Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-11-22

peace.
Personally addressing a joint ses-
sion Of the house and senate, the
executive declared an actual none
tary saving TO the government
would result from the proposed law.
lie challenged every insinuation OF
favored interests and the enriching
of the special few at the expense
OF the public treasury. The legis-
lation, he asserted, automatically
guarded against enrichment or per-
petual bestowal,
"If success attend as we hope
it WILL" he added, the government
outlay is returned, the inspiration
of opportunity to earn remains and
American transportation by sea Is
maintained"
Opposition Abroad
The president said concern about
American merchant marine policy
was not limited ito our own do
main" adding that the maritime
nations of the world were in COM
plete accord with the opposition
here to the pending measure lie
declared those nations had a per-
feet right to such an attitude but
that he wished to stress the Amer
lean viewpoint which he sad
should be the viewpoint, from
which one sees American carriers
at sea. the dependence of American
commerce and American vessels
for American reliance in the event
Of war;"
Mr.. Harding declared it would
be most discouraging il a measure
Of "such transcending national I'M
portance" must have its fate de-
pend on geographical, occupa-
tionaI, professional or partisan OBJ
lection. A commercial eminence on
the seas and ample agencies for
the promotion to carrying OF Amer
lean commerce, he asserted, were
of no less Importance to the people
of the Mississippi ard the Missouri
valley the great northwest and the
Rocky Mountain states than to the
seaboard states and industrial COM
munities Inland
"It Is a common cause, with its
benefits commonly shared ne
said.
II government aid is fair term
to apply to authorizations aggre-
eating S75,O00,000 to promote good
roads for market highways, the
president added, It is equally flt
TO be applied to the establishment
and maintenance Of American mar
ket highways on the "salted seas.
Annual Loss
AS to present govel nment opera
ton OF the shipping board fleet,
Mr.. Harding said there was the
unavoidable task Of wiping out a
fifty million dollar annual loss, ana
losses aggregating "many hundreds
Of millions" In worn out, sacrificed
or scrapped shipping. He called
attention that the government
ships We're being worn out with
out any provision fcr replacement
and that program Of surrender
and sacrifice and the liquidation
which, he declared, would be inev-
table unless the proposed leglsla-
tion were enacted would cost
scores of billions. The cosE OF the
proposed legislation giving direct
aid, he said, with ocean carrying
maintained at the present average
would not reach 100000, 900 year.
and the maximum direct aid II
American shipping were so pro-
NOTED that it carried one-halt tne
nations deep sea, commerce would
not exceed thirty millions an
nually.
The text of President Harding,s S
address in part to congress fol-
lows:
Members of the Congress-:
Late last February / reported to
YOU relative to the American mer-
chant marine, and recommended
legislation which the executive
branch Of TIE government deemed
essential to promote our merchant
marine and with it our national
welfare. other problems were
pressing and other questions pend
ing. and for one reason or another
which need not be recited. the sug-
gested legislation he's not progress
ed beyond favorable recommends
ton by the house committee. The
committee has given the question a
full and painstaking inquiry and
study and / hope that its favorable
report speedily will be given the
force Of law.
It will be helpful in clearing the
atmosphere If we start with the
frank recognition OF divided opin-
ion and determined opposition. 1t
Is no new experience. Like pro-
posals have divided the congress on
various previous occasions. Per-
haps more resolute hostility never
was manifest before, and | am very
sure the need for decisive action
decisive, favorable action-never
was so urgent before.
Policy Not Founded on Theory
. We are not now dealing with a