The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-07-09
FRIDAY. JULY 9, 1864.



w. understand that Col ORR, of South Car
.lip., Yesterday proposed in the House OF Repre-
.sntativss to amend the clause in the Deficiency
bill, ,p, citing the CoLLIrs line Of steamers so
rs to increase the compensation two hundred
thousand dollars per annum, instead OF about hve
hundred thousand. And the amendment was
defeated by large vote. We are not certain
whether those who thus voted are opposed to
4 reduction of the increase proposed, or whether
some of them are not opposed to any increase
whatever We think, however, that Col. ORR
deserves the thanks of the country for present
ing the true policy on this subject. This line
of COLLINS steamers was establi he'd by con-
tract All were invited to make proposals. Mr.
Collins made the lowest bid, and hence had
the contract awarded him by Congress. Now,
he and his associates actually demand, or request
that this compensation shall BE- more than dou-
bled although they do not pretend that they
have built all the ships required, or that the ton.
mage is more than fifty per cent beyond the re-
quirements of the contract. For that excess
We would cheerfully compensate them, and that
excess would be provided for by Col. ORR's
amendment But with that, the company is not
satisfied They demand about eight hundred
thousand dollars per annum-more than four
hundred thousand dollars beyond the contract
each year, or between three and four millions
for the eight remaining years of the contract. If
such demand is complied with, the contract
prip niplo ia az nd and n
in the public service will 60 by the arbitrary
favor and discretion of Congress, or parties in
Congress-. Against this, we protest in the most
emphatic manner And in order to illustrate
the absurdity and infatuation of such acourse, we
will refer to the party and probable conse.
not otherwise do.
We do not know all the stockholders in this
company. But we learn that the principal men,
bers are Messrs. COLLINS, BRowK BRoTHERs
g. Co., and Mr.. CoRcoRAN, of this city These
are all Wings, and Presidential canvass is i'm.
pending. Now, if on such an occasion an Ameri
can Congress can vote for half million of ex-
ira allowance per annum, or for an amendment
which really amounts to bonus in the aggre
gate for the contract of three or four millions
of dollars-if a Democratic Congress can do
this, why then we think it is time to climb down,
as the Indian said, who was shot at rs bear,
although he had his red leggings on.
The pretence with which some members are
deceiving themselves is, that this is great ma.
tional rivalry for the ferriage of the sea. We
consider it rivalry, but no more of rivalry.
not more important or honorable than that of
the rivalry in the production of wheat, cotton,
or anything else of American ingenuity or la.
Dor that comes into competition with British
We agree with Senator HUNTER in that respect
We think the government ought to pay for mail
and naval service or benefit, but it ought to pay
according to contract. There are plenty of
American shipbuilders and navigators, that will
now agree to surpass the CUKARD lines at the
compensation Mr.. COLLINS now receves-or
what we are willing to give him. But for this
government to undertake to make good private
enterprise that has failed-to pay up the deficit
according to the actual account rendered of thu
firm, is thing totally without precedent.
Now we are friendly to the naval mail steam
policy. We think a liberal course ought to b.
adopted in favor of it. We believe that if tn
COLLINS line were compensated according t
tonnage, it would be amply able to subsist
But if this system or any other can really b.
upheld by repudiating the principle of contract
and adopting that of an arbitrary discretion Of
favor, particularly when Presidential elections
are pending, we 60 against oil of them. Lei
them 60 down.