Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-11-29
HARDING PRESENTS MESSAGE
TO soLoNs URGING SHIP
SUBSIDY Be PASSED.
CALLS 1T COMMON CAUSE;
BENEFITS ARE CUmM0N
Declares Present Plan Of Operating
Shipping Board Fleet Faces IN
aVo,oaole Task OF WIpins Out a
s5o,ooo,o0 Annual Loss, and other
Enormous Losses

Washington, Nov. 22.-Enactment of
the administration merchant marine
bill WIS urged upon congress by Presi-
dent Harding as necessary To relieve
the government OF present staggering
losses" In operation OF the war-buill
merchant fleet, and 10 establish "a pro
gram OF assured shipping TO serve the
nation in war and give a guaranty OF
commercial Independence In time oil
peace.
Personally addressing a joint SEES
sion VI the house and senate. the ex-
ecutive declared an actual monetary
saving to the government would re-
suit from the proposed law.
The President said:
Text OF Message.
Members OF the Congress: Late
last February | reported 10 you rela-
tive 10 the American merchant marine.
and recommended legislation which
,lt executive branch OF the govern
meAi deemed essential to promote our
merchant marine and with IL our
naIonat welfare.
other problems were pressing and
orher questions pending. and for one
reason OF another, which need not be
recited. the suggested Legislation has
recommendation bS the house COM
mittee. The committee has given the
question a full and painstaking In
CURRY and study, and ] hope that Its
favorable report speedily will be given
the force Of law.
Would Clear Atmosphere.
1T will be helpful IN clearing the
atmosphere n we start with the frank
recognition OF divided opinion and de-
termined opposition II II no new
experience. Like proposals have d.
vided the congress on various previ-
Gus occasions. Perhaps a more TesOlute
hostility never was manifest before.
and ! am very sure the need for de-
cislve action-deciSlve, favorable ac-
tion-never was no urgent before.
1--WE are not now dealing with a
policy founded on theory; we have q
problem which Is q grim actuality.
We are facing insistent conditions, out
Of which will come either additional
and staggering government losses and
national impotence on the seas. or else
the unfurling Of the flag on q great
American merchant marine commen-
surate with our commercial impor-
lance, 10 serve US as carrier OF our
cargoes in peace and meet the neces-
stiles Of our defense an war.
Spent Three Billions
There is no thought here and now
10 magnify the relation OF q merchanf
marine to our national defense. II is
enough to recall that we entered the
World war almost wholly dependent on
our allies for transportation by sea.
We expended approximately three bill.
lions, feverishly, extravagantly. waste
fully and impractically. Out Of our
eagerness TO make up for the Omis-
sions Of peace and to meet the war
emergency we builded and otherwise
acquired the best merchant feet. which
the government owns today.
d u
our immediate problem Is not 10 build
and support a merchant shipping.
which hold 60 be one OF the highest
and most worthy aspirations Of any
great people. Our problem is 20 deal
with what we now possess. Our prob
lem Is to relieve the public treasury Of
the drain II alrendy is meeting.
Gives U. S. Figures.
"The war construction and the later
completion of war contracts, where
completion was believed TO be the
greater economy 10 the public treasury.
left as approximately l3.2OO,OOO gross
tonnage Ia ships. The figures are
nearer I2.5OOOO0 tons now, owing to
the scrapplng Of the wooden fleet.
More than half this tonnage is gov
eminent owned, and approximately q
100000 tons are under government OPP
GRAFTON In one form or another. The
net loss TO the United States treasury
sums actually taken therefrOm In
this government operation-averaged
apprnx imateIy S16OOO.OO0 per month
during the year prior TO the assump-
ton Of responsibility by the present
administration.
"A constant warfare on this loss
Of ,mbllc funds. and the draft 10
service OF capable business manage
ment and experienced operating d.
rectors. have resulted In applied eff
eienc- and enforced economies. II l.
very gratifying TO report the dimuni-