The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-06-07
The nsehn,oad Flour Trntfes.The Bra-
rtlsan smbsitiics---senator Hhyte's
from the Baltimore Amcifoas.l

LILLIAN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS "hysoH
Speech.
- 81 I FROM the Baltimore Amcrfoas.l
wAsHISGroN, juno 4.--The post-route
b;,,, Ata which is attached John Roach's
scheme to subsidize his Brazilian line OF
steamers to the tune OF $4,000 per year,
has been under discussion in the Senate for
the past two days. The best element in the
Senate is arrayed against the Job, and has
been fighting it vigorously. Messrs. Bay
ard, Salisbury. Herman, Bailey, and Whyte
have made strong speeches againstit. Those
who have thus far taken the lead in adVo-
eating the scheme are MaHey, OF Texas. and
Eustis. OF Louisiana, both Of whom have
been influenced in their course BY the bait
thrown out to them in the form OF Brazilian
line from New Orleans, touching at Calves
ton TO Rio Janeiro, likewise subsidized IN
an amount similar to that granted to the line
from New York. These gentlemen cannot,
OF course, be censured for supporting q
measure that will benefit their respective
localities at the expense OF the taxpayers
OF the rest OF the country. Senator Whyte's
speech this afternoon was one Of the hap
fiest efforts OF his life, and certainly the
most effective and conclusive argument ON
the subject that has yet been heard. 1t
elected the closest attention from be-
ginning to end, and no doubt succeeded
i'm impressing senators with the true
character of The Job they were called
upon to support. Mr.. Whyte began by
spiklng Blsine's guns-not an easy
matter. Blaine's role in the debate on this
bill appears to be limited solely to the4task
OF annoying and barassing those senators
who oppose it by all sorts OF ill-timed ques-
tions, interrogatories, and interruptions,
with view, no doubt, OF drawing off their
- yrop 11,<o,,, main SsSnp-fhn
seems TO be afraid to Gomez out boldly and
champion the Job, and, therefore, resorts to
the tactics of parliamentary guerilla. To
Clay he threw down the gauntlet the very
moment MIR. Whyte took the floor, but the
latter, in two or three mastery thrusts,
placed him hors du combat.
Mr. Whyte began his argument by stating
that he would be recreant to his duty and
faithless to his people ii he allowed $4,000
900 to be taken out OF the public treasury
to support q steamship line that could not
live without such a subsidy. lie considered
it a great piece OF chicanery TO ride this
scheme on the post-route bill. 1t would not
increase the commerce OF the country, as It's
friends boosted; on the contrary, it would
destroy and ruin the regular channels OF
trade now in. operation between the United
States and Brazil. Reviewing the history OF
the several steamship lines that have been
recipients OF subsidies from the Govern
ment, Mr.: Wbyte said that he was In
the House in 1857 when the subject
was fully discussed. He was also there
in 1864. The arguments then used
were the same arguments he had heard
during the past two days. They will MOI
hold water. This Government had been
substituting steamship lines since 1S43. 1t
has tried the experiment very often, but IN
every instance it had been attended with
disastrous results. Failure has inevitably
followed close on the heels OF subsidy. The
Collins line, in 1s4S, started to cross the
ocean. Midshipmen were detailed to duty
on those steamers, and all the glare OF our
country was thrown around the enterprise.
The Collins line received 4 subsidy OF
$4,000 mile, but at the end of the first
wear, like Oliver Twist, it was besieging
the Hobbies of Congress, clamoring "for
more" BY 1855 the enormous sum Of
100000 year was paid, and still the
Collins line was not successful. The
Government then would have granted them
additional subsidies, but President Pierce
interposed his veto, and the Collins line
succumbed. Other lines were subsequently
subsidized, but there are none now left to
tell the tale; ssthey have gone where the
woodbine twineth." We had subsidized
the Pacific Maii Steamship Company for
years, and given them between 100000
and 100000 year, and to-day. it was but
any value whatever. Who could forget the
scandal that grew out Of that Pacific mail
subsidy? The public men that it had
dragged into the dust and saturated with
mire? Mr.. Whyte proceeded at some
length to dwell upon the calamitous re-
suits OF THAT famous exposure and the
dreadful havoc it bad produced among
leading politicians. Raising his voice
with great dramatic power, Mr. Whyte
alluded to the subsidy Of $150,D90 q
year granted in 1865 to the Garrison
line of steamers, plying between New
York and Rio Janeiro. What did lido ? 1t
destroyed the very commerce it had been
set up to foster, and sent hundreds OF sail
ing vessels, hitherto actively engaged in the
Brazilian trade. to rot in idleness in our
harbors, or with empty holds TO ride up
and down our coasts like funeral cortege.
At the end OF the ten years, when the SUBJ
Sidy ended, the Garrison line gave up the
ghost, and that was all the benefit we de-
rived from the 81 500, 900 we had given it..
With this experience before aour eyes we
are asked TO commit the same Iolly again.
Mr.. Whyte contended that lines with
out subsidy Were more successful than
those with subsidy. The principal has
been almost wholly abandoned by the
English Government. He Vehemently ap-
pea,ed to senators OF both political parties
to vote down this scheme. The party plat
form had emphatically pronounced against
them. The bill was legislating for a class.
1t was q snare. 1t was for. John ROaciI's
benefit All the provisions Of the bill were
drawn so that nobody but John Roach could
obtain the contract. It was Impossible for
any one to compete with him. Who could
supply three OF these steamers and have it
ready to sail on next July LIST, rs required by
this bill? Nobody but John Roach. Peo-
pie could not build steamers Of 5000 tons in
3 month. Why, then, did not the bill say
that was subsidy for JOHN Roach? 1t
would be much more frank and more can
did to do so.
Looking at Blaine, Mr.. Whyte, with con-
siderable warmth, said that he was not sur
prised, under the circumstances, that John
Roach had ehampagned Congress at Chester
and given senators grand ovation.
MIR. Blaine instantly retorted by saying
that he was not at Chester on the occasion,
and that Mr.. Whyte had mistaken him
(Blaine, for somebody else.
Let me assure the Senator from Maine,"
replied Dir. Whyte, that it is impossible
for me ever to fail into such an eEor. The
Senator has no prototype in all this world.
He is sri gefaersS-an Original character
from stem to stern.o
This sally evoked load peal Of Daughter
at BlajBe's expense. Eewas.so discounted
that he shortly after left the chamber.