The Adair County news., 1922-12-05
HARDING DELIVERS
SUBSIDY MESSAGE
President Presents Plea to Both
Houses in Person.
TRADE FLEET IS NECESSARY
Executive Before the SoIons in Plea
for Help for the United States
Merchant Marine-SpeciaI Ses-
sion Hears Message.

Washington, Nov. 22.-Enactment of
the administration merchant marine
bill was urged upon congress by Presi
dent Harding as necessary to relieve
the government of present staggering
losses" in operation of the war-built
merchant fleet, and to establish a pro-
gram OF assured shipping to serve the
nation in war and give a guaranty of
commercial independence in time of
gpeace.
Personally addressing a joint ses-
sion Of the house and senate, the ex-
ecutive declared an actual monetary
saving to the government would re.
suit from the proposed law. He chal-
lenged every insinuation of favored
interests and the enrichment of the
special few at the expense of the pub
lie treasury. The legislation, he as
serted. automatically guarded against
enrichment or perpetual bestowal
The President said in part:
Presidents Address.
Members of the Congress: Late
last February reported to you rela-
tive to the American merchant marine,
and recommended legislation which
the executive branch of the govern
ment deemed essential to 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
rectted, the suggested legislation has
not progressed beyond favorable rec
ommendation by the house committee.
The committee has given the question
a full and painstaking inquiry and
study, and l hope that it's favorable
report speedily will be given the force
of law.
Would Clear Atmosphere.
1T will be helpful in clearing the
atmosphere if We start with the frank
recognition of divided opinion and de-
termined opposition. 1t is no new ex.
perience. Like proposals have divided
the congress on various previous occa.
sions. Perhaps a more reSOlute hos
tility never was manifest before, and
/ am very sure the need for decisive
action-decisive, favorable action
never was so urgent before
I'VE are not now dealing with q
policy founded on theory; we have 4
problem which is grim actuality. W.
are facing insistPnt conditions. out of
which will come either additional anG
staggering government losses and nG.
tiOnal impotence on the seas, or els
the unfurling of the flag on a gre,,'
American merchant marine cOmmen
surate with our commercial imp0r
tanCe. to serve us as carrier of our
cargOes in peace and meet the neceS
stiles of our defense in war.
Spent Three Billions.
There is no thought here and nov
to magnify the relation of q merchanr
marine to our national defense. II i,
enough to recall that we entered tn,
World war almost wholly dependent OF
our allies for transportation by sea
We expended approximately three bill
lions, feverishly, eNtravaganrIy. waste
fully and impractically. Out of on
eagerness to make up for the omiS
siOns of peace and to me"r the wa
emergency we builded and otherwis,
acquired the best merchant fleet, which
the government owns today.
I'm the simplest way I can say II
our immediate problem is nor to buiIC
and support a merchant shipping
which | hold to be one of the highPs
and most worthy aspirations of an,
great people. Our lroblem is TO den
with what we now possess. Our prob
lem is to relieve the public treasur'
of the drain it already is meeting.
Offers Three Solutions.
Three courses Of action are pos
sibIe and the choice among them i
no longer to be avoided.
1.-THE first is constructive. Enac
the pending bill under which | firml
believe an American merchant marine
privately operated, hut serving all tn
people and always available to tn
government in any emergency. ma
be established and maintained
"The second is obstructive. Con
tinue government operations and al
tending government losses and dis
courage private enterprise by govern
ment competition, under which losse
are met by the public treasury. an
witness the continued losses and de
terioration until the colossal faiIur
ends in sheer exhaustion.
''The third is destruction. II Involve
the sacrifice of our ships abroad or tn
scrapping of them at home. the sur
render of our aspirations.
Answer Is Apparent.
"When the question is asked, VIII
the insistence for the merchant ma
rine act now? the answer is apparent