The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-03-30
The Pacifc Steamship subsidy

The Pacific Steamship subsidy.
Hon. II. III. Speer, member from this
district, made the following remarks in
Congress during the recent consideration
of the act providing for the bestowal of
100000 upon the Pacific Steamship
Company:
Mr. Chairman. the echoes of the lamenta-
tons of the distinguished gentlemau from
Massachusetts. [Mr. Dawes the Chairman
of the Committee Of Ways and Means. over
the doleful condition Of the iuances If the
country, have scarcely died away in this
House, and they are still lingering in the
land. Ouly last week be bewailed tho ex
travagance Of legislation, and predicted great
national embarrassment unless a halt be
speedily called. Aud yet to day we ind him
with his arm deep down into the national
Treasury, endea voring TO take from il a SUBJ
sidy Of ST. 900 900 foI the bens fit of a steam
ship company, thus aiding, with his recog,
nized iutiuence upon this floor, 10 produce
the very result which hs SO strongly and
piteously deplsred. Sir, admit his shrewd-
uess, his fue way Of putting things but to
my ear there is no harmony between his
eloquence and his acts. tie was STYLED here,
a few days ago, "ths artful dodger." aud in
view of his speech last week and his present
course the county may not regard the des-
ignston as undeseEvcd. HIS voice is always
loud and clear aud strong when theories are
to be advanced, and when the note Of warn
ing is to be given to the country but VI hen
a bold. naked measure comes here assaulting
tho Treasury Ia the Interest of corporations
aud organized wealth. hi vote, uninfiuel ced
by his OWL sloquence, aud regardless of his
own appeals ior econumy, is given against
the leOp!s aud in favor Of the most sxtrav-
agaut appropriations. OF course he is
honest, and his support Of this measure
springs from his CONVICTION that it is right !;
but it is the fortune or misfortune Of some
gentlemen to be 50 peculiarly constituted as
To see one side Of question Involving the
interests of corporate power auG sIgarzcd
wealth on the one hand aud The interests Of
the people on the other. And IN his course
SO tus IN thoUry and so exiTavagsnt in prac
tice the gentleman from Massachusetts finds
able coadjntor in the gentleman from
Ohio Mr. Garfield the distinguished Chair
man If tho Committee Of Appropriations
They aIe both suntluels upon the watch
tower of the Treasury, and appea. loudly for
economy when pension Till granting few
dollars to poor soldier or his widow is
before the House but when a proposition is
made 10 gIaLt million OF the peoples
nioney az a subsidy to corporation which
has already received $4,000, coo from the
government, they rush to its deeuse under
the pretense of aiding Commerce and If uu-
furllng our flag upon the sea.
Mr.. Chairman, the eloquent gentleman
from New York NJ. Books. in his adj
vocacy uf this measure, pronounced it a
contest between the flag of the American
nation and the Cross of ST. George. Sir, |
yield DOT to him In devotion 10 nay country
love ito flag with its stars and stripes aud
l wCuld lllt 1t high upon the land aud up
on the sea F.; but would plant the staf Of
that flag desp in the affection AMI love of
the people. L would strengthen it with
equal aud just aud benz Fl cent laws, aud |
would have 1t float forever as the proud
emblem vi hation governed by an honest
Congress and an honest administration Of
the Government.
Sir. the Cross Of St. George represents the
wealth Of Brtaiu's titled anstu cracy, while
the flag Of the JCion is the pride aud the
boast of Americas untitled millions. Tne
uue is the hope If the few, the other Of the
many. Subsidies aud land grants to COR
poratlons, which in plain language are
robberlss of the people, shed no uster upon
our flag The gioiy which beams from its
stars was won FROM far different field.
This reference to the flag by the gentle>
man from New York Mr. Brooks seems
to me ill-timed- His love for our prosperi-n
ty upon the sea grows weak when applied
TO the development of our industries at
home. lie would close the work shops and
manufacturing Establishments Of our peo>
pie for the purpose Of opening market for
the products of fsreign labor. He would
keep bu,iei in the earth our uutold miuer>
al wealth, and hush to silence the hoarse
music oi our furnaces and f1rgss in the in
terest Of British capital and for the eleva-
tlon Of the Cross Of ST Gsorge aAd then
be would eulogise the American eagle. aod
vote away 81 ,00O, 900 OF the people 5 money
Tor the benz hi of steamship, company
MIR. Chairman. Congress has given in
money aud lands almost a hundred mill
lion dollars to tho Pacific railroad compa>
MES; aud now 1t is proposed to give
million more Of the peoples money 10 bring
trade to these railways. If the government
is to build tLsse roads and then furnish thom
with business. had it not better own them
and reap the pr, fits Of its own capital? If
the Pac:fc steamship company is to have
subsidy of $1,000. 900 on the pr-tense of
securing to us the trade of China aud japan,
why shall not the different lines of steamers
running from our eastern citigs to Europe
aso receive subsidies ! And then, why
Ihall not all the steamship companies on our
lakes receive the same Government aid
And wherever a railroad company finds It's
business uDprChtSble, why shall it not como
to Congress and get subsidy on the ground
of aiding commerce The principle is
wholly wrong These corporations are pri
vate enterprises their profits belong to their
stockholders, and their los.ss, if any should
be borne by them. These subsidies are
taken out OF the public Treasury, from the
peoples money, and paid to few iudivid>
uals who have voluntarily engaged in pri
vats speculations for their own profit. If
the people are to furnish the capital to carry
on these corporate enterprises. to bear the
losses, why not, then, share the profits?
1t is The law of all general partnerships
that the profits as well as the losses shall be
divided.