The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1922-12-01
HARDING DELIVERS
SUBSIDY MESSAGE
To THE CONGRESS
President Presents Plea to Both
Houses In Person.
TRADE FLEET Is NEEDED
Executive Before the Sotons In Plea
Tor Help Tor tho Unltsd etatss
Merchant Marlne-spsolAl &c.
sion Hears Message.

Washington, Nov. 2-Enactment Of
the administration merchant marine
bill was urged upon congress by Pres!-
dent Harding as necessary to relieve
the government OF present staggering
losses" In operation Of the war-built
merchant fleet. and to establish a pro-
gram Of assured shipping to serve the
nation In war and give n guaranty Of
commercial Independence In time Of
peace.
Personally addressing n joint ses-
sion OF the house and senate, tAe ex-
ecutive declared an actual monetary
saving to the government would re-
suit from the proposed law. He chal-
lenged every ~insinuatlon of favored
Interests and the enrichment Of the
special few at the expense OF the pub
lie treasury. The legislation. he us.
serted, automatically guarded against
enrichment or perpetual bestowal.
The President said:
Text OF Message.
Members Of the Congress: Late
last February I reported to you rela-
tive to the American merchant m.r,nc.
and recommended legislation which
the executive branch Of the govern
mtnt deemed essential to promote IL
merchant marine and with 1t our
national welfare.
"Other problems were pressing and
other questions pending, md for one
reason or another, which need not be
recited. the suggested legislation has
not progressed beyond n favorable
Recommendation by the house COM
mtttee. The committee has given the
question a full and p~ainstakins In
qulry and study, and / hope that It's
favorable report speedily will be given
the force of law.
Would Clear Atmosphere.
ut Will be helpful In clearing the
atmosphere II we start with the frank
recognition Of divided opinion and de-
termined opposition. 1t Is no new
experience. Like proposals have di-
vlded the congress on various prcvl-
u occasions. Perhaps n more resOlute
hostility V u manifest before,
and l am very SURF the need .,0r de-
ciSlye actlon-decislve. favorable nc
tlon-never was so urgent before.
1--WE are not now dealing with n
policy founded OH theory we have n
problem which Is 81 grim actually.
We are facing insistent conditions, out
| nF which will nrn ntkhnr additional
and staggering government losses And
national Impotence or the sens. or else
the unfurllng Of the flag on "A great
American merchant marine common
surate with our commercial iUnpOr-
lance. to serve US as carrier Of our
cargoes in peace and meet the neces-
stiles OF u defense In war.
Spent Three Billions.
There Is no thought here md now
to magnify the relation of q merchant
marine to our national defense. II IL
enough to recall that we entered the
World war almost wholly dependent on
our allies for transportation by sen.
We expended approximately three bill.
lions. feverishly, extravagantIy. waste
fully and impractically. Out Of u
eagerness to make up for the omis-
siOns of peace and to meet the war
emergency we builded and otherwise
acquired the best merchant fleet. which
the government owns today.
"In the simplest way l can say It.
our immediate problem Is not to build
and support a merchant shipping.
which l hold TO be one Of the highest
and most worthy aspirations of any
great people. Our problem Is to deal
with what We now possess. Our prob
lem Is to relieve the public treasury of
the drain 1t already Is meeting.
Gives v. s. Figures.
THE war construction and the later
completion of war contracts. where
completion was believed to be the
greater economy TO the public treasury,
left us approximately 100000 gross
tonnage in ships. The figures are
nearer 100000 tons now, owing to
the scrapping Of the wooden feet.
More than half this tonnage is gov
eminent owned, and approximately O.
100000 tons are under government OPP
Grafton In one form or another. The
net loss to the United States treasury
sums actually taken therefrom in
this government operation-averaged
approximately $4,000 900 per month
during the year prior to the assump-
ton Of responsibility by the present
administration.
"a constant warfare on this loss
Of public funds, and the draft to
service Of capable business manage
ment and experienced operating di-
rectOrs. have resulted in applied eff
cheney and enforced economies. 1t is
very gratifying 10 report the dimuni-
ton of the losses to $4,000, 900 per
month, or a total Of S50,OOO,OOO a year:
but Il Is intOlerable that the govern.
G.ent should continue q policy from
which so enormous a treasury loss is
the inevitable outcome. This !tss.
moreover, attends operation Of less
than q third of the goyernment.oTneh