New-York tribune., 1922-11-22

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
&c promote our merchant marine and
with it our national welfare.
Other problems were pressing and
other questions pending and for one
reason or another, which need not be
recited, the suggested legislation has
rot progressed beyond favorable
recommendation by the House com-
inittee. The committee has given the
question full and painstaking in
quiry and study and hope that it's
favorable report speedily will be
given the force of law.
1t will be helpful in clearing the
atmosphere If we start with the
frank recognition OF divided opinion
and determined opposition. 1t is no
new experience. Like proposals have
divided the Congress on various pre-
yious occasions. Perhaps more
resolute hostility neyos was manifest
before and / am very sure the need
for decisive action-decisive, favor
able action--never was SO urgent be-
fore.
Calls Policy "Not Theory"
But Grim Actually"
We are not now dealing with a
policy founded on theory, we have
problem which is one Of grim actual
ity. We are facing insistent condi-
tions, out OF which will come either
additional and staggering govern
ment losses and national impotence
on the seas, or else the unfurling Of
the flag on great American mer-
chant marine commensurate with cur
comm ercial Importance, to serve as
carrier Of our cargoes in peace and
meet the necessities Of our defense
in war.
There is no thought here and now
TO magnify the relation OF a mer-
chant marine to our national de-
Tense. 1t is enough to recall that we
entered the Woyld War almost wholly
dependent on our allies for trans
portation by sea We expended ap-
proximately S3,ooo,oo0,o0o feverishly.
extravagantly, wastefully and i'm
practically. Out of our eagerness to
make UP for the omissions of peace
and to meet the war emergency we
builded and otherwise acquired the
vast merchant feet which the gov
eminent owns to-day.
In the simplest way I can say il,
our immediate problem is not to
build and support merchant ship
ping, which I hold to bs one of the
highest and most worthy aspirations
of any great people; our problem is
to deal with what we now possess.
Our problem is to relieve the public
treasury OF the drain il is already
meeting.
Let us omit particulars about the
frensied wartime building. Possibly
we did full as we'll as could have
been done in the anxious circum-
stances. Let us pass for the moment
the vital relationship between mer-
chant marine and commercially as
piring nation. Aye, let us suppose
for q moment the abeurdity that
with one $3,o0O,0oo,ooo experience
and with the incalculable costs in
lives and treasure which may be
chargeable to our inability promptly
TO apply our potency -- which God
foreRend happening again --- let us
nomentarily ignore ell OF these and
turn TO note the mere business prob
lem, the practical question Of dollars
and cents with which we are con-
fronted.
Tells Of Net Losses so
Pubsta Funds Over Ships
The war construction and the later
completion OF war contracts, where
completion was believed TO be the
greater economy to the public t--aas-
ury, left us approximately 13,20o,oo0
gross tonnage in ships. The
figures are nearer 12,500,0o0
IONS now, owing to the scrapping of
the wooden feet. More than half
this tonnage is goverment-owned,
and approximately e.5O0,000 tons ars
under government operation in one
form or another.
The net loss to the United States
Treasury-sums actually taken
therefronl in this government opera
averaged approximately s1s,-
100000 per month during the year
prior to the assumption of respon-
sibility by the present Administra-
ton. A constant warfare on this
loss Of public funds, and the draft
to service Of capable business man
agenent and experienced operating
directors, havo resulted in applied
efficiency and enforced economies.
II is very gratifying to report the
a