The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-28
MARINE AID
PLAN GIVEN
BY HARDING
President Outlines Pro
posal in Message to
Congress.


ministration plan for government
aid for the American merchant ma
rine was presented to congress to-
day by President Harding with the
declaration that the influence OF the
United States in world councils is
sure to be measured by that un-
failing standard which is found in
| a nations merchant marine"
The president detailed to the two
houses assembled in joint session
the wartime creation of America 8
great tonnagean experimental
venture as he described it-and
| then he added:
Having failed at such enormous
| cost, bring you the proposal which
| contemplates the return to private
initiative and private enterprise,
| aided. to a conservative success,
| wherein we are safeguarded against
| the promotion of private greed, and
do not discourage the hope of prof
| table investment, which underlies
all successful endeaVor."
Salient Points.
The salient points of this pro-
! posaI embodied in bills introduced
in each house Immediately after
the presidents address follow:
Aid estimated al $32, 100000 an
nually to be provided for princi-
pally by diversion Of 10 per cent
of the nations customs receipts:
Requirement that not more than
so per cent of the immigrants to
| the United States be transported in
| foreign ships.
| Sales of the tonnage now held by
the shipping board and use of the
funds as a construction loan fund
! Authorization for induction of
American merchant men officers
and sailors into the naval reserve
with the attendant allowance in
pay
| The president then details a num-
| ber of indirect aids mentioning in
| this connection:
| Amendment of the interstate
commerce act to permit railway
systems to own and operate steam
ship lines engaged in other than
coastwise trade;
| Making effective this section of
! the merchant marine act providing
/ for preferential rail and steamship
rates on through shipments on
American vessels;
Insurance available at no greater
cost than is afforded ships under
foreign flags.
Emphasizes Importance
Mr. Harding emphasized the i'm
portance of a national merchant
marine ''in view of suspended ma
val construction" declaring that
without it, no nation may hope to
hold a high place in the world of
commerce or be assured of adequate
defense"
"The merchant marine is uniVer-
sally recognized as the second line
of naval Defense" he added. at is
indispensable in the time of great
national emergency"
| Discrimination so far as practi-
cable of the separate transport SER
vice in the army and navy also was
recommended by the executive, who
/ in this connection said the mer-
chant and passenger ships under the
American flag should be made
agents of service in peace as well
as war"
Must SAwaken PRIDE
Mr.. Harding in recommending
the plan for government aid said
he foresaw the "stiffest possible
competition by the fleets of the
maritime nations" and asserted
that more than aid of the govern
ment would be necessary.
1--WE need favoring spirit, an
awakened American pride, and an
| ayowed American determination
that we shall become in the main,
the carriers of our commerce, in
spite of all competition and all dis
| couragements, he continued
There can be no dispute about the
end at which we are aiming"
Galleries Not Filled.
Whether because of the subject
or lack of notice as to the definite
time, the galleries were not more
than two-thirds filled The diplo-
matte gallery was entirely vacant
and even in the public section
| there were many vacant seats, in
cluding some solid rows.
! Secretaries DENLY and Davis,
| Attorney-General Daugherty and
! Postmaster-Genera Hays were
among the cabinet officers present.
Before the president arrived the
audience arose and applauded when
Mrs. Harding, accompanied by Mrs.
Coolidge, Mrs. Alice Longworth and
| Brigade-General Sawyer entered
the executive gallery. Mrs Harding
smilingly acknowledged the greet
ings.
The president concluded at 1:10
O'Clock and the entire audience
rose and applauded as he shook
hands with the presiding officers
! and others and Len the chamhaE.