New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-13
THE SHIPPING BILL.

Senator Frye's bill authorizing the Post
master General to pay 20 Amercah-oull' al"
American owned steamships sum OF lron'
four to six dollars per mile for the outgoing
VOYAGE to foreign ports In compensation loi
the carving of the mails, and for the perform
ance of other public services, will bring before
the ncoplo the whole question of how our Tor
eirn commerce and merchant marine may he
revivod The objects of the bill are numerous
tbouoh the discussion will be mainly confined
to its principal one. and its opponents VIII seek
70 shut all others from public attention The
strength Of their position lies IN the CAIN INIT
the bill grants subsidy that II undertakes 10
build ND a private business at the puhhc OK
pense that it involves the taxation OF the com
munitv for the benefit of individuals that as
q means 10 an end it is a failure, because a
business which lives on adventurous profits Is
obviously not in demand that il is fruitful
source OF iobbcry and repugnant to the spirit
Of democracy.
These representations are entitled TO due
considerations though it is improbable that any
amount of reflection will develop any new OF
unusual significance in them. Alexander Ham
uton used 10 hear them whenever he sought
WAYS and means by which the country conid
become prosperous. Henry Clay was dcluged
with them whenever he counSellcd assistance
70 the Nations industries They have assailcd
every scheme of public improvement or Ma
iional enterprise that has ever been suggest
Cd They contain the only argument to be
made against the protective tariff, and IN their
essence they are identical with the old protests
against canals, poSt-roadS. and river ana mar
Dor improvements promoted by Federal cap
tal. All the magnificent enterprises which
have made the country what It IS, without
which il would he impossible for 50 vast
Nation 10 exist As a republic were stubbornly
fought on The ground that they were schemes
10 promote one states interests u the expense
Of the rest. that they had their origin III cor
rupt or Wasteiul designs upon the Federal
Treasury. and that the fact that private cap
iial refused 10 engage in them without VA
tional guarantees proved there was no
real call for them So that the supporters OF
senator FIye's bill will not be called upon 10
confront an opposition in any respect strange
or startling. and they will have the advantage
of being able to draw their replies from the
experiences Of our own and other countries in
carving out the policy they now suggest.
steamships claiming to earn his rate Of postal
remuneration shall be built upon plans APP
proved bv the Navy Department; shall attain
a certain horsepower and certain speed. ac-
cording to their class shall be subject TO pub
lie attachment in case OF war; shall receive
naval apprentices in their crews and shall
carry the mails under the requirements OF the
postOfice Before it can be shown that there
is any gratuity in liberal payment for ser
vices so important, it must be asccrtaincd how
much the country wishes a sure, quick and
frequent mail service to foreign ports with
which large commerce is possible; how valuable
il considers a fast merchant fleet capable OF
being converted into cruisers 1t is easy 10
howl "Subsidy ~ but it may he that any other
cry Of alarm would be just as appropriate
Before it can be proved that to pay Literally
for these services is to build mp private bust
ness at the public expense, it is necessary TO
show that the public will get ont of it less than
| it puts in. If the offer made in this bill Sc
cures the building of numerous new vessels,
furnishing employment to thousands Of people
if the new vessels open up new channels OF
! trade. obtaining for our merchants Il great vol
ume Of business increasing the people Opr0r-
tunites Of employment and scattering through
out the land millions Of dollars now going past
us into other countries more willing than ours
to facilitate commercial enterprise who shall
say that the investment proposed is not wisc? ?
The public should not be deceived by cheap
cries OF "Subsfdy." II should consider the
bill on its merits weighing well what il will
cost and what il can reasonably be hoped 10
accomplish.