Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1890-12-06
THE OCEAN MAIL SERVICES
Benefits That Will Result from Increased
EXnanditnreS in this Dire ctiOM.

Expenditures in this Direction.
In addition to the important bills that became
laws before the adjournment OF the last session,
some other bills of the highest Importance
were we'll advanced toward final vote, and now
stand upon the calendars of the two houses in
favored positions. The present session has a
brought to final vote all the work that has
been done upon them by this congress is lost.
The proper consideration of these, of an APP
portionment bill, and of the annual appropria-
ton bills, will require not only that no working
day Of the session shall be lost, but that meas
ures of minor and local interest shall not be al
lowed to interrupt or retard the progress OF
those that are of universal interest. In view OF
these conditions refrain from bringing before
you at this time some suggestions that Would
otherwise be made. and most earnestly invoke
your attention to the duty of perfectlng the inn
portant legislation now we'll advanced. TO
some OF these measures which seem to me most
important now rieiy call your attention.
| desire to repeat with added urgency the rec
concentrations contained in my last annual
message in relation to the DEVELOPMENT OF
American steamship lines. The reciprocity
clause of the tariff bill will be largely limited,
and it's benefits retarded and diminished. II
provision is not contemporaneously made to en-
courage the establishment of tirst-clasS steam
communication between our ports and the ports
of such nations as may meet our overtures Tor
enlarged commercial exchanges. The steam
ship, carrying the mails statedly and frequent
~ and offering to passengers a comfortable
safe and speedy transit, is the first condition OF
foreign trade. 1t carries the order or the buyer
but not all that is ordered or bought. 1t gives
to the sailing vessel such cargoes as are not ur-
gent perishable, and, indirectly at least. pro
notes that important adjunct OF commerce
There is now both in this country and in the ma
tons of Central and South America a state oil
expectation and confidence as TO increased
trade that will givea double value to prompt &c
ton upon this question.
The present situation OF our mail communities
ton with Australia illustrs ties the Importance
of early action by Congress- The Oceanic
Steamship Company maintains line of steam
erS between San Francisco, sydney and AuGk-
land, consisting of three vessels, two OF which
are of United States registry and one OF foreign
registry. For the service done by this line in
carrying the mails we pay annually the sum OF
| 5000, being, as estimated, the full sea ana
United States inland postage, which is the limit
| fixed by law. The colonies of New South Wales
and New Zealand have been paying annually
to these lines e37 600 for carrying the mails from
| Sydney and Auckland to San Francisco. The
| contract under which this payment has been
| made is now about to expire, and those colonies
| have refused to renew the contract unless the
| United states shall pay more equitable pro-
| portion of the whole sum necessary TO maintain
| the service
| lam advised by the postmaster-general that
| the L United States receives for carrying the
Australian mails, brought to San Francisco in
mated annual income ofS75.000, W lille, as have
stated, we are paying out for the support OF the
steamship line that brings this mail to us only
! $4,000, leaving an annual surplus resulting
from this service of $4,000. The trade of the
| United States with Australia which is in con
siderable part carried on by these steamers. and
the whole of which is practically dependent
upon the mail communication which they main
tain is largely in our favor. Our total exports OF
merchandise to Australasian ports during the
fiscal year ending June so, 1890, were
81, 266.481, while the total imports of
merchandise from these ports. were only
ST. $40. If we are not willing. to see
this important steamship lire withdrawn, or
continued with Vancouver substituted for San
francisco as the American terminal, Congress
should put it in the power of the postmaster