South Bend news-times., 1922-11-22

public treasury. We are wearing out
our ships without any provision for
replacement. We are having these
losses through deterioration now, and
are charging nothing against our
capital account. But the losses are
there and regrettabIy larger under
government operation than under
private control. only a few years
OF continued losses on capital &C
count viii make these losses through
depreciation alone to exceed the
$4,000 600 a year now drawn TO
cover losses IN operation.
The glory picture OF losses does
not end even there. Notwithstanding
the known war cost OF $4,000 .GOO, -
900 for the present tonnage, l will
not venture to appraise its cash
value today.
When the question Is asked, why
the insistence for the merchant
marine act now? the answer Is ap-
parent Waving every inspiration
which lies in a constructive plan for
maintaining our flag on the COM
mercial highways of the seas. waiv-
Ing the prudence in safeguarding
against another $4,000 100000 mad
ness II war ever again impels, we
nave the unavoidable task OF wiping
out a $4,000, 900 annual loss in op-
Grafton, and losses aggregating many
hundreds OF millions in wornout,
sacrificed. or scrapped shipping.
Then the supreme humiliation, the
admission that the United States
our America. once eminent among
the maritime nations of the world
IS incapable Of asserting itself in
the peace triumphs on the seas OF
the world.
Tt would seem TO me doubly hum
iliatng when we own the ships and
+ fail In the genius and capacity 70
turn their prows towards the marts
/ OF the world
No Longer Ignored.
This problem cannot longer be
/ ignored. its attempted solution can
not longer be postponed. The failure
Of congress 10 act decisively will be
10 less disastrous than adverse act
/ ion.
Three courses OF action are pos
sible, and the choice among them Is
. 10 longer 10 De dVOlOeQ.
The first is constru uctive-enact
the pending bill. under which
firmly believe an American merchant
marine, privately owned and private
+ ly operated. but serving all the peo-
/ pie and always available to the gov
: ernment in any emergency, may be
/ established and maintained.
I The second, is obstructive-con-
/ tinue government operations and at
tending government losses and dis
courage private enterprise by gov
ernment competition. under which
I losses are met by the public treas
ury. and witness the continued losses
and deterioration until the colossal
failure ends in sheer exhaustion.
The third Is estructive-involv-
ing the sacrifice Of our slips abroad
or the scrapping Of therr at home.
the surrender Of our aspirations and
the confession of our impotence TO
| the world in general and our humil-
iation before the competing world in
/ particular.
/ "A choice among the three is in
I evitable. II is unbelievable that the
! American people or the congress
which expresses their power viii
/ consent TO surrender and destruc-
I ton
Subsidy Opposed.
"I have come to urge the con
structive alternative, to reassert az
American we Will 1 have come tC
ask you to relieve the responsible
administration branch OF the gov
ernment from program Upor
which failure and helplessness and
/ staggering losses are written fol
every page, and let us turn 10 a pro-
gram OF assured shipping to serve
US in war and to give guaranty tC
our commercial independence II
peace.
7 know full we'll the hostility IN
the popular mind TO the word sub
sidy. 1t is stressed by the opposi.
tlon and associated with 'specia
privilege by those who are unfail'
ing advocates Of government aid
whenever vast numbers are directly
concerned. Government aid would
be a fairer term than subsidy IL
defining what we are seeking 10 di
for ouv merchant marine. and tn,
interests are those OF ali the people
even though the aid goes TO the few
who serve.
Fair Term.
IF government aid is a fair tern
and l think Il is-to apply 10 au
thorizatlon aggregating SIS, 900, 0OI
20 promote good roads for mar
ket highways. Il is equally At TO b,
applied TO the establishment and
, maintenance OF American marke
highways on the salted seas If gov
eminent aid IS the proper designa
ton for Is 10 40 millions annually
! expended to improve and maintain
/ inland waterways IN aid OF com
| merce. Il is a proper designation 70
! a needed assistance 10 establish anC
| maintain ocean highways wher
. there is actual commerce 70 be car
ried.
Hopes 20 Save.
But call IL subsidy since Their
are those who prefer 10 appeal &
mistaken prejudice rather thar
make frank and logical argument
We might 30 call the annual loss o
50.OOO.000 which we are paying nov
without protest by those who mos
abhor. We might as we'll call that
subsidy IL so. I am proposing q
cut Il IN half approximately. an'
20 the saving thus effected ther
would be added millions upon mil
lions OF further savings through
? ending loss on capital account
: government capital. out OF the pub
, lie treasury. always remember
, and there would De at least IN