656 Presidential Addresses 



continued, and that a sum of money be appropriated 

 sufficient to pay the expenses of its further labors. 



A majority of our people desire that steps be taken 

 in the interests of American shipping, so that we may 

 once more resume our former position in the ocean 

 carrying trade. But hitherto the differences of opin- 

 ion as to the proper method of reaching this end 

 have been so wide that it has proved impossible to 

 secure the adoption of any particular scheme. Hav- 

 ing in view these facts, I recommend that the Con- 

 gress direct the Secretary of the Navy, the Post- 

 master-General, and the Secretary of Commerce 

 and Labor, associated with such a representation 

 from the Senate and House of Representatives as the 

 Congress in its wisdom may designate, to serve as a 

 commission for the purpose of investigating and 

 reporting to the Congress at its next session what 

 legislation is desirable or necessary for the develop- 

 ment of the American merchant marine and Ameri- 

 can commerce, and incidentally of a national ocean 

 mail service of adequate auxiliary naval cruisers and 

 naval reserves. While such a measure is desirable 

 in any event, it is especially desirable at this time, 

 in view of the fact that our present governmental 

 contract for ocean mail with the American Line 

 will expire in 1905. Our ocean mail act was passed 

 in 1891. In 1895 our 2O-knot transatlantic mail 

 line was equal to any foreign line. Since then 

 the Germans have put on 23-knot steamers, and the 

 British have contracted for 24-knot steamers. Our 



