The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-04-29
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1889.

DEfIcIENoY BILL

Iuc ueuciency Dill being under cOnsiderduon.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD said Mr. President, | wish 10
make some few remarks upon the subject and will 20
and present them do not rise for the purpose OF
entering INTO debate upon The advsnlages OF steam
unen OF Europefor am in favor OF that objeet--and
believe il 10 be benefcial wish TO preserve il and
keep up But rise 10 address myself more particu
lary to this amendmenI having made various Tor
the purpose oil obtaining facts and not having obtained
them to my satisfaction willing to for the in.
creased number OF six additional trips, and am willing
to vote Tor increased allowance for these additional
trips but them apprehend that this amendment goes a
great deal beyond the bounds OF and propriey.
rse for the purpose OF submitting TO the Senate some
plain and practical facts. which, i TO will
show that the ideas entertain upon this subject such
as should govern our action.
We have recently had an application here, by way OF
memorial, from Vanderbilt Co., to perform the mail
service from New York, through Nicaragua, around-I
believe 10 Astoria, but at all events San Francisco
much longer route than that the Atlantic from
Liverpool to New Yok-for $I5O, 900 a year; and be
leve the trips TO be as numerous those from New
York to Liverpool. Now. there is a startling fact to
sir that you will allow 1885 900 TO these naygators OF
you TO perform this other service OF greater distance al
such diminished rate. 1t has set me to thinking about
the matter, and has led ask myself, how the diff
ference is TO be accounted for Z
suppose the chairman OF the Committee on the Post
Ofhce and Post Roads-whose business il has been, and
whose pleasure have no doubt il has BEEN TO look into
the performance OF the mail service in every direction
can give The Senate the iacts connected with the California
service well the European service much better Than
can and shall listen TO him upon these subjects
with very great pleasure. Yetas have already stated
beiorerom OF pride in reference to this rivalry
between Great Britain and the United States, well
from conviction OF lis utility, for maintaining this
line, provided il can be done upon proper principles
But sir, my mind not only directed 10 this subject
by consideration OF The fact which | have just men
toned but other matters have occurred TO which also
brought my mind 10 think about it am very happy
TO state that this morning there has been laid upon
table document which shows fact which had passed
through my mind, and TO which wish TO call the atten
tsn oil the Senate.
Sir, on page thirty-one of this document from the
Navy Department, 10 which refer, find this fact ::
One ship of the line, of the first class, be navgaed
for twelve months Tor The sum OF S2S75oo. Well, sir,
we already pay 10 the Collins line, for twenty SHIPS
$3.50. 900, or nearly 100000 more. This Collins line
employs, suppose, one hundred two hundred hands
how many, | know not. We already pay for twenty
trips only across the Atlantic about 900 more than
pay according TO the report OF the Secretary OF the
Navy, for navigating "seventy FOUR OF the FIRST class,
for one whole year, with her crew, comprising some
1 600, or l,500 persons.
Mr.. COOPER. There are four vessels Of the Collins
Mr. UNDERWOOD. believe there are four vessels
but giving you the facts, cir We pay for the four
ships ol the Collins line, for performing twenty trips.
500, 900 more than for navigating seventy
four" irigae OF the first class costs only SS6 900
Well, sir, war steamer-and here IS better fact upon
which comparison can be based than any other within
this repou-a steamer costs per annum, for the
pense OF navigating her, Sl960oo only. Now, sir.
how much time these four steamers, in passing from
New York 10 Liverpool, rest al the ports at which they
stop, am unadvsed. The trip is made ia about TWEEN
ty.two days, and twenty trips would give at that
rate four hundred and forty days, or seventy five days
more than year for the running time OF the four
ships hundred and ten days running time Tor each
ship, the supposlton that each makes ave trips This
would leave them in port more than two-thirds OF the
year
Sir, am a western man, living in the valley OF the
Mississippi, some five or Elk hundred miles from any
port aud il may be presumed that ought not TO speak
on any subject connected with the navigation OF the
ocean but the great country which represent has
much interest in postal arrangements as any other por
ton oil the confedeacy. The great country from which
come will have to manage, in the process oil me per-
haps The whole OF this government aided BY the weaker
sections OF upon the seaboad and rs time Tor us TO
look into all these matters which lie al the foundation OF
national prosperity We ought TO make ourselves some.
what acquainted with them.
Now, ! have referred TO the annual expense of keep.
ing our ships oLwar in commission, as aiordng some
data OF comparison II costs only 100000 year 10
navigate OF our rstclass war steamers with all her
crew How much these steamers rest at the different
points at which they arrive do not know.
This application for increased compensation for the
Collins steamers is made the ground that at pres
ent they engaged in a losing business; and that in
the rivalry between and Great Britain ought not
TO suffer the Collins line TO 20 down. Well, have
asked repeatedly 10 get the facts upon which this asser
tion rests; and have been told that IL was sworn 10
before the committee that the aggregate expense OF each
trp was soo2l5 and that the aggregate receipts upon
the average for each trip sfs os6 i5and ofcourse,
the difference between the two showed 1t was said, the
amount OF loss, 10 wit s16,92s
This matter ought not 10 be estimated by the actual
loss which any company Of navigaors may sustain in
point OF fact but ought TO be estimated by The actual loss
which they necessarily sustain after using all due
my, all due skill and all due management and diligence
10 make profit company engaged IN any business
or performance whatever where money Is concerned,
may lose immense amount from the want OF skill, the
want oil energy, the want OF knowledge, or The want OF
economy II the loss OF profit results from the want OF
skill knowledge, economy, energy, and management,
there is proprIety in calling upon government, in
calling upon any body, TO make amends for losses which
have thus been incurred. had wished to see in the
upon which these losses rested and where the ev.
dences that all the skill energy management, and econo.
my which necessarily should be employed in conducting
great undertaking of this sor had been employed and
that, after the application OF all this economy, manage
men energy, and skill these losses were the unavoida-
ton to this very element and foundation upon which the
calculation rests and upon which judgment ought TO
be formed We 10 take II Tor granted that IL a
loss has been sustained the government should bear II
without any inquiry into the system oil management un-
der which il has occurred, and without knowing whether
has been the consequence of wastefu extravaganza
and exorbant salaries, or any other abuse which may
have been practsed. Sir, should have had inmate
information in regard to the various items OF expcDd-
ue instead OF general statements that there has
could have seen whether the loss resulted from
likely TO be permanent, or only temporary Sir, am
willing TO act such important matters upon partial in
formation, under the influence OF mere defamation No
sensible is willing 10 act IN his own affairs, without
the fullest information. An honest statesman should be
equally cautious in the management OF public affairs
II is the easiest thing in the world TO sing p@ans upon
the future glory Of country. and TO excite that
ona feeling which grows out OF our relations to our
old rival and 10 stir up the passions OF our people But
ton OF the question before The question with ~,
whether there js sufficient utility in this postal commun.