, 1881-02-13

SUNDAY, FEbhOA1SA
[,arbors would be delayed. but such
deadlock might possibly result In bringing
the los-rolllng system into contempt, ana Ill
saving the country vnst sums OF money III the
future. It is not likely, however, that tne
scheme will have any such outcome. Inueea'
there is rood reason to believe that Inc
to the bill comes largely from
disappoint ted members. who ala not set
rs much for their districts as tney nope" lo1'
and such selfish and sectional antaeomsn'
governed by no spirit OF economy anu ho
sense Of patriotism, will yield readily to con-
cessions tint may be offered. The probability
is. therefore, that the bill, When lG comes
up next week. will b6 hurried through
the Committee OF the Whole as other
approprlation bills in the House have oeen'
and finally set aside 1000, 600 OF the pnpiic I
money to a system of Improvements whelo'
So, 600, 600 at the outside would supply all tne
legitimate and proper demand.
The Senate advocates Of giving away tae
public moneys were as zealous as lnelr loi-
lows in the House. The opportunity c9me
up in the shape Of an amendment TO 1he.cs
ular Post Office Appropriation bill, providing
ST 100000 to be expended during the next
fiscal wear under the direction Of the POST
master General In aid Of additional forelen
postal service in American SHIPS An'e -
the best proposition which the ho"c1l 4ooo'
could secure with any hope OF It's passase'
The lobby began work even before congress
convened for the present session. II orousht
its forces to bear upon the various
Departments, and secured several OIL
| cial recommendations In its favor from
| the President and Ills Cabinet aids
| md met with considerable discouragement
| in Its movement upon the House, and 1lnally
changed its tactics and procured rider
to the Post -Of1ice Appropriation bill when IL
should reach the Senate, instead Of seehns
| the massage Of separate measure which
would frankly ayow its purpose. There IS 4
rule III the Senate that no general legislation
shall bo attached to an Appropriation
biu. but the Senate construes this to suit Its
own nurposos, Hence tho Roach amend
,ncnt was admitted to consideration, though
it ought not to have been. Encouraged Wy
the success thus far, the friends OIL tne
subsidy sought still greater advantage anu
/ Mr.. Haa,lim put forward still another
amendment, authorizing the Postmaster
General to make. contracts extending tell
wears for additional ocean-mail service at 4
compensation Of $50 mile. This was going
ton far. and the Senate decided that
amendment to embrace general legislation
though the other, by some flexible proc
ess Of Interpretation, was not linen
the case was further complicated by the
proposition that the proposed benefits Should
20 to forcign-bui1t vessels that Should De pur-
chased by Americans as well as American
built vessels. This opened up the
whole subject Of free ships. VI
/ course this supplementary. amendment will
, be ruled out as legIslating dpou the Anerl-
t can Navigation laws, but the discussion, i'll
' the meantime, may arouse the opposlt1on te
the Roach measure of Senators VINO "ere
expected to favor it. Nevertheless, there Is
prospect that this "ruer " will pass liz
Senate, and it can only be defeated BY
L prompt and energetic criticism OF the press'
. directed especially to members Of the House
T It is disgraceful that the subsidy cormot
0 ants should be permitted to exercise 50 iof
Il midablc al influence over the National Legs
s lat,re in suite Of the lessons taught b.
Q former experiments. The history OF TIL
+ Roach subsidy of sl5o,0oo year for tn
}. ten wears following 1sG5 shows that 1t tale'
e utterly to accomplish the purpose which I'LL
t. nisl,cs tho basis for urging it: 1t WIS clalne
e that the export trade to South Anerlc
II would -bc largely increased. Ihe 1acs
IS that there was no important lncreas
, in our export trade to that part OF the WORN
y during the ten years when the Government
y gave away 81, ,5oo, COO to promote 1t. But tn
Et subsidized line drove of other lines not SUI
20 sidized without lowering the rate OF freigh
III and than Withdrew as SOON as the term of tt
in subsidy was ended. Then line OF Brltlsu
N built steamers were put on which carrie
re the mails for Sl00 month, and the export
I'd Immediately jumped up. There could
m more conclusive demonstration Of the IL
no efficiency of the subsidy system which Il
to Senate now rcnews in the very same dire
e. tim The lesson Of the Pacific Mall subslc
e. is similarly ignored. It was Proved
IS subsequent Investigation, that nearly ST. oo'
e nn had been expended for purpos
sd of bribery and corruption in secu
IN ing the granting OF that suos'o
III But the Senate, apparently, mas
~ concern about the morals or reputation
lat Congress when it ronews tho oppoftuhl'
ito for the same corrupt influences BY openI
IL the tlood-gates for subsidy purposes. L!
as Senate Inns twice before prepared tt
'rt way for renewing the subslt
'no policy for the benefit OIL ~
ia Roach, and the House, under the pressure
"a public opinion, has refused to concur
ao may be that the same experience Is TO DC
Lhe peatcd this session, and the press OF
'ch country must be quick and empha
,ot in denouncing the scheme if 1t wo'
leu protect the public again through the aseli
rue of the House. Public policy and public M
red ais alike exact that the subsidies OF all kin
10 and especially the so-called mail snosla'
lcn be made IS odlous as treason.
,al1 -=----='
at THE RAILROADS AND THE V1ADuc
lat The most important local question now
18th fore the pubicis is the relation Of the 'ralro
lied to the yiaducts; which shall build them;
ut- roads or the citizens; and shall the Torn
of be compelled to give the latter safe cre