The daily union., 1852-05-07

But, air. the honorable gentleman from Virginia went
still further He assumed that in the aid now asked
ior was granted Congress would lie under obligation 10
extend similar aid, II required, 10 companies IN any and
every other port formed for similar purposes Sir can
not see the force OF this argument My own impression
has been that Congress possessed some discretionary
powers not exactly limited by preeedents The ooect IN
view IN this case seems to me 10 test thoroughly our
steam communication with England. the abest mechanic
power IN the world and in which attempt we necessarily
come IN composition with her own steamships, Tor the
satisfaction and benefit OF whole country. BY the
result OF this trial people in all the ports in country
will be ruled. Those who would wish 10 engage IN this
business much interested in having this expert
ment carried out the proprietors OF this line
Should the experiment fail OF then of II
must be Abandoned and others would NOT be very ambi
tous TO it. Should il succeed, no further aid would
be required and thus the people everywhere will learn
the result without the further sacrifice OF either private
or public means But there is still another important
feature OF the case TO be considered.
Mr. President, any other company come here under
similar circumstances with those connected with the
Collins line. and present similar clamss believe not
The gentlemen constituting this company have invested In
their noble steamers the amount OF very nearly three
millions OF dollars These ships have been regularly run
at continual heavy oss In the uhlmentof the companys
contract with the government and without some add
tonal compensation tor their services 10 the government
their operations must cease and the Immense capital
vested be very much impaired, If not lost believe il
case without paralleln this country and whenever
another like il may up here, it will be time enough
to meet it. These facts would be sufficient TO justify
case ca I but have others. i possible. more potent s
REFER sir, to the contract between the government and
this company.
burden capable Of being converted into ships-of
when required The mail and passenger service required
speed Hence the company had TO secure both objects
The ships are much heavier than would have been
qured for the mail and passenger service. Therefore
they than they would otherwise have done,
qured much heavier and more powerful engines and
these items combined make up the sum total OF the extra
expense for which the appeal is now made 10 the justice
as well as magnanmiy OF Congress The proprietors OF
the line say and have doubt truly thai, in building
their vessels much stronger and heavier than they
would Otherwise have done in carrying out their contract
with the government and thereby incurring greatly in
they acted in conformity with the wishes and instructions
OF The Navy Department All this has been done BY
them in good faith and after this for them, in the face
OF ruinous competition by foreign line, sustained by
foreign government to be compelled to run their ships
at tremendous sacrifice TO themselves. in the govern
ment service is in my view, fagrant violation OF the
principles of justice and equity. .tg a#
Mr.. President, during the discussion OF this amend-
men the amount paid per annum, or per trip, by the
British government to the Cunard ne has been stated
aud spoken OF by way OF comparison with the amount
paid by government to the Collins line l have
also made the statement the truth Of which will appear
SELL eviden that the cos, OF construction equipment and
navigating the steamers of the Collins line had been
greatly enhanced by OF their excess OF strength
aud tonnage what would have been required for Or
dnay mail and passenger service alone And the addi-
tona strength and tonnage given to these vessels
to fit them for vessels And, sir am now prepared
to show, from the statement hold in my hand, the
amount paid the Collins line will not be, all things
considered including what is contemplated in The amend
nen before the Senate quite equal to the amount paid
TO the Cunard line. st ~ a#Iis
The Cunard line has seven SHIPS the aggregate ton
mage of which is 12 252 These ships the At
lantc eghtyhve times per year. rather what is equiv
alent to eighty five trips for ship. This makes the
total tonnage worked the Atlantic in the eighty
FIVE trips las 75O TONS For this service they receive from
the British government, in round numbers. $3.50, $50
making IS rs per ton. The Collins line has four ships
of aggregate of 10 702 tons, which the Atlantic
fitytwo times per annum, or perform service equal
To fifty two trips for vessel The amount to be paid
by this amendment. and what Is paid. is Ss5s,00
or 81 50 per ton and fraction less than twenty per
below wha paid by the British government to the Gu
nayd line.
| have also statement to which desire to advert:
In the London Times OF the 10th of March the
following statement, which, though part ony Of u relates
the subject under consideration give entire
for the benefit o such of commercial readers may
feel interest in looking complete table oi the
mail service OF Great Britain for the coming
"'The following table, partly compiled from a parlia-
mentary paper, with show the estimate Tor The post ofce
packet for the coming year, compared with thai
Tor twelve months which will terminate the btn of
Aprl. The ia the contacts last year was
f93I3j and now have further augmentation OF
Cunard line additional service, the extension Of the
West India Brazil. and the establishment OF
new lines 10 Africa and Australia. On the other hand
there elimination OF ca 200 in the expense OF Queens
yesses employed and the upon the aggregate
total is therefore reduced TO ESQ 662;