The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-11-25
HARDING
LEADS FOR
SHIP SUBSIDY

0fllf OUbOiD1
Advances Claim That
Will Cut Down
r e S e n t Losses
Throu ugh the Opera
ton Of Government
Ships
Washington. Ney 21.-President
Harding in an address today to q
Joint session of Congress urged
speedy enactment OF the admins
trasion shipping bill as means OF
cutting down present losses through
through operation Of government
ships and putting America at the
forefront in the peace triumphs on
tie seas of the world. 'a
At the very outset Of the thirty
minutes speech which was heard
with the closest attention the
President frankly declared that
those standing with him might as
well recognize that there was "di-
yided opinion and determined OPP
position. It would be helpful in
clearing the atmosphere to start
with the recognition of this fact
he said. adding that it was nc
new experience.
With great emphasis the Presi-
dent challenged every insinuation'
that the bin vas framed for the
benefit of favored interests" OF
for the enrichment OF the special
few at the expense of the public
treasury. He declared that first
OF ali he was appealing to save
the treasury
Calling attention to the thostil-
sisy in the popular mind" to the
word subsidy = stressed. he said
3 by the opposition, the President as
serted that government aid would
be q. fairer term in defining what
he was seeking to do for upbuild-
ing of the American merchant ma
rine.
Proposes toss Cut Cost.
tRut cafl it subsidy, since there
are those Who prefer to appeal to
mistaken prejudice. rather than
make frank and logical arguments,
he said. We might so call the
annual loss of fifty million dol
lars which We are paying now
without protest BY those Who most
abhor, we might as well call that
* subsidy. IL so. am proposing
to cut it Id half approximately. 8
Discussing the problem confront
ing Congress the President named
three courses OF action. The first,
lie said, was constructive. which
embraced passage of the bill; sec
ond, obstructive, continued gov
crnment operation and attending
government lossesa and third-de-
structive, involving the sacrifice
and scrappfng of the merchant
fleet
81 have come to urge the con-
structive alternative. to reassert
an American we wille,' he ex-
CLAIMED, which brought the first
applause. The next applause greet
ed the presidents declaration that
he rejoiced that higher standards
fog labor on American ships had
been established and that merest
justice suggested that when con-
gress fixed these standards, it is
fair to extend government aid in
maintaining them. Z. until our
shipping linss are 50 firmly es-
tab1ished that they can face world
competition alone.
The farm bloc, including mem
bers Of the Democratic side, ap-
plauded when the president said
credit systems under government
provision and control must be
promptly and safely broadened to
relieve the agricultural classes.
There was a variety of comment
by members, but for the most part
this followed party lines
Representative Mondell. Wyom-
ing. Republican leader said:
IT consider the presidents mes
sage an exceptionally strong and
forceful one. I do not recall ever
having heard case more logically
or conyincingly pesented. The
presidents arguments in favor OF
legislation along the lines proposed
are unanswerable."
The views of opponents Of the
bill was expressed by Representa-
tive Garrett. Tennessee, Democratic
leader, who said:
s.From the standpoint Of those
who favor the bill the presidetn
placed the matter in what sup
pose would be generally regarded
as d strong light. OF course, from
the standpoint Of those of US who
are opposed to the measure he did
not answer the fundamental OBJ
jections."
The shipping bill, over which the
big fight of the season will begin
Thursday. was filed with the house
by Chairman Greene Of the mer-
chant marine committee a few
minutes before the president
reached the Capitol. 1t differed in
some respects from the meaure in