The Hawaiian gazette., 1890-08-12
The STEAMSHIP SUBSIDY BILL,

As passed by the Senate, July
18th, provides for the payment 10
any vessel of more than 500 tons
gross register, whether sail or
steam, constructed and wholly
owned by citizens of the United
States, or registered pursuant TO
the laws thereof, and which shall
be engaged IN the foreign trade,
plying between the ports of the
United States and foreign ports,
the sum of thirty cents per gross
registered ton for each 1000 miles
sailed; provided that the foreign
port to which the voyage is made
shall be distant more than seventy
miles seaward from the Gulf bound
ary Of the United States.
The payments at the rate Of
thirty cents per ton for each 1000
miles sailed are 10 continue for the
term of ten years at that rate, and
thereafter for another term of nine
years st s reduction of three cents
per ton each year upon each 1000
miles sailed, and pro rata for any
less distance.
No vessel is to be entitled to the
benefits of this act unless its entire
cargo shall be loaded at port or
ports Of the United States, and DIS
charged st one or more foreign
ports, or shall be loaded at one or
more foreign ports End discharged
at port or ports in the United
States; nor shall vessel be enti-
tied to receive payment under this
act unless it shall have freight on
board at the time of sailing, TO the
amount in tons weight or measure
ment, Of at least % per centum of
the net register tonnage, 2,240
pounds, or forty cubic feet, to
make a ton of cargo There is 10
be no discrimination between COM
peting lines.
The Government of the United
States has the right during the
time this act shall be in force, to
purchase or charter any vessels
receiving the benefits Of this act,
at 4 price to be fixed by agreement
with their owners or agents, or by
the Judgment of appraisers, mutu-
ally selected, in case of disagree
nent.
The Postal Subsidy bill, which
also passed, authorizes the Post
master General 70 enter into con-
tracts for q term of not less than
five nor more than ten years in
duration with American citizens,
for the carrying of mails on Amer
lean steamships, between ports of
the United States and such ports
in foreign countries, the Dominion
of Canada excepted, as IN his judg-
ment will best subserve and pro.
mote the postal and commercial
interests of the United States. Such
contracts are to be made with the
lowest responsible bidders, and the
Postmaster-General is to have the
right to reject all bids not in his
opinion reasonable for the attaining
of the purposes named.
The vessels are to be American
built steamships, owned and Off
cered by American citizens, in con
formity with the existing laws.
The steamers may be taken and
used by the United States as trans
ports or cruisers, upon payment to
the owners of their fair actual
value.
The Pacific States have an imme-
date interest in the success of these
bills. 1t means the continuance of
the Australian steam line, and will
probably shut off the scheme Of the
Canadian Pacific. The adherence
of the Colonies to the San Fran
cisco route and their payment of
mail subsidies depend upon like
action by the Government. By
these bills American payments will
be confined to American-built ships,
which will probably result in an
immediate demand for one such
vessel to take the place of the Bri-
tish-built Zealandia. This is merely
an illustration of what will soon be
taking place at the various ports of
the United States under the i'm
petus of the new policy.