Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-11-21
PRESIDENT SEES IN MERCHANT !,
MARINE BILL THE WAY TO END
PRESENT STAGGERING LOSSES
Tells Congress Enactment Of Ship Subsidy Measure Means
Return Of Government Outlay and Retention Of American
Transportation on High Seas.
BY Associated Press to Every Evening.

by Associated Press 80 Every Evening.
Washington. Nov. 2i.-Enactment
Of the administration merchant marine
bill was urged upon Congress today
by President Harding as necessary
70 relieve the government Of present
staggering losses" in operation of the
war-bullt merchant heet. and 10 es-
tablish q program of assured shipping
TO serve the natlon in war and give
a guaranty Of commercial indepen-
dence IN time If peace
Personally addressing a Joint scs-
sion of the House and senate me
executive declared an actual monetary
saving 10 the government would re-
SUIT from the proposed, iaw. lie
challenged every insinuation of favor
( I'd interests, and the enriching NJ ne
special few n the expense of the pub
! lic treasury. The legislation, he as
serted automatically guarded against
enrichment or perpetual bestowal
If success attends as we hope u
( viii" he added. "the government OUT
lay is returned, the inspiration of on
/ portutity 70 earn remains and Anari-
can transportation by sea IS main
tanned"
The President said concern ahort
the American merchant marine policy
was not limited "to our own domain"
adding that the maritime nations If
the world were "in complete accord
with the opposition here "a the pend
Ing measure" He declared these ma
uons had 2 perfect right 10 sIch an
attitude. hut that he wished ~ stress
tho American viewpoint, which he
said should bn the viewpoint from
which one sees American carriers at
sea the dependence of American com
merce. and American vessels FOR
American reliance in the event of
war"
Mr. Harding declared II would 10
most discouraging if a measure of
.such transcending national import
ahce must have lis fate depend on
geographical occupational. profession
al or partisan objection A commercial
eminence on the seas and annie
agencies for the promotion in carry
ing Of American commerce. he as
serted, were # M lass Importance n
the people Of the Mississippi and tb-
MISSOURI valley, the great norfhvyas,
and the Rocky Mountain states than
to the seabosFd' srGtss and i1dustrial
r communities inland.
7 III is common cause. with i4s
benefits commonly shared" said he
, II government aid is fair fern "a
> Amply 70 authorizations azgrsrstir-
t Sf5,O00000 10 promote good roads fo,,
{ MARKET highways. the President added
IL is equally fit to be applied IN tbs
establishment and maintenance ~,
American market highways on tbs
? 'salted seas" '''T
As 10 present government onnratioy
- OF the shipping Board fleet. Mr. TF.ra.
q ing SAID there was the unavoidstIe
n TASK or wiping out fifty million doiIa,
- annual loss, and losses aesrsga+iv,o
% many hundreds of millions" II, r,,o--
- out. sacrificed or scrapned sh,r,,i.,.
j lie called attention that tho oo,,a,r
ment ships were being worn ont vgi.h
Z u"t any provision for replacement and
r ihat a program Of surrender and sac.
:. rlhce and the liquidation which he de.
s ciared would be inevitable unless the
d proposed legislation were enaets,
:. would cost scores of millions. The cos,
!. "i the proposed Legislation giving di.
d rect aid. he said, with ocean carrvina
maintained at the present average
would not reach $50. 100000 a year. anr
the maximum direct aid if America
) shipping were so promoted that il car
rled one half the nations deep sna
II commerce would not exceed tbir+,
Z millions annually.
o The President followed his cus+o,y
h Of reading from manuscript. the mes
n sage having been typed on SINAI
h sheets. He wds applauded when n,
IS said he had come 10 reassert ay
+ American we will." but for the mos
part the senator's and representative.
heard him in silence.
For the first time since the Presi
dent had visited the capitol 10 adj
dress Congress. Mrs. Harding wa
absent