The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-24

sum back, of course, because op6iU b0u0e is
going to pay here this season; but the mana
ger is not the less entitled to credit for his
enterprise. The people will enjoy themselves
immensely over such operas as 'Genevieve de
Brabant," ''Barbe Bleue" and the revived
"Grande Duchesse," and New York may for
the nonce imagine itself little Paris.
The New York Commercial Navigation
Company.
The New York Commercial Navigation Com
pany seems to be very uneasy at the comments
of the press on their project for establishing a
steamship line to Europe, or rather on what
has been said with regard to the act of Con-
.gress loaning the company its credit for three
millions of bonds. The company complains
that injustice has been done to it, and asks us
to notice the matter editorially. The following
letter from the President of the company has
been sent to us by way of defence:-
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD '''1'' ~
In the September 18th edition of the HERALD
headed "a Grand Plundering Scheme Exploded'i
Nhe heading being the gra!uitous notice OF your
mercial Navigation Company of the State OF New
York in most unjust manner. 1t Is scandalous un.
true and llbellous in its Character and the attack
upon our agent, Mr. Jewett, who is private citizen
In whom we repose our confidence. Is certainly OUT
rageous.
wide read paper to explain the unustness and false
ness Of the article, and TO ask that you might ex-
anime the subject and do justice to our incorpora-
tion composed OF our best and most worthy citizens,
who are endeavorlng to establish an American mail
and emgrant steamship line to Europe under the act
OF Congress passed In that behalf. Gould you not
see usY And should you not as public Journal
ist examine into the subject and il injustice has
been done US endeavor to counterfeit the harm of
unjust an article by editoriay noticing the company
and the attack made, and awarding to 1t what you
may deem due to SO important an enterprise as that
truly. JOHN A. BAXTER.
State OF New York.
1t can hardly be necessary to say to Mr..
Baxter and his associates that we are always
in favor of anything of legitimate character
that will tend to build up our mercantile
marine. Every mercantile and shipping man
in New York and every reader Of the HERALD
knows that we have never failed to advocate
the establishment of American steamship lines
to Europe and other parts of the world, and to
promote the commercial and shipping interests
Of the country generally AS to this particuI
lar company, we know nothing of its means or
Intentions but if it is going to revive our de-
pressed shipping interests and establish an
American line of steamships to Europe in
fair way of competition, we say God speed.
But the government is right in taking precauA
tions that the aid 1t may afford shall not be
misused. It should have the most satisfactory
guarantee that there is no job in the scheme,
and that the bonds loaned for the purpose Of
building the steamships and carrying out the
enterprise shall be used strictly for that pur-
pose. We are opposed, however, to special
legislation or appropriations in favor Of any
particular company or individuals. That is
opening the door to unlimited extravaganza
and corruption, and in the end would paralyze
steamship enterprises. Whatever aid the
government can fairly and legitimately give
should be of general character and open
to competition. AL our shipping capitalists
should have an equal chance. Rivalry
in this, as in everything else, is the life
and soul of business and leads to sue
cess. The government should do what
ever it can in giving the proceeds of the
mail service to steam lines carrying the mails,
and in taking Off duties and taxes that bear
upon shipbuilders and shipbuilding materials.
The government has no right and is not in a
condition to make loans or subsidies to par
ticular companies or individuals, and the only
way to promote shipbuilding and steamship
lines is by such general legislation and action
as we have suggested. The British govern
ment is giving up its system of subsidies, yet
the numerous lines from England to this coun-
try are successful The English have aban-
doned the old sidewheel steamers and are
using propellers, with all the recent improve
ments. In that lies the secret of their success
to great extent. Let the matter be left to
individual enterprise and capital with all the
Incidental aid the government can legitimately
give, and this country may soon rival England
again on the ocean.
Internal Revenue Frauds and Their Inves-