Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-11-21
HARDING URGES RELIEF
FOR j. s. SHIPPING IN
PLEABEF0RE CONGRESS
Addresses Congress Person.
ally = Special Interests
/ Not Served, His Message

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21.-Enact-
inent of the Administrations mer-
chant marine bill was urged upon
congress today by President Hard
ing as necessary to relieve the gov
ernment Of present staggering
losses" in operation of the war built
merchant fleet and to establish a
program of assured shipping to serve
the nation in war and give a guar
! antee of commercial independence
in time Of peace.
Personally addressing a joint ses-
sion of the House and senate. he de-
clared an actual monetary saving to
the government would result from
the proposed law. He challenged
every insinuation Of favored interest
and the enriching of the special few
at the expense of the public trea-
sury.
The legislature, he asserted auto
matically guarded against enrich
ment or perpetual bestowal.
''If success attends, as we hope it
will," he added. 1.-The government
outlay is returned, the inspiration
of opportunity to earn remains, and
America, transportation by sea is
maintained"
He said concern about the Ameri-
can merchant marine policy was not
limited "to our own domain" add
ing that the maritime nations of .he
world, were in complete accord with
the opposition here to the pending
measures"
He declared those nations had a
perfect right to such an attitude,
but that he wished to stress the
American viewpoint, which he said
should be the viewpoint from which
one sees American carriers at sea,
tho dependence of American COM
nerce and American vessels for
American reliance at war"
He declared it would be most dis
eouraging if a measure of ''such
must have its faith depend on geo.
graphical, occupational, professional
or partisan objection. A CONNER
cial eminence on the seas and am
pie agencies for the promotion in
carrying American commerce, he as
serted, were of no less importance
to the people of the Mississippi and
Missouri valley, the great North
west and the Rocky Mountain
States. than the seaport States and
industrial communities inland"
s1t is a common cause. with its
benefits commonly shared" he said.
IF government aid is fair term
to apply to authorization aggregat-
ing $75,000.000 to promote good
roads for market highways" he
added, sit is equally fit to be ap-
piled to the establishment and main
tenance of American market high
ways on the 'salted seas
AS to present government opera
tions of the shipping board fleet,
Mr.. Harding said there was the un-
avoidable task of wiping out $780,
100000 annual loss and losses ag-
gregating many hundreds of mil
lions in worn out, sacrificed or
scrapped shipping. He called atten-
tioE that the government ships were
being worn out without any provi-
sion for replacement and that a
program of surrender and sacrifice
and the liquidation which he de-
clared would be inevitable unless
the proposed legislation were enact
ed. would cost scores of millions.
The cost of the proposed legisla
tion giving direct aid, he said, with
ocean-carrying maintained at the
present average, would not reach
$20,000,000 a year and the maxi
mum direct aid, if American ship
ping was so promoted, would not
axceed S300O0,000 aIinualIy