millions Tn worn out. sacrificed or scrapped shipping. He called attention that the govern ment ships were being worn out with- | out any provision for replacement. and that a program of surrender and sac rtf1ce and the liquidation which he de- clared would be inevitable unless the nroposed legislation were enacted. 7 would cost scores of millions. The cost of the proposed legislation giving direct aid. he said. with occasion car- rying maintained at the present aver age would not reach $20.oO0,0oo : year and the maximum direct aid or American shipping were 50 promoted that if carried one-h half the nations , deep sea commerce would not exceed so,000, 900 annually.
 Text of Message President Harding's address 10 con- gress follows in part;
 Members of the congress;
 Late last February reported to , you relative to the American mer- $ chant marine, and recommended leg ! islation which the executive branch
 of the government deemed essential to promote OUT rHtTtHcht ht"tsi'S "'f''
 with it our national welfare. Other
 problems were pressing and other $ questions pending and for one reason
 or another which need not be rccited ' the suggested legislation has not pro- 2 gressed beyond favorable recom- ' mendation by the house committed ', xxx | hope that It's favorable repor' ' speedily will he given the force oi = law.
 IL will be helpful in clearing the ' atmosphere if we start with the frank < recognition of divided opinion and u determined opposition. II Is no new
 experience. Like proposals have di'
 vided the congress on various previoui i occasions. xxx
 i Not Policy of Theory eve are not now dealing with policy founded on theory. we have . problem which Is one of grim actual Q ity. We are facing insistent condi : tions out of which will come eithel Q additional and staggering government
 tcontinued on Fourteenth Pass,,