The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-16
BRITISH SUBSIDIES TO STEAM
SHIP LINES.

BRITISH SUBSIDIES ~ STEAM
SHIP LINES.
A GABLE despatch from London states that
the British Blue Book, just issued, states that
the subsidies paid to steamship lines plying
between Great Britain and America include
97O, 900 Cor $3.50, ,O0O) to the Cunard line to
New York and Boston; f79, 500 Cor 1897, 500
to the Halifax and st. Thomas line; and
935, 900 Cor $175, 5,O00) to the Inman line. They
also receive three pence per ounce for carry
ing letters and three pence per pound
for carrying newspapers. In addition
to the sums thus secured from Great
Britain, the Cunard and Inman lines
obtained, under the old contracts, large
amounts for mail service from the
United States, and in view of the ad-
vantages they enjoyed through these sub
sides, contracts, and their established repu-
tation, it is easy to understand why Ameri-
can lines have failed to compete successfully
with them, and why the various foreign
steamship line projects started in Phila-
delphia have proved abortive. Great Britain,
while protesting free trade doctrines, still
evinces her old determination to foster and
assist the branches of industry which most i'm
peratvely require aid. When her manufactures
were in their infancy, she helped them, not
merely by protective but by prohibitive
duties. When they were fairly started, and
she wished to give increased impetus to agri-
culture, she established and maintained for
long period heavy duties on articles of food.
When her manufacturing industry was threat
ened she abolished or reduced the imposts on
corn, partly to avert the threatened starvation
of large bodies of her population, but more
especially to diminish the living expenses of
factory operatives, and thus to strengthen the
chances of British manufacturers to crush
the domestic industries of other countries
Now that protection is not specially needed
either by the manufacturers or agriculturists
Of England, Parliament votes large annual
subsidies to steamship lines, so that they may
be enabled to forestall American competition.
If this country desires to revive her dropping
shipping interests, similar policy must be
adopted here. If we do not wish our flag to
be totally banished from distant seas, we must
help steamship lines in substantially the
same way that they are helped by European
Governments
MINISTER'S AND REAR-ADNIRALS
We have received the full report of the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs to the House of
Representatives with reference to the ''Para-
guayan muddle, and the testimony therein
produced fully sustains all the allegations
that have been made against the naval officers
concerned in the affair, and it exhibits con-
dition of mind to be existing among the Off
GERS of the navy towards the diplomatic SER
vice that is not creditable to them, and that
is certainly derogatory to the interests of the
Government. The committee at the COM
mencement of the report says, with refer
ence to the testimony offered before it, "that
much of it is of q conflicting character, and
reveals feeling of bitterness and auimosity
between the different officers of the navy,
and between the naval and diplomatic officers
Ct the Government, connected with the IN At
ters under investigation, not creditable to
the parties concerned, and subversive of that
efficiency in the public service which the
Government has right to expect from its
officials
The report then goes on to give detailed
narrative of the whole affair, introducing the
most important points of the testimony.
Commencing with Rear-Admiral Godon, it
shows that he refused under the most trans
parent subterfuges to give Minister Wash
DuIu trhnspOrthbiOu on one OF Cne vessels or
his feet, through the allied blockade, to his
post of duty in Paraguay. At one time his
excuse was want of coal, although it is
shown that coal could be had in abundance,
and that there was ne deficiency of the arti-
ole in the feet. Indeed, while urging this
excuse Admiral Godon took trip himself of
about four hundred miles down the coast, for
the ostensible purpose of exercise, but more
especially to spare the feelings of Rear
Admiral Bell, who was daily expected to ar
rive in Rio, and who, on account of Admiral
Godon, who was his lineal junior, having
been promoted in advance of him, would
have been obliged to haul down his
blue pennant. 1t will thus be seen
that Admiral Godon did not hesitate to sacri-
fee the interests of the Government, or to
throw contempt upon United States minis
ter, solely on account of an absurd piece of
naval etiquette that would have disgraced a
Chinese mandarin. Another excuse was the
unhealthiness of the season, another the
blockade of the river by the allies, another
that he could not take upon himself $50
crave responsibility as would be involved
in forcing the blockade, and anything else
he could think of to avoid doing his duty
Finally, Admiral Godsn did, under orders
from the United States detail a vessel to
take Mr. Washburn but in this affair and in