The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-10

TEN. but that he was forced into it by the express
phraseology of the act of Congress ..;..,., =,
II was, them SIR, 1917 that this idea of5hldte' VI
putting this system the general treasury whee hau
not been thrown before; and, having got !. on lhs
general treasury, the next thing was 70 Ive p,uau
ure of national defence The jobbers understood it. sir
They calculate like men OF sense. as hey are. VIII
and give notice that intend to make clean work OF this
system and if is not got rid Of 1t shall not be because
il has not been sufficiently exposed.
The next act sir--for there seven of them in all
bears date the 9th day OF June, lSis But 1t relates TO
this subject only in this particular that prevents these
contracts being assigned. 1t takes away the negotiable
character OF the paper OF these contracts
The next act bears date July the 10TH 1s4s, and it APP
proprates S45Jo00 to the two first lines lew days
propratng $S74600 10 the other lines, making the aggre
gate OF 81 324, 600 for the last year And thus act
which approprates one and third million dollars per
to five mail routes, has this extraordinary
clause it, that il advances the money to the parties
TO build the vessels The jobbers commenced this work
sir for the purpose OF carrying the mail between New
York and Bremen upon the assumption that they could
do it for $4,000 That was the beginning three
years ago. but they have worked the system into shape
dollars dealt out to them from the public treasury and
understand sir, that the appropriation OF S746oo au-
thorzed by this act TO be advanced TO the parties IN the
ratio of $4,000 month for every ship, has actually
been advanced every dollar of IT so that the very year
that pulled down two hundred and nnetys post OF
tces because they did not deray the expense OF main
tanning them appropriated one and third millions OF
dollars out OF the general treasury to object winch has
yielded dollar. and is not likely to yield dollar
And thus, then, the predictions of made IN 1915,
when struck this system Its very origin, have been
realized and borne out in every particular.
Now, sir, opposed this system at the very beginning,
as have shown, not only as thing which would lead
to unnumbered abuses, but opposed it on the ground
that this government ought not to go into partnership
with stock obbers lend its aid to build up monopoles
Under this system, these who have got these i'm
jobs out of the public treasury have gone to work
and obtained at least have and the balance ap
plying for acts OF incorporation They are forming them
selves INTO companies, one with capital OF 100000.
another of 81 900 600, and another OF $I0000O0 These
corporations these gigantic monopoes for ocean nav
CATION taking their rise in pet legislaonfor it is
pet legislaon-egslating jobs out to iavortes-have
not only obtained acts of incorporation, Predicated upon
our legislation but they are going on to Obtain monop
oily OF the coasng trade OF this country shall show
that sir, directly.
further state objection to this system, that
hold it to be unconstitutional because it nfracts that
part of the constitution which declares that Congress
shall give preference to port another IN any
commercial arrangement 1t may make The words OF
the constitution No preference shall be given by
any regulation of commerce to the ports Of
one State over those OF another"
Under this clause of the constitutions rather in de-
nance OF this clause OF the constitution, we do establish
by law commercial communication between one of our
ports and foreign countries, which we do not hold with
States from which these lines of communication are
tabllshed. One is New York, the other Charleston.
That from New York has three branches-one to Havre
and Bremen one to Liverpool, and the other to New
Orleans and Havana The which starts from Charles
ton passes only TO Havana amounting TO nothing that
discrimination is made in favor of New York in three
parcuars-one, the line to Bremen terminating at New
York one, the line to Liverpool. terminating at New
York; and the other to New Orleans, Terminating
at New York. thus making discrimination by legis
laon in favor OF port, to the prejudice of others
But sir, when say that the discrimination is in favor
OF the port OF New York, should add that is so NOM
naly only for it is in point of fact discrimination in
favor OF individuals 1t is giving to these people
nopoy which they have right to under the consu.
lion of the United States And now, sir, will proceed
nffA nj Tho NQxp
Orleans. will take the line from New York to New
Orleans. That line is run at rate of $29o,o00 per
to run from Havana TO Chagres, and conhne my ar
gumept, for the sake of more easy illustration, to
the three vessels. which ply between New York and
New Orleans If allow $4,000 out of the $780,.
900 for the Chagres branch OF the line, which would
be fair allowance, then these men get for run.
ming the three steamships between New York and
New Orleans $250,D0o per annum. Now mark that
these ships three in number, and may be increased to
fourthat they OF $500 tons burden, and that they
required to make twentysx trips each during the
twelve months. Let us see, then, what amount OF ton
mage passes between New York and New Orleans under
the patronage of our legislation There are three steam
between New York and New Orleans, each of $500
tons burden, and each twehy-sx trips; making in all
during the year, tonnage Of transportation OF 2lS,4OO
tons Take off hrdor weight of machinery, 70 800
tons, and there will remain 145,600 tons unoccupied
Now, allow for each of these ships 200 tons each trip
which will amount to $1,000 tons for the three ship. du
ring the year, for fuel and the unoccupied parts OF the
vessels and there will then remain 900 tons per
annum for freight alone. Equal to forty, nay equal
to fifty, vessels OF the size ordinarily engaged In the
coasting trade Well now what's the transportation
of cotton between New Orleans and New York-(or that
is the great article of between these ports
Upon an estimation which have been able to make, |
find that the cotton passing between the mouth OF the
Mississippi and the harbor of New York in the course OF
year is about $4,000 tons. SO that, after carrying the
whole cotton, these still have 900 tons for other
freight during the year. Now let what prospect
there is OF competition. will show the effect OF our
patronage this trade. say that this is absolute
and total monopoly of the trade between these points
gagged in it but these steamboat companies | say il
Will be impossible to prevent their having total
and absolute monopoly, and shall proceed to prove
it. What Is the of these people compared with
other navigators? Their vessels three IN num-
ber have caused estimate to be made by OF the
most intelligent men IN this country the point OF the
expense of sailing of these steamers each trip and
expense Of sailing these steamers twenty six trips during
the year amounts to 1000 each The expense of sail
ing the whole, then, paying the captains, mates and
every hand and paying for coal, together with the
surance lS6 0UD The consequence 49, sir, that the
ls6 009d deducted from what they receive for carrying
the mail leaves clear gain of $4,000 per annum over
and above all the expense OF navigating the ships
have freight, have shown sufficient to carry all the
cotton between New Orleans and New York, and then
additional freight of 1000 tons more, sustain this
freight by appropriation from treasury, and with
out carrying dollar OF freight solitary passenger.
making $4,000 per annum ont of treasury. They
cam therefore, afford to carry freight and passengers for
nothing until they drive out of the trade all private per
sons and then put up the freight and passage high
they please Sir, this does not look like encouraging
navigation
There IS company incorporated in New York--it
comes to Washington and gets acts passed which give