Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-03-01
TEXT OF PRESIDENT
HARDING'S ADDRESS
ON MARINE SUBSIDY
CONTINUED from Page one.l


But we have our ships, the sec
ond largest tonnage in the world
and we have the aspiration, aye. let
me say, the determination to es-
tablish a merchant marine COM
mensurate with our commercial
importance. Our problem is to
turn the ships and our experience
and aspirations into the effective
development of an ocean-going
shipping service without which
there can be no assurance Of main
tanned commercial eminence with
out which any future conflict at
arms will send us building again,
wildly extravagantly, when the
proper concern for this necessary
agency Of commerce in peace will
be our guaranty Of defense in case
that peace is disturbed.
Out of the story of the making
of great merchant marines and out
of our own experience we ought
to find the practical solution. Hap
PLY we are less provincial than we
once were; happily we have come
to know how inseparable are our
varied interests. Nobody .pretends
any longer that shipping is a mat
ter OF concern only to the ports in
yolYed.
Commerce on the sea is quite as
vital to the great interior as Il is
to our coast territory, east, south
or west. Shipping is no more
sectional interest than is agricul-
ture or manufacturing. No one
of them can be prospered alone.
Broadcned Vision.
We have had a new manifesto
ton of this broadened vision in the
enthusiasm of the great middle
west for the proposed Great Lakes
st. Lawrence waterway, by which
it is intended to connect the Great
Lakes ports with the marts of the
world. There is far-seeing vision
in the proposal and this great and
commendable enterprise deserving
your favorable consideration Is in
separable from a great merchant
marine.
What, then, is our problem? /
bring to you the suggestions which
have resulted from a comprehen-
sive study which are recommended
to me by every member of the uni
ted States shipping board. 1t is
program of direct and indirect aid
to shipping to be conducted by
private foreign bottoms and cree
ate therefrom a merchant marine
fund. To this fund shall be added
the tonnage charges, taxes and fees
imposed on vessels entering the
ports of continental United States,
also such sums as are payable to
American vessel by the post office
department for the transportation
by water of foreign mails, parcel
posts excepted.
Out of this fund shall be paid
the direct aid in the development
and maintenance of an American
merchant marine. The compensa-
ton shall be based on one-half of
one cent for each gross ton Of
any vessel, regardless of speed, for
each 100 miles Travelled. When
the speed is 10 knots or over. but
less than IA, two-tenths of a cent
on each gross ton shall be added;
for IA knots, three-tenths Of
cent; for 10 knots, four-tenths of
a cent: for 16 knots. five-tenths;
for II knots, seven tenths: for Is
knots, nine-tenths: for 10 knots.
eloven-tenths; for 20 knots, thir-
teen-tenths; shall be added to the
basic rate. For % knots the max
imum is reached at 26 cents for
each gross ton per 100 miles
travelled.
Cost OF Such a Program.
The cost of such a program
probably will reach fifteen millions
the first year. estimated on the
largest possibilities of the present
fleet With larger reimbursement
to high speed vessels, and the en-
largement of the merchant marine
to a capacity comparable with our
commerce the total outlay may
reach the limits of thirty millions,
but it is confidently believed that
the scale may in due time there
after be turned, until the larger
reimbursements are restored to the
treasury. Even If we accept the
extreme possibility that no return
will ever be made. which is to con-
fess our inability to establish an
American merchant marine, the
expenditure would be vastly pre-
ferable to the present unfortunate
situation, with our dependence on
our competitors for the delivery
OF our products.
OF the indirect aids there are
many, practically all without draft
upon the public treasury, and vet
all highly helpful in promoting
American shipping.
/ think we should discontinue
so far as practical, the TRANSPORT
service in the army and navy and
make our merchant and passenger
ships the agents Of service in peace
as well as war.
Other indirect aids will be found
in the requirement that immigra-
ton shall Join wherever 1t is found
to be practical in aiding the mer-
chant marine OF our flag under
which citizenship is to be sought
and in the establishment of the
merchant marine naval reserve.
A very effective indirect aid will
be found in the proposed deductions
on incomes, amounting to five per
centum of the freight paid on car
goes carried in American bottoms.
~ ~<NAShAaA7 bAAlpC GIlOulu DC SOlu
at prices prevailing in the world
market. We constructed at the
top cost Of war when necessity i'm
PEELED, to meet great emergency,
If there had come no depression O
return to approximate normal cost
would have been inevitable. But
the great slump in shipping has
sent tonnage prices to the other
extreme. One Of the outstanding
barriers to general readjustment is
the tendency to await more favor
able price conditions. In the widest
views the nation will profit by SELL
ing now.
Costly Experiment.
The experiment we have made
has been very costly. Much has
been learned, to be sure, but the
outstanding lesson is that the gov
eminent cannot profitably manage
our merchant shipping.
Having failed at such enormous
cost, l bring you the proposal which
contempiates the return to individ-
l 1nI nj