Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-22
\ BUSINESS MESSAGE

piETORIC and resoundins language.
~ conventional ingredients Of many a
presidential pronounccment. are subordi-
mated to the detailed exposition Of II business
argument in Mr.. lIarding's explanatory
message on the Ship.Subs!dy Bill.
The President calls upon tho Nation to
rehnance what has been the liability Of a
hugo commercial fleet and. by expcnding
much less money than is sunk in the Gov
ernment undertaking today. 10 convert the
ships into an asset Of material benefit not
merely to private owners but to the entire
country.
1t costs the shipping Board in net losses
alone nearly $50, ,0OO, 900 a year 10 retain its
direct interest in American shipping. Under
the assistance system proposed subsidies
totaiins $SA, ,O00, 900 annually would be re.
Qu,red 70 revitalize the merchant marine.
Under this arrangement the Government
would retire from the shipping business and
II the end, as the private companies waxcd
prosperous, monetary aid would be with
drawn and eventually ship owners would be
required 70 repay ull tn" sun's received
for aid.
which this project is illuminated stand
sQuarely in the way Of favorabl" reception
of the subsidy Bill in Congress, Construc-
tive policies arc infrcquently tempting TO
Senators and Representatives with taste
FOR striking melodrnma,ic attitudes and for
Irdulg.nI III Trades Of dcrunclation. II Is
much more spectacular 10 condemn the
subsidy measure us n monumen, Of special
privilege than TO study !,s details. examine
its principles and consider them in the light
OF economic sobricty.
Mr.. Harding has mad" . courageous at-
tempt 10 present a pressing problem and 10
outline a solution that is tho result Of serious
CONSCIENTIOUS investigation. l. i within
the power Of Congress to s't as!d" the fruits
Of all this earnest inquiry and TO lcny" the
merchant marine In state ot Hopeless
chaos. IL Is not easy 20 discern any
alternative outcome should the measure fail
OF passage.
II geographical. ocrupational. profess
sional or partisan objection prove too
strong, the country vii! not only sacrifice n
signal opportunity for becoming iir>t-rank
maritime Power, hut. what j. Of nor" in
staut consequence, il will make n" worst
Of It's pr"scn. liability of ships. hHilt under
abnormal conditions and "p"rat",. under 4
destructive and wQs;cful system.
With admirable pa,ienr. the President has
r"henrscd the main points OF the bill ard
reiterated sound arguments that ought I"
he perfectly obvious. Lik" I'll" Covenant Of
the League Of Nations, which many say.
age critic denounced on imperfect acQuaint.
ance. thr subsidy plan Is more important
than it il, in tho general sense, !nt"r"s''n:
or cmot.onsl,y 'n.ivening. Decidedly less
mental s;rpin !s involved in c"l!dc!Mn!ng II
oihand than in surve! ing i's features w!;A
Il view 70 sincere appraisal.
Mr.. Harding. whose message j. much
mure in the nature Of an ohjurcation and a
plea than an ordinary recommendation. has
done his utmost to shed III" light of ""mrn"n
sense upon vital issue. Responsibility for
confusing and beclo,,d!ns &. should the
farm l,"r opposition pr"vot, viii rest d!'
rcctlv r,,on Congress.