The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-11-21
llRD|NG MAKES STRONG
plea To CONGRESS- FOR
BIG MERCHANT MARINE
sge
tails Joint Session Il
Would Be Strength in
War and Peace.

Washington, Nov. 21.-Enactment
bfthe administration merchant ma
rine bill was urged upon congress
today by President Harding as nec-t
sssary to relieve tine government OF
present staggering losses" in oper-
alton Of the war-built merchant
ieet, and to establish a program of
assured shipping to serve the ma
ton in war and give guaranty of
commercial independence in time
pf peace.
Personally addressing a joint
sess9on OF the house and senate, the
executive declared an actual none
tary saving to the government
would result from the proposed
hw. He challenged every insinu-
alton of favored interests and the
enriching Of the special few at the
expense Of the public treasury. The
legislation. he asserted, automatic
ally guarded against enrichment or
perpetual bestowal.
Hopes Tor success.
s~If success attend, as we hope it
WILL" he added, 1.-The government
outlay is returned, the inspiration
Of opportunity 10 earn remains. and
American transportation by sea is
Maintained"
The president said concern about
he American merchant marine
Dciicy was not limited Ito our own
lomaia," adding that the maritime
nations Of the world were IN COM
plete accord with the opposition
here to the pending measure"
Il He declared those nations had a
|sperfect right to such an attitude,
but that he wished to stress the
American viewpoint which he said
should be the viewpoint from
which one sees American carriers
1t sea, the independence Of Ameri-
can commerce, and American yes
ssls for American reliance in the
event Of war;
Deplores Partisan Objection.
MIR. Harding declared it would
be most discouraging If a measure
Of such transcending national i'm
portance must have its fate de.
pend on geographical, occupation
q. professional or PARTISAN objec-
ton. A commercial eminence or
Tie seas and ample agencies fol-
the promotion in carrying OF
American commerce., he asserted
we're Of no less Importance to the
people Of the Mississippi and the
Missouri valley, the great north
west, and the Rocky Mountain
states than to the seaboard states
and Industrial communities inland
1T Is a common cause, with 1t;
benefits commonly shared" he said
II government aid is fair tern
I y apply to authorizations aggre'
e,&ing $75.0O0,000 to promote goot
roads for market highways, the
president added, it is equally fit tt
b applied to the establishment ant
maintenance of American marke
highways on the salted seas.
Ships Worn Out
As to the present government
operation of the shipping board
ieet Mr.. Harding said there wa:
me unavoidable task Of wiping ou
: t50,0O0,000 dollar annual loss
ead losses aggregating many hun
Geds OF millions" in worn out, sac
Mleed or scrapped shipping. HI
0aed attention that the govern
Int ships were being worn ou
Mthout any provision for replace
ment and that program of sur
1 !ender and sacrifice and the liQui
esuon which he declared would b
aevltable unless the proposed leg
nnuon were enacted would cos
cores Of millions. The cost of pro
sed legislation giving direct aid
0id, with ocean carrying main
aaed at the present average woult
Nreach $4,000, 900 a year, ant
ue maximum direct aid II Ameri
~ shipping were so promotes
~ 1t carried one-half the nations
sea commerce would not ex
~ thirty millions annually.