USVI Public Records

Document text

PROCLAMATIONS, 1922/ 2287 By the President of the United States of America October 28, 1922. A PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, an act of Congress, entitled the “Merchant Marine Act of 1920”, approved June 5, 1921, contains the following pro- visions : “Sec. 21. That from and after February 1, 1922, the coastwise laws of the United States shall extend to the island Territories and possessions of the United States not now covered thereby, and the board is directed prior to the expiration of such year to have estab- lished adequate steamship service at reasonable rates to accom- modate the commerce and the passenger travel of said islands and to maintain and operate such service until it can be taken over and operated and maintained upon satisfactory terms by private capital and enterprise: Provided, That if adequate shipping service is not established by February 1, 1922, the President shall extend the period herein allowed for the establishment of such service in the case of any island Territory or possession for such time as may be necessary for the establishment of adequate shipping facilities therefor: Provided further, That until Congress shall have author- ized the registry as vessels of the United States of vessels owned in the Philippine Islands, the Government of the Philippine Islands is hereby authorized to adopt, from time to time, and enforce regu- lations governing the transportation of merchandise and passen- gers between ports or places in the Philippine Archipelago: And provided further, That the foregoing provisions of this section shall not take effect with reference to the Philippine Islands until the President of the United States after a full investigation of the local needs and conditions shall, by proclamation, declare that an ade- quate shipping service has been established as herein provided and fix a date for the going into effect of the same.” AND WHEREAS, an adequate shipping service to accommodate the commerce and passenger travel of the Virgin Islands has not been established as provided by Section 21 of the “Merchant Marine Act of 1920”: NOW THEREFORE, I, Warren G. Harding, President of the United States of America, acting under and by virtue of the authority conferred on me by Section 21 of said act of Congress, having issued a proclamation on February 1,1922, declaring that the period for the establishment of adequate shipping service of the aforesaid Virgin Islands be extended from February 1, 1922 to May 1, 1922, and that the extension of the coastwise laws of the United States to the afore- said Virgin Islands be deferred from February 1, 1922, to May 1, 1922; and having issued a second proclamation on May 18, 1922 declaring that the period for the establishment of adequate shipping service of the aforesaid Virgin Islands be extended from May 1, 1922 to November 1, 1922, and that the extension of the coastwise laws of the United States to the aforesaid Virgin Islands be deferred from May 1, 1922 to November 1, 1922, do hereby declare and proclaim that the period for the establishment of adequate shipping service of the aforesaid Virgin Islands be further extended from November 1, 1922 to November 1, 1923. AND INASMUCH as the extension of the coastwise laws of the United States to the aforesaid Virgin Islands, as provided in Section 21 of the aforesaid act, is dependent upon the establishment of an adequate shipping service to such island possession, I do hereby further pro- claim and declare that the extension of the coastwise laws of the United States to the Virgin Islands is deferred from November 1, 1922 to November 1, 1923. Virgin Islands. Preamble. Statutory provisions. Vol. 41, p. 997. Vol. 41, p. 997. Time for establishing shipping service to, ex- tended to November 1, 1923. Ante, pp. 2261,2269. Ante, pp. 2261,2270. Coastwise laws de- ferred to November 1, 1923. Ante, pp. 2261,2270. 2288 • PROCLAMATIONS, 1922. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington this twenty-eighth day of October, in the year of Our Lord, One Thousand Nine Hundred and [seal.] Twenty-Two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the One Hundred and Forty-Seventh. Warren G Harding By the President: Charles E. Hughes Secretary of State. By the President of the United States of America. A PROCLAMATION. November 2, 1922. Thanksgiving Day, 1922. Preamble. Thursday, Novem- ber 30, 1922, designated as a day of general thanksgiving. IN the beginnings of our country the custom was established by the devout fathers of observing annually a day of Thanksgiving for the bounties and protection which Divine Providence had extended throughout the year. It has come to be perhaps the most characteristic of our national observances, and as the season approaches for its annual recurrence, it is fitting formally to direct attention to this ancient institution of our people and to call upon them again to imite in its appropriate celebration. The year which now approaches its end has been marked, in the experience of our nation, by a complexity of trials and of triumphs, of difficulties and of achievements, which we must regard as our inevitable portion in such an epoch as that through which all man- kind is moving. As we survey the experience of the passing twelve- month we shall find that our estate presents very much to justify a nation-wide and most sincere testimony of gratitude for the bounty which has been bestowed upon us. Though we have lived in the shadow of the hard consequences of great conflict, our country has been at peace and has been able to contribute toward the main- tenance and perpetuation of peace in the world. We have seen the race of mankind make gratifying progress on the way to perma- nent peace, toward order and restored confidence in its high destiny. For the Divine guidance which has enabled us, in growing fraternity with other peoples, to attain so much of progress; for the bounteous yield which has come to us from the resources of our soil and our industry, we owe our tribute of gratitude, and with it our acknowledg- ment of the duty and obligation to our own people and to the unfortu- nate, the suffering, the distracted of other lands. Let us in all humility acknowledge how great is our debt to the Providence which has generously dealt with us, and give devout assurance of unselfish purpose to play a helpful and ennobling part in human advancement. It is much to be desired that in rendering homage for the blessings which have come to us, we should earnestly testify our continued and increasing aim to make our own great fortune a means of helping and serving, as best we can, the cause of all humanity. Now, Therefore, I, WARREN G. HARDING, President of the United States of America, do designate Thursday, the thirtieth day of November, as a day of Thanksgiving, supplication and devotion. I recommend that the people gather at their family altars and in their houses of worship to render thanks to God for the bounties they have enjoyed and to petition that these may be continued in the year before us.