Evening star., 1922-02-28
PRESIDENT PROPOSES
SALE OF MARINE AND
AIDING PRIVATELINES
ADDRESS .
TO CONGRESS URGING
AID TO U. S. SHIPPING

The Presidents address to Con-
gress today follows:
When addressing the Congress
last December I reported to you
the failure of the executive to
carry out the intent of certain fea-
lures of the merchant marine act
OF 1920. notably the provision for
the notice Of cancellation of all
commercial treaties which hin
dered our grant of discriminating
duties on imports brought to our
shores in American ships, There
was no doubt about the high pur-
pose OF Congress to apply this
proven practice to the upbuildins
OF our merchant marine 1t had
proven most effective in the earlier
days of American shipping; it had,
at various times, demonstrated its
effectiveness in the upbuilding of
commercial shipping for other ma
tions.
The success of the earlier prac-
tice for this republic came at
time when we had few treaties,
when our commerce was little de-
Veloped. Its supersedure by reci-
procity in shipping regulations,
and the adoption o. other methods
OF upholding merchant marines,
through various forms of govern
ment aid, and the century of ne
gotiation Of commercial treaties.
all combined to develop a situation
winch should lead to endless en-
oarrassment If we denounced our
treaties. We should not only be
quite alone in supporting a policy
long since superseded through the
growing intimacy of international
relationships. but we should invite
the disturbance of those cordial
commercial relations which are the
hrst requisite to the expansion of
our commerce abroad.
Based ON latent.
Contemplating the readiness Of
Congress to grant decreased duty
on imports brought to our shores
in American bottoms, and facing
the embarrassments incident to re-
adjustment of all treaty arrange
ments. 1t seemed desirable to find a
way Of applying suitable aid to our
shipping. which the Congress
clearly intended. and at the same
time avoid the embarrassment of
our trade relationship abroad.
The accommodation Of today
mendable intent of Congress. The
proposed aid of the government to
Its merchant marine is to have its
chief source in the duties collected
on imports. Instead of applying
the discriminating duty to the spe-
cific cargo and thus encouraging
only the inbound shipment. / pro-
-
port duties. without discrimina-
tton as between American and for
eign bottoms, and apply the here
tofore proposed reductions to Gre
ate fund for the governments
aid to our merchant marine. BY
such 9 program we shall encourage
not alone tho carrying Of inbound
cargoes subject to our tariffs, but
xs s,,p, sss n s.rsnssh.s 7, tss ApsTissn sret
er inbound tonnage on which no
duties are levied. and. more i'm
portant than these, we shall equip
our merchant marine to serve our
outbound commerce, which il the
measure of our eminence in foreign
trade.
Cites Import Figures.
1t is interesting to note. in con-
nection with the heretofore pro-
posed plan of discriminating
tariffs on imports carried to our
shores in American bottoms. that
the total value Of all dutiable
imports for 1920, in all vessels,
was S1.sS5, ,S65, 900, while the
cargoes admitted free Of duty. on
which no discrimination was pos
sible, were valued at $3.115. .95S, 900.
The astual tonnage comparison is
even more significant from the
viewpoint of cargo carrying. be-
cause the dutiable cargoes meas
ured, in round numbers. 100000
were 25.000.000 tons. The larger
employment, by. two and a half
times. was in non-dutiable ship
ments.
Continued trade must be re-,
ciprocal. We cannot long main
tain sales where we do not buy.
In the promotion of these ex-
changes We should have as much
sales as for the faciiitation Of our
purchases. There Is not a record
in all history of long-maintained
eminence In export trade except
as the exporting nations devel-
oped their own carrying capacity.
Over Avenues Of Cargo.
No story Of national development
is more fascinating or so full Of ro-
nance as that of developing capac-
ity for the exchanges of COM
merce. Expanding civilization may
be traced over the avenues Of ex-
changing cargoes. No matter how
materialistic is may sound. nations
have developed for themselves and
have Influenced the world almost
precisely as they have promoted
their commerce. We need not re-
o., ~ tho armod canf7icts which