Imperial Valley press., 1922-03-13

President Harding has boldly challenged not only the
congress but the American people we'll IN his
message relating to subsidy for ships.
1t has long been thought fraugh with political danger
to advocate ship subsidy. For this President
frankly before congress and the people with his proposal
his part for proposal he only points the need
very clear and forceu language but he also suggests
remedy that promises be effective without imposing
tax burden from which the people would shrink.
With succncness and perspcacity the president re-
cites facts to show how amentab this country has failed
in the exceedingly important matter of taking Its proper
place the high In times of peace Our fleets once
whitening all ports with their sails have almost completely
disappeared. We put at disadvantage in the
matter of transportation paying heavy toll to for
eign ship for moving products of the
try and theirs in. Then when the came having
ships Ito convert engaged in the most mad
dening any nation showed in ship building. We
built fleet of transports regardless of cost and almost
without thought of design We placed nnumerabe vessels
the water and employed them in such way that the
great emergency met, after fashion. Then when
peace came undertook operate these vessels and
made dismal failure of it. So complete has this failure
been have decided by practically
that the should go out of the shipping business
Other nations by reason of their cheaper labor in ship
encouragement directly and Indirectly of their merchant
marine taking control of the of the
they always did before the That must act in
and practical way leave ourselves the mercy of
other nations plain that the shines in the heav
The president for acting and thoughtful Amer
must be for the thing when he thinks the matter
out.
The plan is to tax all imports coming into the country
in foreign American ships to create shipping fund out
Of which bonus will be paid to American ship
Into this fund will be placed such money is being
paid for carrying mails and such tariff rebates
being paid under the law imports in American ships
When ships subsidized from the fund thus created
10 percent on their actual investment they shall
begin to out of all that amount the
received by them subsidies.
The plan submitted is unanimously recommended by
the Shipping Board 1t is that will not Immediately if
require special taxation to meet 1t is believed will
succeed in creating and maintaining American ships for
immediate in the national defense whenever any such
emergency should arise.
1t is national humiliation and shame that should
largely because have been provincial in thoughts
and actions We have supposed because may live in
political subdivision of the country that does not border the
that have had great interest in shipping The
taught us how vital that interest really and if fail
to act in the face of that costly lesson will prove
selves dots if not dastards There is not citizen under
the flag that does not have the interest in ships that
he has in railroads Distance from the seashore does
abae alter that interest Preudces must be discarded
and sound substituted 1t is high time that the
American people coming to their about ship
ping The presidents recommendations call for sober
thought.