Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-03-01

Washington, Feb. 2S.-(By The As
ISOLATED Press. THE text of Presi
dent Harding's address to congress
Tuesday on government aid for the
American merchant marine as follows:
Members of congress-: When ad-
dressing the congress last December
reported to you the failure Of the exc
cutive to carry out the intent Of GER
tain features Of the merchant marine
act of 1920, notably the provision for
mercial treaties which hindered our
grant of discriminating duties on i'm
ports brought to our shores in Ameri-
can ships. There was no doubt about
the high purpose Of congress to apply
this proven practice to the upbuilding
OF our merchant marine. It had proven
most effective in the earlier days of
American shipping; it had, at various
times, demonstrated it's effectiveness
In the upbuilding Of commercial ship
ping for other nations.
The success Of the earlier practice
tor this republic came at time when
We had few treaties, when our COM
merce was little developed.
Replaced by Reciprocity
Its supercedure by reciprocity in
shipping regulations and the adoption
Of other methods of upbuilding mer-
chant marines through various forms
of government aid and the century of
negotiations OF commercial treaties, all
combined to develop a situation which
should lead to endless embarrassment
if We denounced our treaties. We
should not only be quite alone in sup
porting relationships, but We should
invite the disturbance Of those cordial
commercial relations which are the
first requisite to the expansion of our
commerce abroad.
Contemplating the readiness Of con-
gress to grant decreased duty on i'm
ports brought to our shores In Ameri-
can bottoms and facing the embarrass
ments incident to readjustment of all
treaty arrangements. 1t seemed desira-
BILE to find 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.
Against Discrimination
The recommendation today is based
wholly on this commendable intent of
congress. The proposed aid of the
government on it's merchant marine is
to have its change of course in the
duties collected on imports. Instead
of applying the discriminating duty to
the specific cargo and thus encourag
ing the inbound shipment, / propose
that we shall collect all import duties,
without discrimination as between
American and foreign bottoms, and ap
ply the heretofore proposed reduction
to create fund for the government
aid to our merchant marine. By such
a program we shall encourage not
alone the carrying of inbound cargoes
subject to our tariffs, but we shall
strengthen American ships in the
carrying of that greater inbound tom
mage on which no duties are levied
and more important than these we
shall equip our merchant marine to
serve our outbound commerce, which
is the measure of our eminence in for
eign trade.
1t is interesting to note, in connec-
tom with the heretofore proposed plan
of discriminating tariffs on imports
carried to our shores in American
bottoms, that the value of all dutiable
imports for 1920 in all vessels was
81 $50. S65 900, while the cargoes adj
mitted free of duty. on which no dis
elimination was possible. were valued
at So. Ills, 95S.OO0.
10
The actual tonnage comparison is
even more significant from the view
point of cargo carrying. because the
dutiabie cnrgoes. measured IN round
numbers. were 10000, 600 tons. and the
non-dutiable cargoes were 2o,OOO,OOO
tons.
The larger employment by two and
a half times was in non -dutiable ship /
ments.
Continued trade must be reciprocal |
We cannot long maintain sales where /
we do not buy. In the promotion of !
these exchanges we should have as /
much concern for the promotion of i
sales as for the facilitation of our pur- |
chases. There is not record IN all j
history of long maintained eminence in |
export trade. except as the exporting |
nations developed their own carrying !
capacity. /
No story of national development is I
more fascinating or so full of romance !
as that of developing capacity for the
exchanges of commerce. Expanding
civilization may be traced over the /
avenues of exchanging cargoes. No
matter how materialistic it may be
found, nations have developed them
selves and have influenced the world /
almost precisely as they have pro
noted their commerce. We need not |
refer to the armed conflicts which
have been incident thereto. When
commerce has been destroyed, fading
glories have attended
Desire Nation Wide
It will avail nothing to attempt even
tbe briefest resume of our own efforts |
to re-establish that American import |
ance in commerce carrying which was