The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-03-03

50 Great Lakes 81. Lawrence
waterway project was given by
President Harding today in his
address to congress OF ship sub
sidy.
Washington. d. c., February IS
The administration plan for govern
ment aid for The American merchant
marine was presented TO congress to-
day by President Harding With the
declaration that the influence OF the
United States in world councils is
sure 10 be measured by the unfailing
standard which is found in = nations
merchant marine"
The president detailed TO the TWO
houses assembled in joint session The
var time creation Of Americas great
tonnagC-an experimental venture as
he described it-anG then he added:
Having failed al such enormous
cost, ! bring YOU the proposal which
Contemplates the return TO private
initiative and privdte enterprise, aided
TO conservative success. wherein
we are safeguarded against the pro
motion of private greed, and do not
discourage the hope OF profitable in
vestment. which underlies all sue
CessfuI endeavor.'
Salient Points Of Proposal
The salient points OF this proposal
embodied in bills introduced in eacn
house Immediately after the presi
dents address follow:
Aid estimated nj $50 100000 annu
ally 10 be provided for principally by
diversion of ton per cent of the ma
tior's custom, TeccIp's,
Requirement hat no more than
fifty 10 Gem Of tho immigrants TO
tie / litem States be transported in for
c.oH Zip . sale OF the tonnage now
io% by tho shipping Foard and use
Cf !hC funds as construction loan
Authorization for induction of
" i,9u n'"rchautmon officers and
sai c.s INTO the naval reserve with
iIe 2t;trdqnt allowan nc" in pay. The
T.. esiCCut ,non detailed number of
i7diroct aids. mentioning in this con
ncCtiou:
Importance of Merchant Marine
Nlendm 1T of The interstate com
r:sHr.s act 20 permit railway systems
20 o"n and operate steamship lines
.C-CIg,d in other than coastwise
sc:
m aaut marine ACT providing for
20 ,s,cnti2i rail and steamship rates
tG~olch shipments on American
""i.cc available ~ no greater
r. :,:"l j. afforded ships under for
- ~ ding emphasized the inn
- '''c e = national merchant ma
N -; Vi V Of suspended naval
c,-s' u.t:cn." declaring that without
t. =, I@ih u ni2y hope 10 hold a
ai-h iI.'" IN thu world OF commerce
c. T.. a"sIrri OF adequate defense"
The m"""hanr marine is univer
sally e~cEuizcd rs the second line OF
naval de;eIac." he added 1T is in
disperSi5,o il the time OF great ma
jional emCrEen y"
bic. OF tho separate transport services
In the army and navy also was rec
commended by the executive who in
his connection said the merchant and
passenger ships under the American
flag should be made agents OF serv-
ice in peace as well as war"
Predicts Stiffest Competition
Mr.. Harding in recommending the
plan for government aid said he fore
saw the stiffest possible competition
ny the fleets OF the maritime nations
and asserted that more than the aid
OF the government would be necessary
We need 4 favoring spirit, an
awakened American rride, and an
avowed American determination that
carriers Of our own commerce, in
spite of all competition and all dis
couragements," he continued. There
can be no dispute about the end al
which we are aiming"
Text Of Presidents Message
The text OF President Harding s
address 10 congress today on govern
ment aid for the American merchant
marine was in part:
When addressing the congress last
December | reported to you the fail
ure of the executive to carry out thu
intent of certain features OF the mer-
chant marine as OF 1920. notably the
provision for the notice of cancella-
ton of all commercial treaties which
hindered our grant OF discriminating
duties on imports brought to oul
shores in American ships. There was
no doubt about the high purpose OF
congress to apply this proven "rac-
tice to the UNFOLDING Of our merchant
marine. II had proven most effective
in the earlier days OF American ship
ping; it had, at various times, dem
onSIrated its effectiveness in the up
building of commercial shipping fol
other nations.
The success of the earlier practice
for this republic came at a time wheI
we had few treaties, when our com
merce was little developed.
Its Supercedure BY Reciprocity
It's supercedure by reciprocity ir
shipping regulations and adoption Of
other methods Of upbuiiding merch'
ant marines through various forms Of
government aid. and the century Of
negotiations OF commercial treaties
all combined to develop a. situation
which should lead to endless embar
rassment if we denounced our treat.
les. We should not only be quite
alone in supporting a policy Ions
since superseded through the growing
intimacy of international relation.
ships. but we should invite the dis
turbance of those cordial Commercial
relations which are the first requisite
to the expansion Of our commerce
abroad.
Contemplating the readiness o.
congress to grant decreased duty
on imports brought TO our shores il
American bottoms and facing the
enlbarrassmerIs incident TO readjust
mert TO all treaty arrangements j
seemed desirable TO find way o
applying suitable hid to our shipping