The St. Mary banner., 1922-12-02
HARDNC'S MESSAGE
TO new CONGRESS
Urges Speedy Enactment Of
the Administration Ship
ping Bill.

ashington-President Harding in
an address Tuesday to joint session
of congress urged speedy enactment
of the administration shipping bill as
a means OF cutting down present
losses through operation of govern
ment ships and putting America at the
forefront ''in the peace triumphs on
the seas of the world"
At the very outset of the Commute
| speech, the president declared that
| those standing with him might as well
| recognize that there was divided opin-
| ion and determined opposition" 1t
| would be helpful in clearing the at
| mosphere to start with the recognition
Of this fact, he said, adding that 1t
| was no new experience
With a great emphasis the presi.
dent challenged ''every insinuation"
that the bill was framed for the bene-
fit of favored interests" or for the
enrichment of the special few at the
expense of the public treasury He
declared that first of all he was ap-
pCdIuS W save lllS treasury.
Calling attention to the hostility
In the popular mind" to the word
subsidy" stressed he said, by the op-
position, the president asserted that
government aid would be fairer term
than subsidy in defining what he was
seeking to do for upbuilding of the
American merchant marine.
But call it subsidy since there are
those who prefer to appeal to mistaken
prejudice, rather than make frank and
logical arguments" he said. 1--WE
might so call the annual loss of fifty
million dollars which we are paying
now without protest by those who
most abhor. We might as well call that
subsidy II so, I am proposing to
cut 1t in half, approximately"
Discussing the problem confronting
congress. the President outlined three
courses of action. The first, he said,
was constructive, which embraced
passage of the bill; second obstruc.
tice-continued government operation
and attending government losses-and
third, destructive, involving the
sacrifice and scrapping of the mer-
chant fleet.
Il have come to urge the construct.
i've alternate to reassert an American
we will,'" he exclaimed
He declared that he rejoiced that.
higher standards for labors on Ameri-
can ships had been established and
merest justice suggested that when
congress fixes these standards, it is
fair to extend government aid in main.
tafning them, until our shin
ping lines are SO firmly established
that they can face world competition
alone"
He said credit systems under gov.
ernment 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. i
Representative Mondell, Wyoming,
the republican leader said.
SohoANOA tAO PACSlucAt uSSSdRC
an exceptionally strong and forceful
one. do not recall ever having heard
q case more logically or convincingly
presented. The Presidents argu.
ments In favor of legislation along the
lines proposed are unanswerable."
The view OF opponents OF the bill
was expressed by Representative Gar.
rett. Tennessee, democratic leader,
who said: From the standpoint Of
those who favor the bill the President
placed the matter in what l suppose
will be generally regarded as q strong
light OF course from the standpoint
of those OF US who are opposed to the
measure, he did not answer the funda-
mental objections"
The shipping bill, over which the
big fight OF the session will begin
Thursday. was filed with the house BY
Chairman Greene of the merchant ma.
inc committee, few minutes before
he President reached the capitol It
Uttered In some respects from the
Measure introduced weeks ago and
vas reported without record vote.