AMERICAN POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1922, Page 5

AMERICAN POLITICS.

THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGF RESTORATION OF MARITIME EMINENCE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Nov. 22, 5.5 p.m. Washington, Nov. 21. President Harding’s message to Congress is virtually devoted to a vigorous advocacy of the Ship Subsidy Bill, and a plea that America should again be raised to a position of eminence among the maritime nations. He declared that the Bubaidy would be Treasury money, because the cost would be half the -Shipping Board’s present losses, which are estimated at fifty million dollars yearly. The passage of the Bill, continued the President, would ensure a privately owned and opera ted American merchant’ marine, but serving the people and the Government in an emergency. The President stated that if legislation fails the result will be supreme humiliation, and an admission that the United States is incapable of asserting itself in peace triumphs on the world’s seas. The President touched briefly on ths agricultural situation, declaring that the farmer was the chief sufferer from the cruel readjustments following on the war. The credit system, under Government provision and control, must be promptly and safely broadened to relieve agricultural distress.