Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-20
MONEY FOR MAIL CRAFT.
MIR. DOCKERY HOLDS UP THE
SUBSIDY SPECTRE.

to be Retarded for Fear That Pressne
Lines may be Temporarily Benefit. d
Other Senators Fail into the Same
Error.
WASHINGTON, May l9.-The House to-
day went into committee of the whole
with Mr.. Hammond, of Georgia, in the
chair on the Senate amendments to the
post office appropriation bill. In the course
OF the discussion, which consumed the re-
mainder OF the session, Mr.. Dockery, OF
Missouri, announced his opposition to-
the amendment because IL was coerciVa
legislation; because il assumed to aid
commerce at the expense OF the foreigni
postal service; because it held ous the
persuasive idea OF competition, when in
fact there was no competition except ON
two lines; because it would operate as q
hindrance to the restoration of American
commerce; because IL was "A positive YiOs
lation of the international treaty of
Berne; because 10 was gift OF public
money to private corporations, the larger
part OF which would 20 to the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company, Differed,
owned and controlled by Russell Sage,
Jay Gould and Sidney Dillon.
NO RESTRICTION BY ENGLAND.
Criticlzing the amendment in detail, he
called attention to the fact that even
England did not restrict the transporta-
tiOn OF her mails to English vessels, but
placed many of them upon the ships OF
the North German Lloyd Company. He
also commented severely upon the action
OF the Senate in adopting the amendment
in violation of its own rules. Was not.
he asked, the amendment strong enough
to commend itself to Congress and the
country without having behind 1t the
pressure and power of an appropriation
bill. This proposition came here rom
the Senate, as its small twin Drother
had come IRON the Senate last
year. Glad as he would be to-
go home TO the free air OF grand old Miss
souri,, not, however, TO look after his
fences, they were in good repair. Strongly
as be desired to hail the hour that should
witness the close of the session, he waa
willing TO stay here until the snow OF
winter should mantle the heights Of
Arlington before he would be cOerced into
accepting legislation of this kind. APPS
plause on the Democratic side.
SUBSIDIES NOT BENEFICIAL.
He then proceeded to argue that subsi.
dies would not have the effect OF
building up the commerce of the
country, and in support of his
argument he quoted statistics
to show that from 1866 TO 1877 (which ha
ana commerce OF the country steadily
lell Of-much of the subsidy proposed
would 20 10 the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company. He had heard 10 said that this
line was owned by 700 different persons,
but he declared that 10 was largely owned
and Offered by Jay Gould, SIdHey Dillon,
Russell Sage and 9. +. Huntington. These
we're the men who were TO get this appr0-
priatiOn which assumed to go to the
building up OF the commerce of the couna
try and merchant marine.
THE MERCHANT MARINE.
No man would 90 further than be in re-.
storing the merchant marine, but if this
could only be done now by means Of con-
tributions TO the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company he wanted to wait ana look out
for some other remedy. Under this
amendment the Pacific Mail Company, OF
unsaYOry record, would get 1852, 1875,
nearly half the appropriation. He called
upon bis party friends to halt and hesitate
before they gave their sanction to meas
ure which did not advance or enhance the
interests Of the merchant marine, but
which puts into the Golfers OF this cor
rupting corporation 1926, 30S more than ID
had received last year for the same SER
vice. In consideration Of this question:
he stood on the doctrine of equal rightal
TO all and exclusive privileges TO none.
BINGHAM TO THE Defense.
Mr.. Bingham. of Pennsylvania, sup-
ported the amendment, denying that there
was anything cOercive in IL or that there
was any subsidy In it. IL was question
OF giving fair and reasonable compensAS
ton for services rendered In carrying the
mails, without any regard to the OwnerI
ship Of the corporation performing the
services. He replied to Mr..
DOckery's argument that subsidieg
did not assist the merchant
marine by stating that the real ''subsidy
period" was from 1913 to 1859, and that ID
was in 1866 that the American marine
reached its highest standard OF prOsperis
tY- Then "a per cent. OF our products was
carried in American bottoms. To-day but
fraction over IA per cent. WAS so carried.
Throughout the history Of the postal ser.
vice there was not an advance that had
not at first cost money.
A TENTATIVE MEASURE.
This was a tentative measure. The
government could see what results hi
would produce, and then do in the future
as it had in the past-protit by the expe-
rience Of legislation.
Dir. Springer, OF Illinois, favored tho
policy OF compelling vessels that carried
the American flag to carry the mails Of
the country at reasonable rate. and
against the proposition Of voting a sub.
sidy into the pockets OF Jay Gould, Sidney
Dillon and Russell Sage.
Mr.. Dlngley, Of Maine. i'm a brief speech
pointed out the needs OF the foreign mail
service and asked that the members
should not have their attention diverted
from the issue by the use OF the term
subsidy" The rate now paid for for{
eign mail service was not fair nor reasons
able. They were not decent. Tue Senate
amendment provided for nothing but de-
cent compensation.
MADOo OPPOSES SUBSIDIES.
Mr.. McAdOo, OF New jersey, opposed
the proposition 10 subsidize American
ships, and put forward the idea that II the
United States wished TO compete with
other nations by the granting OF subsidies
IL must, owing TO the difference ia tho
price Of labor, pay 20 per cent. higher
subsidies than any other country.
Mr.. Holman, OF Indiana, earnestly
opposed the policy Of subsidies and cons
tended that that policy would not have
the effect Of building up American COM
meree. This policy which 1t was sougha
TO engraft anew upon legislation had in
the past brought shame and dlshOnorl
upon the House OF Representatives. One
OF the great corporations which was now
asking for this Increased compensation.