The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-11-21
SHIP SUBSIDY
is DEFENDED
BY PRESIDENT
Challenge Insinuation
of Favoring Few

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21.-Enact-
ment of the administration merchant
marine bill was urged on congress to-
day by President Harding as neces-
sary to relieve the government OF
present staggering losses in opera
ton of the war built merchant fleet
and to establish program of assured
shipping to serve the nation in war
and give guarantee of commercial
independence in time of peace.
Personally addressing joint ses-
sion of the house and senate the ex-
ecutive declared an actual monetary
saving to the government would re-
suit from the proposed law. He chal-
lenged every insinuation of favored in
terest and the enriching of the special
few at the expense of the public treas
ury. The legislation, he asserted,
automatically guarded against enrich
ment or perpetual bestowal
Outlay Assured
''If success attends, as we hope it
WILL he added, 1.-The government out
lay is assured, the inspiration of op-
portunity to earn remains and Ameri-
can transportation by sea is main
| tanned"
The president said concern about
the American merchant marine policy
was not limited to "our own domain"
adding that the maritime nations of
the world were ''in complete accord
with the opposition here to the pend
| ing measure" He declared those ma
tions had a perfect right to such an at
titude, but that he wished to stress
the American viewpoint, which he said,
should be the viewpoint from which
m AT1an . l1A
dependence of American commerce,
and American vessels for American re-
lance in the event of war"
important To ALL
Mr.. Harding declared it would be
most discouraging if a measure "of
such transcending national impor-
tance" must have it's fate depend on
geographical, occupations, profession
al or partisan objections.
"a commercial eminence on the
seas and ample agencies for the pro-
motion in caring for American com
merce he assured were of no less i'm
| portance to the people of Missouri and
Mississippi valleys, the great north
west, and the Rocky mountain states,
than to the seaboard states, and the
! industrial communities inland
ut is a common cause with its bene-
fits shared said he.
| IF government aid is fair term 10
apply to authorizations aggregating
| SIS, 100000 to promote good roads for
market highways" the president ad-
ded 'it Is equally fit to be applied to
the establishment and maintenance of
American highways on the deep seas
Must Wipe Out Loss
AS to present government operation
of the shipping board fleet, Mr. Hard.
ing added there was the unavoidable
task of wiping out $50.000,000 annual
loss and losses aggregating "many
hundreds of millions" in war out OF
sacrifice or scrapped shipping He
called attention to the fact that the
government ships were being worn
out without any provisions for re-
placement and that a program of sac
rifice and liquidation, which he de
clared would be inevitable unless the
proposed legislation were enacted
would cost scores of millions
The cost of the proposed legislation
giving direct aid, he saiAeeWith ocean
carrying vessels maintained at the
present average, would not reach $40,
100000, and the maximum direct aid
if American shipping were so promot
ed that it carried one-half the nations
deep-sea commerce, would not exceed
$50, 100000
The president followed his custom
of reading from manuscript, the mes
sage having been typed on small
sheets. At times he put great EN-
phasis on some of the statements II
his speech. He was applauded wher
he said he had come to re-assert ar
American I'VE will but for the mos
part, the senators and representatives
heard him in silence, for the first time
since the president has visited the cap
ital to address congress.
Mrs. Harding was absent. Ambas
sador Jusserand, Of France was with
a party in the diplomatic gallery.
delegation of shipping board officers
headed by Chairman Lasker had seats
on the floor directly behind the Re
publican group.