The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-05-20

Try needed was new steamships and
foreign markets. This measure would
give them what the country wanted-its
sea coasts defended; this measure
Wou!d do 1t by giving the country a
merchant marine. which was the militia
OF the seas. This measure was advan-
tageous, and ought TO be passed. 1t
would be passed unless members were
frightened because some gentlemen had
caiied It a subsidy. 1t was not sub
shy; subsidy was q grant or excessive
payment
Mr.. Hiscock, of New York, main
tanned that the amendment was a sub
sidy. When the gentleman insinuated
that the lobby was full of men pushing
the Senate amendment, he might as
well retort that as strong influences
were at work emanating from the other
side OF the ocean. to strike down Amer
lean steamship lines. Measured BY the
prices which were paid for carrying our
domestic mails on railroads, steamships
and star routes, the United States
would be paying, under this Senate
amendment, very low rate Of cOmpen-
sstion. indeed, measured by the rates
paid by every European power. it
would be paying very small compen-
sation indeed. If there was a govern
ment policy worthy of support, it was
contained in this amendment.
Mr.. Dockrey, of Missouri, announced
his opposition to the amendment be-
cause it was coercive legislation. He
then proceeded TO argue that the sub
sidy would not have the effect of
building up the commerce of the
country, and in support of his
argument lie quoted statistics to show
that from 1886 TO 1877 (which he termed
-. 4
commerce of the United States steadily
fell off. Much of the subsidy proposed
would go to the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company. He had heard it said that
this line was owned by 700 different per-
sons. but he declared that il was largely
owned and Differed by Jay Gould. Sid
ney Dillon, Russell Sage and C. P.
Huntington. These were the men who
were 20 get this appropriation, which
assumed to go the building up OF the
commerce OF the country and the mer-
chant marine. No man would go fur
Their than he in restoring the
merchant marine, but if this could
only De done now by means of
contributions TO the Pacific Mail Steam
ship Company, he wanted to wait for a
edy. Under this amendment. the
Pacific Mail Steamship Company, of
unsavory record, would get 1852 .199.
nearly one-half of the appropriation.
He called upon his party friends to halt
and hesitate before they gave their
sanction TO a measure which he did not
think would advance or enhance the in
terests of the merchant marine, but
would put into the Golfers of this cor
rupt line 1926, 30S more than il had
received last year for the same service.
Mr.. Dingley, of Maine. favored the
amendment.
Mr.. Holman, of Indiana. earnestly
opposed the policy of subsidies and con-
tended that the policy would not have
the effect of building up American COM
merce. This policy, which it was
sought 10 engraft anew upon legislation,
had in the past brought shame and dis
honor upon the House of Representa-
tives. One of the great corporations.
which was now asking for this incaeased
compensation, had come to the previous
House and corrupted the legislators Of
the country.
This ended the general debate. and
the committee rose and the Hsuse adj
jourped.