The Portland daily press., 1881-01-28

rival. and since the first Cunard steamer came
into Boston, just forty years ago, when Eng
land saw steam was to play so large part in
navigation of the ocean, from her first venture
down to 1878, she had paid from her treasury
to aid the great steamship lines all over the
world sum exceeding GAO, 600 sterling.
1t was the theory Iof gentlemen who held the
opinions of Mr.. Beck that Great Britain had
followed this policy for period OF years and
abandoned it, but she never had actually
abandoned it. She had only abandoned it
with those lines that were strong enough to go
alone, and the British post office report for
1879 shows that under the despised and ridicul-
ed head of "postal aid" to which Mr. Beck had
referred with sneers, Great Britain paid last
year, 81 100000. France gets her steamships
from England She had adopted the CONNER
cial policy which Mr.. Beck thought would be
the revival of American ship industries. But
does France by the mere fact OF gettlng her
ships built at Brkenhead or on tne clyde
abandon the policy of aiding her steamship
lines, which for thirty-fve years had been in
operation? The last year France paid 23,OOO,-
600 francs to aid her lines. When we'll
known line of France, company known as
the Messageries Imperial, competed 100 sharp
ly in the Mediterranean waters AFTER the open
ing of the Suez canal, when the Great French
company competed with British ana LOrlent
companies and was in danger of running them
by sharp rivalry, Great Britain promptly
stepped reward and added Alo,Uo 10 tne Pe-
This was the way Great Britain had abandon
ed the idea of aiding her great commercial n in
terests. Italy last year paid SOOO,OOO francs,
and even Austria that enjoys but single sea-
port on the upper end Of the Adriatlc pays
$500, 900 towards stimulating commercial VEN
lures from that port.
Now the United States could not win in
this great international struggle without
adopting exactly the same means that
achieved victory for others. what was that?
Tt bal Tohn Roach uhodx
else but to make great and comprehensive
policy that shall give every man and every
company specific aid OF 80 much per mile for
such term of years. Let the American marine
the United States only take from the
treasury per annum 81, 100000, the same sum
Great Britain is paying only as postscript to
her $500, 900, 900 investment and let that be
used as fund to stimulate any company from
any port of the United States to any foreign
port, for the decay of our shipping subsidies
meant taxation and nothing else, and the
policy of subsidized lines under John Roach
or any other individual would be to destroy
the competition of its rivals, then double it's
charges and create monopoly.
Mr.. Beck briefly replied. He said he was
glad his remarks had called forth the premier
of the next administration. He did not APP
prove Of the remedy proposed by Mr.. Blaine.
Mr.. Morrill,, in opposition to the resolution,
did not regard it as presenting practical
QuoStlOn, anu r0uarkeu tuat oViuouco DeIOre
the finance committee was overwhelmingly
against free ships.
The resolution was laid on the table without
action.
The Senate then took up the naval appropri-
alton bill. The net amount added to the bill
as passed by the House is $259, 750, making a
total as reported to the Senate of $14, 100, 789.
In committee of the whole the amendments of
the Senate committee were agreed to, as was
also the amendment offered by Mr. Burnside, ad-
hitting boys to the naval training school at the
age of IA instead of 16 The bill then passed.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Morey reported the post route bill Re-
committed.
Mr.. Speer called up the contested election
case of Yeates VS.. Martin. Mr.. Speer argued
in favor of Yeates.