The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-29
THE Il EP u BLIC.
SPEECH OF HON. j. w. MILLER,

Delivered in The Senate, Apfit 22 1862, IN relation
TO the Collins Line Of Steamers
The Senate resumed the consideration Of the bill
70 supply deficiencies in the appropriations for the
scrvice Of the liscel year ending June 80, 1852.
MIR. MILLER Mr.. President, one Of the
minority OF the Committee on Finance which
agreed to report this amendment. The subject
had been recommended to Congress by the head OF
OF the Departments, and a general estimate
made, which was produced before the committee
by the honorable Senator IRON Cahfornia, (Mr.
GwIs) The question presented by the amend
ment consider to bo one of very high Importance
TO the couniry in which not only the parties to this
contract, but many of the great interests of the
country, concerned. In the year lS49 a con-
tract was entered into by this Government, through
the Navy Department, with Mr. Collins, to build a
certain number OF mail ocean steamers, giving a
description of their general power and capat ity,
and specifying the purposes for which they were
to be used. BY that contract the steamers were to
perform twenty triPs.a year-that Ia, monthly
trips during four months OF the year, and semi
monthly trips during eight months OF the year;
and for which service he was to receive the sum OF
1885, 900
had in view in entering into this contract were OF
national character. They were, in the first place,
to secure the speedy and cheap transportation Of
letters to and from this country to Europe In the
second place, the Government desired to have built
ocean steamers of sufficient power and capacity
that might, in case OF an emergency, be employed
10y the Government in war. Other collateral and
public objects were TAX into coEsderation-su such
the transportation of passengers, of light ari-
cles of freight, and specie-which at that time
under the control OF English steamers. These
the objects which induced Congress to pass
the law authorizing the contract
Now, Mr. President. intend to show, in the re-
marks which shall make on this occasion that all
these national objects have been accomplished;
that Collins Co have built four ocean steamers
of great power and superior speed; that they are
transporting the foreign mails in less time than
ever accomplished betore that the Govern
ncnt may at any time, in case of any emergency
nd ser vi aDleNdld
steamers that were ever Lult, surprising in speed
in power, and in tonnage, any ships of the kind
now afloai; that by means of the establishment OF
the American line now successfully compete
with and even surpass In speed its great English
rival, the Cunard line; that the American people
now enjoy all those great advantages which were
contemplated by Congress at the time the contract
was made, and that every obligation the part
of the contractors has been faithfully performed by
them. Rut, cir, in performing this great enter.
prise, advantageous 10 the country, the contrac
tors have sustained great losses. They state their
loss during the aet year to be 1888, ,57i-in other
~ords, that in every trip which they performed
during the lust year they lost Sl6s2s 7s.
Some time during the last autumn, the Cunard
line of steamers having been ordered up to weekly
service the year round, the Postmaster General
deemed il his duty to direct Mr.. Collins to increAse
the trips Of his line from twenty to twenty six per
year, and to commence on the first Of January lsst
with assurances of additional compensation TO be
made by Congress
This arrangement appears by the letters Of the
D
which will read:
"PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
November Is, 1851.
"SiR: By their contract the propretors of the Col
Inns line OF steamers between New York and I.iy.
erpooi. as you aware, arc required to pcrnDrU,
only twenty voyages per annum-that 10, monthly
trlps during four nonths, and semi monthly trips
eight months OF each year In alternating. a. at
present, with the steamers of the Cuuard line, we
informed by Air. Collins that, 10y tbs first OF
January next, bis steamers will have made seven
teen trips-leaying only three voyages TO be per
formed from the lsi January TO the 9Th April, the
end fthc contract year.
The Cuusrd line has now been ordered up to
weekly service the year round; and deemipg il
highly important, there ore that the trips on the
Collins line should be increased from twenty to
twenty six year, have already given Mr.. Col
lins the assurance that II he sball fit 10 the
necessary additional trips, to alternate, ss at pre-.
sent With the Brilish lines through the year, and
will look 60 Congress for compensation will re.
commend to Congress the allowance Of pro rata or
such additional pay therefor os shall be considered
fair and proper under the circumstances
cit cannot be doubted that il ia for the interest OF
thc United States to afford such aid to the Collins
line will enable IL 20 compete successfully with
che British lines running In conncSion herewith;
and l beg leave TO call your attention TO the sub
Jcci, in the hope that you will unite with me in
such recommendation to Congress ms will secure
the increase Of the service of the Collins line from
twentyto twenty ak trips year as a permanent
81 have the honor to be, very respectfully, your
obcdient servant, N. X. HALL,
''Hon. w. A CRAHAM, Secretary of the Navy.
"NAvy DrPAHTnrST, Nov. %, 1851.
"SIa: Your letter Of The 25th instant, in relation
10 irthor mail service for your steamers between
New York aud Liverpool, has been received.
"You arc informed, in reply, that this Depart
mcnt concurs with the Postmaster General in his
requirements of additional service by the mail
steamers from New York TO Liverpool, as expressed
by him in bis letter 60 THE Department OF which
you have been furnished with a copy.
You will therefore be pleased 10 furnish fchc %
dule OF the days Of sailing Of the Liverpool mail
steamers Of your line at as carly day as practi
cable
'.rho subject relating to compensation will be re-
ferrcd by the Postmaster General for the consider
alton Of Congress.
"WM A. GRAHAM
"EpwAap X. Course, esq, and associates, New
The Postmaster General, Ia bis annual report
also expressly refers TO this subject, and recon-
mcnds that an appropriation be made. l will read
part of what he says:
"The contract with tho Collins line Of mail
steamers between New York and Liverpool requires
the performance Of but twenty trips out and back
during the year. For the purpose, however, Of
arranging peekiy trips in American steamers, al
tcrnoting with tbeso Of the Cunard steamers,
which depart weekly from this country aud Eng
land, these steamers have made departures each
alternate week, and have thus completed weekly
these trps continued as heretofore, there will
have been performed in the present year three
trips than provided for in the contract and TO
continue the weekly trips thereafter will require
additional trips per year.
''As qhc English government bad made new ar
rsngemenis, by which the weekly trips Ui the
Cunard steamers were 20 be continued through
the year, it deemed highly important to con-
tinuc the weekly trps Of the American steamers
elso. Under these circumstances, Nj. Collins was
requested to continue bis trips every other week,
and was assured that the payment by Congress Of
pro rata compensation would be recommended
IL IA claimed by the contractors and IL s believed
justly, that pro rata compensation for these extra
trips in the winter season will not fully indemnify
them; and IL the extra trips performed, II is
earnestly recommended that ygo rata compensa-
tion with such addition, II any, ne may be ncccs.
cary to give the controctorsn fair aud liberal com
pensatou for the extra scrvicc, be authorized by
Congress. The unrvallcd qualities and speed Of
the sbips Of this line, and the very satisfactory
manner in which the service has been performed,
estab shing the superiority Of American skill and
enterprise in the construction Of ocean steamers
and in ocean steam navigation, entitlc tho proprie.
tors of this line to the most favorable confederation,