The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-11-21
PRESIDENT makes
ADDRESS TOULOUSE
.AND SENATElTglAY.
Ship Subsidy UrgedtoIReIIeve
Staggering Losses q
Merchant Fleet.
0MPETITI0N CITED
Harding Declares Foreign Ma
tons in Accord VIII. OF
position Here.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21.-En.
actment Of the Merchant Marine
Bill was urged upon Congress 10.
day by President Harding as nee
essary to relieve the government or
present Staggering losses in op.
grafton Of the war built merchant
fleet and to establish a programiofi
assured shipping to serve tie ma
tion In war and give a guarantee or
commercial Independence IN time
OF peace.
Personally addressing a Joint ses.
sion of the House and Senate the
executive declared an actual mon
etary saving TO the government
would result from the proposed
law. He challenged every insinua.
ton of favored interests and the
enriching Of the speciaIifew at the
expense OF the public treasury The
Constitution, he asserted, aufoma-
tically guarded against enrichment
or perpetual bestowal.
"If success attends, as We hope
1t will" he added, the government
outlet is prepared at the ilsfpira-
ton of opportunity to earn the
MEANS"
The President said concern about
tho American merchant marine
policy was not limited sto our own
domain" adding that the maritime
nations OF the world were IN com.
plete accord with the Opposition
here's 70 The pending MEASURE. He
declared those nations had q per-
feet right to such an attitude. but
that, he wished to stress the Amer
lean view point which he said
should be the viewpoint from
which one sees American carriers
at sea the dependence OF the Amer.
lean vessels Tor American reliance
In the event ofgwar.
1t is common cause, with rs
benefits commonly shared he
said.
II government aid is a fair term
to apply, to authorizations aggrega.
ting $75,000.0O0 to promote good
roads for making highways, the
President added, It Is equally ut 70
be applied to the establishment Of
American market highways3 ON the
"salted seas"
Losses Inevitable
AS to present government opera-
ton Of the shipping board fleet,
Mr.. Harding said there was the i'm
avoldable tasks Of wiping out
fifty million dollar annual loss; and
losses aggregating many hnnd.
reds OF millions" in worn out, sac
rlnced or scraped shipping. He
called attention that the govern
ment ship were being worn otit
without any provision for replace.
ment and that a program of sacri-
flee and the liquidation which he
declared would be inevitable unless
the proposed legislation were en-
acted would cost scores Of millions,
The cost Of the proposed slegtsla.
tIon giving direct aid, he said,
with ocean carry maintained at the
present average would not reach
10000, 900 year, and the max
imum direct aid II American ship
ping were so promoted that II car
rled one half the nations deep sea
commerce. would not exceed SsQ,-
100000 annually.
The President followed his Gus
tom Of reading from manuscrip',
the message having been typed on
small sheets. At times he put
great emphasis on some Of tle
statements In his speech He was
applauded when he said he had
come to reassert an American i've
will" but for the most part the
senator's and REPRESENTATIVES heard
in silence.
For the first time since the Pyes
ident has visited the capitol to ed
dress Congress, Mrs Has ding va,
absent. Ambassador Jdssetend of
France was with q party in tho
diplomatic gallery. "a delegation Of
shipping board officers headed by
Chairman Laskar, had seats on the
floor directly behind the Republic
can group.
eve arc not now dealing with
a policy founded on theory; We
have a problem which Is one OF
grim actality, said the PRECEDENT.
I'VE are facing insistent conH-
lions out OF which win come
either additional and staggering
government losses and national
Impotence on the seas, or else tue
unfurling Of the flag on grsa:
American merchant marine com
mensurate with our Commercial
Importance to serve; as CARRIERS of
our cargoes in place, and meet the
necessity or our defense In war
Vital to National Defense
"There is no though here and
now to magnify the rotation Of a
merchant marine toour national