Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-03-01

Washington, Feb 20 (by the AS
ISOLATED Press) The text of Pres
ident Harding's address to con-
gress today on government aid for
the American merchant marine,
follows:
Members of Congress:
When addressing the congress
last December l reported to you
the future of the executive TO
carry out the intent of certain fca-
lures of the merchant marine act
of 1920, notably the provision for
the notice OF cancellation of all
commercial treaties which hinder
ed our grant of discriminating du-
ties on imports brought to our
shores in American ships. There
was no doubt about the high pur-
pose of congress to apply this
proven practice to the upbuilding
of our merchant marine. 1t had
proven most effective in the earlier
days of American shipping, it had,
at various times, demonstrated its
effectiveness in the upbuilding OF
commercial shipping for other ma
tons
The success of the earlier prac-
tice for this republic came at a
time when we had few treaties
when our commerce was little de-
veloped.
It's supersedure by reciprocity in
shipping regulations and the adop-
ton of other methods of uplNild-
ing merchant marines through va
rious forms OF government aid, and
the century of negotiation OF COM
mercial treaties, all combined to
develop situation which should
lead to endless embarrassment il
we denounced our treaties. We
should not only be quite alone in
supporting policy long since SUI
perseded through the growing in
timacy OF international relation
ships, but we should invite the dis
turbance of those cordial CONNER
eial relations which are the frs;
requisite to the expansion of our
commerce abroad.
Aid to Our Shipping.
Contemplating the readiness of
congress to grant a decreased duty
on imports brought to our shores
in American bottoms and facing
the embarrassments incident to re-
adjustment OF all treaty arrange
ments it seemed desirable to find
a way of applying suitable aid to
our shipping, which the congress
clearly intended, and at the same
time avoid the embarrassment of
our trade relationships abroad, !
The recommendation of today is
based wholly on this commendable
intent of congress. The proposed
and of the government to its mer-
chant marine is to have its chic? |
source in the duties collected on |
imports. Instead of applying the |
discriminating duty to the specific |
cargoes, thus encouraging only the
inbound shipment, | propose that |
we shall collect all import duties, |
without discrimination as between |
American and foreign bottoms, and |
apply the heretofore proposed re-
auction to create fund for the |
aid to our. merchant |
BY such program we shall en- |
courage not alone the carrying OF |
inbound cargoes subject to our tar
lis, but we shall strengthen AM
srlcan ships in the carrying Of that
greater inbound tonnage on which
40 duties are levied and more inn
oortant than these, we shall equip /
our merchant marine to serve our
outbound commerce, which is the
measure Of our eminence in for
sign trade.
is interesting to note, in con-
lection with the heretofore pro
'osed plan of discriminating tariffs
N imports carried to our shores in
bottoms that the value of
Al dutlable imports for 1920 in all
.essels was $1,9S5, 900. while
he cargoes admitted free OF duty,
N which no discrimination was
'ossible. were valued at $3,115,-
$4,000.
Tonnage Comparison.
the actual tonnage comparison
even more significant from the
leWpoint of cargo carrying, be-
ause the dutiable cargoes, meas
red In round numbers, were 10,-
10000 tons and the non-dutia BILE
argoes were $4,000, 5000 tons. The
lrEer employment, by two and a
af times. was in non-dutiabie
hipments.
Continued trade must be recip-
peal. We cannot long maintain
lies where we do not buy. In the
romotion of these exchanges we
Mould have as much concern for