New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-05-20
FOREIGN MAIL SERVICE.
THE SUBSIDY CRY LOSING ITS POWER
TELLING ARGUMENTS BY MEssRs. PHELPS AND
HsCOCK-DrMOCRATs DEMORALIZED.
fny TELEGRAPH To TIE TRIBUNE.

IDY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.
WASHINGTON, May 10. Tho opponents of the
Senate amendment to the PosOficc Appropriation bill
began to exhibit symptoms of alarm long before to-
days discussion ended, aud Mr. Springer and
other Democrats frankly declared that the vote will
be close The truth ia that the Democrats who have
depended upon the cry OF subsidy" to defeat a mer-
itorious proposition designed to benefit American
merco simply by paying fair price for necessary
service find not only that they have reckOned without
their host but that they destitute of any facts or
real arguments with which 10 combat their we'll
equipped adyersaries For months the honest but
obtuse Blolnt and other Democratic members OF the
Post ONCE Committee have undergone vain the most
patent end toilsome coaching by MI. Villas and his
assistants unofficial well as Official. The warning
sounded by Mr IIiscocl at the outset of his speech
| to-day came not moment too SOON The cry against
alobbyingr which is raised just against the
American steamship companies reminds one OF the Old
fable about the lamb that muddied the stream above
him so that the poor wolf could not drink
Mr. Willard opened the debate to-day in m excellent
ten minutes speech into which he succeeded in crowd
ing of the facts contained in the longer speech
which ne delivered when the bill up before IT en-
followed two more elaborate speeches which claimed
the close attention of both sides and dcmoTalzed the
Democrats ranks. in part Mr.. Phelps of New
jersey said
We propose to pay for carrying orr mail less than
tie price paid by any other nation. No one has yet
challenged the proposition except in the case OF Ger
many Germany did not encourage shipping by
liberal payment or gilt, and because she dd not the
gentleman from Georgia (Nlr. Blount in great
Enthusiasm exclaimed: How usinesslike: how
worthy great statesman ut the head of the German
| EmpiTew But what was the result OF all this
business and all this state-mdnship3 Germany
secured only TWO steamship lines worthy of mention.
| They ran between Hamburg and Bremen and New
| York; between old and wealthy ports. These have
done a good business aud increased their ships, but
emerants which is always lucrative. line to
Austi tried to live but its service was so wander
ng and dilatory, it was such fleet OF ramps ttat
Germans sent their mails and their freight III BRUSH
| lotions. And look At the result The old principle
operatcd business followed the nag and the Germans
fonnd that London bankers got all of the exchanges
and London merchants were beginning TO get all OF
the business SO Germany acted the part OF wisdom.
The German Parliament reversed its policy and
started coura seousy upon the path long trod by It's
successful n.ighbors il agreed to give ,UUOOOO
10 a single line for carrying the German mail one year
to Australia. The gentleman from Georgia praised the
old policy of Germany. which Germany publicly
declared q failure. Why does he refuse TO praise
the new policy OF Germany Must We take the words
from his mouth and in view of SlOOO.OUO voted
directly to the North German Lloyd cXcaim for hum
How busnesslikcl How worthy the great states
man al the mead OF the German Empire" Laughter.
Mr IIiscock followed with an argument clear and
corent. His investigations a. member OF tho Ways
aud Means Committee havo given him command OF a
variety OF facts bearing directly upon the subject, and
these he set out in manner "a convincing AS was I'M
pleasant to the opposition He began by declaring that
IL there is any lobby here it IS iu the interest cf
foreign steamship companies and foreign manufacturers
who alike seek to break down American commerce and
destroy American manufactures. The cry OF" subsidy
is raised simply to frghten from their honest con-
yctons and the Of great capitalists are paraded
to create prejudice He had heard nothing said against
the great capitalists OF England or Germany who are
engaged like enterprises, but for his part he would
vote "a willingly promote commerce under the Amer
flag even If thereby an American Gould or Hunting
ION or sage should be benefited he would TO promote
a foreign steamship company controlled by an English
or a German Could Huntington Sage, and thereby
break down American commerce and American mer-
chants The only argument worth examining the speaker
declared, is whether manufacture cheap enough
to compete with orr goods IN tho South American.
Central American and Mexiccn markets, and 1t had
been urged that else why tho necessity OF
protecting home market by tariff The answer is
hat under tariff. manufacturers by skill machn-
cry and application have become able to manufacture all
goods chiefly made by machinery cheapy enough to
compete with tho foreign producer This rc as to the
fabrics ell all agricultural tools and
reapers Last year said Sr. Hiscock, we exported
SlG,O0O00O OF iron aud steel goods, Ss,OOO.OOO OF
leather and 100000 OF cotton goods
and so lie might 20 through the list In all the lines re-
quired by undcyeloped country. abOrng people en-
gagged largely n agricultural pursuits America can to-
day compete with tho manufacturers OF the world In
their markets. The trade With the South American
countries that whenever we can secure transport
to their markets at competing rates. We Increase
there being near S14,0OO0OO Englands less than
SI2,O0O0uO, and France ana Germany still less. 10 Is
Only for the higher grade of fabrics into which expensive
material and large proportion Of skilled labor enters
that need protection.
Another result said the speaker, that has come from,
and in a larger degree Will follow American commerce
in American ships with South America and Central
Americn, is the reduced rates OF transportation The
competition OF the Brazil line with foreign steamships
now saves this country Sl50O,0OO year In freghts,
essenng the cost of the goods buy OF them and
adding the the producer receives for what LIE
sells there In coffee alone there Is saved this year to
the here 81 100000 in the lower cost Of trans
pOrtatiOn forced by the American Brazilian line 1t
proposed pay subsidy but simply what the mail
worth 100 per cent 200 cent aud 800 per
less instances than Europe pays foI Ike
The pay for carrying the mails has never been
made depend upon the postage received on the matter
carried That policy would sarvc ont the star service
the steamboat service In fact the mail service OF all
people Oh tho railroad lines.
Several Democrats spoke IN opposition. Mr. Dockery
Missouri declared that he would stay in Washington
TIL the snow maDtlcd the heights OF Arlington before
be would DO coerced into ting legislation OF this
kind.