The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1922-11-24
PRESIDENT SAYS BILL WAS NOT
FRAMED TO BENEFIT FA-
VORED INTERESTS.
FAVORS SPEEDY ENACTMENT
Would Cut Present Losses Through
, Government Operation and Put
America Foremost on the
Seas of the World.

Harding, in his address to the JOINT
session of congress urged speedy
enactment Of the administration ship
ping bill as means Of cutting down
the present losses through the opera
ton of government ships, and putting
America foremost Gin peace triumphs
on the seas of the world"
With great emphasis he challenged
"every insinuation" that the bill was
framed for the benefit of Favored in
terests" of the enrichment of a spe-
cial favored few at the expense of the
public treasury and declared that he
first of all was appealing to save the
treasury.
He outlined three courses of action.
First was constructive, which embraces
the passage of the bill. Second, OBJ
structive, with continued government
operation attending government losses,
and the third, destructive, involving
the sacrificing and scrapping of the
merchant fleet.
There was variety Of comment by
the members, but for the most part
" IICy lOllOWCu pdICy
The administration merchant marine
bill with the amendments agreed to
yesterday by the Republican men,
bers was formally reported out by the
house merchant marine committee to-
day without a record vote.
The enactment of the administra-
ton merchant marine bill was urged
upon congress by the president as be-
ing necessary to relieve the govern
ment of the present staggering los
ses" in the operation of the war-built
merchant fleet and to establish a pro-
gram of assured shipping to serve the
nation in war and to give guaranty
of commercial independence in time
of peace.
Personally addressing the joint ses-
sion of the senate and house, the pres
ident declared an actual monetary saw
ing to the government would result
from the proposed law.
He asserted that the legislation au
tomatically guarded against enrich
ment or perpetual bestowal.
He added, that eff success shoult
attend, as we hope it will, the gov
ernment outlay is returned, the in
spiration of an opportunity to earn re
mains, and American transportation
by sea will be maintained"
Concern about the American mer
chant marine policy will not be lin
tied "to our own domain" adding tina
the worlds maritime nations We're 81
complete accord with opposition her
to the pending measure"
He declared that those nations ha
a perfect right to wish such an att
tude but he wished to stress the An
erican viewpoint which he said shoul
be the viewpoint "from which or
sees the American carriers at Sc;
and the dependence of American CON
merce and American vessels for An
erican reliance in the event Of war
He declared that it would be mo:
discouraging if measure of "suc
transcendent national Importance
must have it's fate depend on geogr;
phical, occupational, professional (
partisan objection.
Commercial eminence on the sea
and ample agencies for promotion
carrying American commerce, he a
serted, was of no less Importance
the people of the Mississippi and Nj
souri, valleys, the great northwest al
the Rocky mountain states than
the seaboard states and industri
communities inland He said, "it is
common cause, with benefits col
monty shared"
He added, that if government a
was fair term to apply to autnori
ations the aggregating $75,000,00O
promote good roads for marke. hig
ways, it was equally fit to be appli
to the establishment and maintenan
of American market highways on t
"salted seas"
Regarding the present governme
operation of the shipping board flt
ne said there was an unavoidable ia
of wiping out $4,000 600 ami
loss and losses aggregating INA
hundred Millions" in worn out, S;
rificed or scrapped shipping vessels
He called attention to the gove1
ment ships being worn out witht
provision for replacement and
program of surrender and sacrifice a
liquidation which. he declared, wo
be inevitable unless the proposed Il
islation was enacted and would c
scores of billions.
Representative Mondell of w
ming. Republican leader, said II c
slider the presidents message an
ceptionally strong and forceful q
and his arguments favoring legis
tion along lines proposed, to be un
swerable."