New-York tribune., 1891-03-07
THANKFUL FOR A LITTLE.
OINTMENT OF SHIPPING MEN ON THE
POSTAL SUBSIDY BILL
a TALK WITH w. II. T. HUGHES, OF THE NEW
YORK AND CUBA NAIL STEAMSHIP COMPANY
SOME OBJECTIONS TO THE MEASURE.

SOME OBJECTIONS TO THE MEASURE
The talk of Wall Street still centred yesterday on
,be Postal Subsidy bill and its probable effect OIL
American shipping interests. Among the men WHOSE
labors at Washington largely instrumental Ill
securing the passage Of this bill and who are Thoroughly
posted on the subject is W. H. T. HugheS' Vi '"0
NeUYorI and Cuba Mail steamship Company
Mr. Hughes was seen by a reporter OF Inc IrDu"0
Yesterday at his Office. and was asked HOW are W"
satisfied with the Postal Subsidy bill as passed y
Mr. Hughes said: {" II makes me think OF the oIu-
fashioned English grace after meals, which was accus
toned to hear as boy, For what lie nave reoeNo'
NAV the Lord make us truly thankful 1t certainly -
as The Tribune OF the 9TH inst. said an important P
In the direction of the revival of the American mer-
chant marine; but 1t is by no means What 'ie li1'u
of the measure hoped TO have put through and wilC
hone WAS 80 nearly realized, namely bill that "ouu
realIv revive the American merchant marine or III al
Street language, create boom IN shipplhs' Inv D
as passed would have been very gOOd one III iV9 '
and place Had the Tonnage bill passed ana cic"'ou
that boom In shipping which we were Ioohils io' ,s
wears from now this bill would have been sufficient -
the Tonnage bill had become law ne" si'p' N
would he organized every available poilI o o"n o
coast and the American merchant marine wouiu sooi
Occupy the place on the seas, oi WHICH IL "''
by the War of the Rebellion" ,
BEFORE taking ND the bill itself for cruolS'i'
wish TO pay a tribute to Two Democrato nv. -,
the city OF N6W-l Orh, WIN Hi"'A"i''
the shipplng interests on the floor OF Congress i"oS
two members are Amos J. Cummings and Francis B.
spinola Having once declared themselves III ia'o'
of the measure, the whole power OF the DehiO0'"''
party was unable to move them-and IL Is heeu'' ~
say that that power was used"
what are the objections TO the bls
"The objections to the bill as passed arc fHst
that while the Postmaster General is authorize" anu
empowered enter into contracts for term oi io'
laSS han
duration no appropriation is made for the payments
during that term, and while such contract wouiu'
no doubt, be binding on the government Vno oiii9
hope OF those who get such contracts OF ever getting
their money Is the election OF Republican congress-
second, the four classes OF steamships maze are III
no way fitted TO the purpose intended There Is nov
an American ship afoat that can come within either
the first or second class and the compensation offered
is not sufficient to induce capitalists TO put then
money into such expensive vessels There are very
few certainly not dozen, that can rank in the third
class, and the compensation for that class Is like
that for the Others-nadequate OF the fourth class
there are good many, but they are not what Is
wanted either naval cruisers or TO carry out the
ideas Of the Republican party bring about frequent
and rapid communication with foreign countries
Third, the naval clause is a very stringent one,
and would require the expenditure Of large
sums of money TO strengthen merchant YES
sels TO bring them within the requirements of the
bill that they shall be of sufficient strength and
stability carry and sustain the working and opera
ton least four effective rife cannonS of calibro
of not less than six inches" This section goes on
to provide that every vessel employed under the act
under classes /, . and shall be thoroughly in
spected by competent naval officer or constructor
detailed for that purpose by the secretary Oi the
Navy" This leaves the question entirely and COM
petey in the hands of the naval officer or constructor
who may be detailed for that service by the secretary
tI.a g. ardca a,.aiil
o, the officers of the naval doubted, stll
il seems to be putting power in the hands of one
man which could be at any time used TO shut out
ship ships from competing for the mail service
which may be required by the Postmaster General
AS all the ships of the line which represent have
already passed the inspection Of naval board, am
free from being accused of making these remarks from
an interested standpoint, and speaking solely in
the interests of the steamship companies at large
HAS the failure of the original subsidy bill put
Q stop to any projected enterprises 2"
"I know of some gentlemen who were ready, had
the Tonnage bill passed. to build four ships something
after the style of the City of Paris and City of New
York, to run weekly line between New York and
Liverpool, and the failure TO pass the Tonnage bill
will simply transfer the building of those ships TO
English shpyards, and the line Will be
English instead of an American line"
What about reciprocity" 2"
"The success of Mr. Blaine's reciprocity movemen,
Inception by the Mugwump and Democratic press
Throughout the country Had we succeeded in passing
the Tonnage bill as adjunct 10 this measure, there
is not the slightest doubt that within few years our
foreign commerce would have doubled. But let us
not complain but take what have got and make
the most Of it, and show the country at large even
with little that Republican principles are correct
What may or may not come out of the act depends
largely upon the construction put upon 1t by the
The act states that he shall
make such contracts as in his Judgment VIII best
subserye and promote the postal and commercial III
terests OF the United States This would intimate
that the act Is intended TO promote not only the postal
service but the commercial interests of the country
and / have no fear of present POstmasterGcnefdl
following the example of his predecessor, Mr. Nlas
and declining 10 the power that i put In his halds
for the benefit Of the merchant maIlnc"
TO PUT THE POSTAL SUBSIDY BILL ~ FORCE
Washington, March (SpecaD. Postmaster General
Wanamakcr has been In consultation with Mcssrs fdr
ouhar and Dingey In regard TO the Postal Subsidy DILL
of which they the authors and the especial caH
plons In the House. Several hours spent tOeclr
Yesterday and again 10 day. The PostmastcrGeherai
has decided TO go ahead and carry out the PROVISIONS
OF the bill far ii relates to the countries TO tc
south Of the United states and will prepare the neccs
sary advertisements at He has particularly IN