New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-01
THE p0STAJ SUBSIDY BILL.

A solution of the shipping question has been
provided by the House. which, II II be not en-
tirely equitable, certainly assures a large ana
immediate growth of our merchant marine. 90
far as it goes. and in the direction in which IL
goes. the Postal Subsidy bill is a mastery meas
ure. Ii provides compensation to such Amerl-
can shipping lines as will connect with foreign
ports to which we need to send mails upon the
condition that they carry the mails and that they
build ships suitable for naval uses, according TO
the designs of the Navy Department, and hold
their vessels subject to naval orders. Thus we
shall attain a merchant marine OF hish-class
ships and naval reserve at the same tnle'
When Senator Frye proposed this bill last ses-
sion he said he had guarantees If it passed. that
within three years we should possess the hnest
commercial fleet in the world plying between
New-York and Southampton. Upon grounds OF
public policy. undoubtedly more. If not bet
ter, reasons can he given for spending the pun
lie money under these conditions than under
conditions which simply required the sailing oil
American vessels That would have provided
n more general advance 1t would have inspired
more quickly the opening of new markets, ana
would have built up the trade OF every port
eouitably. But this will not prove Intellectual
i'm the development of new commerce. ard II VIII
operate as defensive measure with signal sue
cess.
In enabling ms to reap the great haryests
which Mr.. Blaine is arranging with South
American countries the Postal bill will accom-
phsh as much as any other. There Is room IN
deed. To argue that it is OF all measures sug-
gested the most satisfactory, since under It's
terms new aid faster ships will have to be
provided than ,he most OF those now running
and the premium on the first and second classes
is so much larger than on the third ana fouiih
that every encouragement, is afforded for their
construction. What we require for the Bra
lillian trade. fer instance. is not merely more
vessels. but better and tiecter ones. The lhtr-
Der Line will now be justified in building new
eighteen or twenty knot ships for their direct
trade with Rio employing their present feet III
the Brazilian coastwise trade TO redeem the con-
ditions of their Brazilian subsidy The trip
from Newly ork TO Rio must be covered in less
time than from London 20 Rio if we are to get
the best results from Brazilian Reciprocity.
| II was orr judgment when this bill passed
the Senate that its terms were fully as generous
as Congress would be justified in adopting The
House has reduced the compensation provided
under them about one-third. That was not
wise. and wo fear that it will operate to
prevent the establishment Of the Newly ork-
Southampton Line. concerning which Mr. Frye
had positive assurances. For. in competing with
the British lines now running between this port
and Great Britain. our people will have to con-
tend not merely against the great difference
which exists in highlands favor i'll the price oil
| labor and the cost OF maintenance. but also
against her enormous postal and admiralty sub
sides. Each OF the famous linefs' now sail
ing under the British flag receives from the Nd
mra!ty alone an annual sum ranging from
So. 600 to 100000. fully 10 per cent OF the
value Of the ship. In addition to that subven-
ton, which they obtain ostensibly by reason oil
their relations 10 the navy. they receive a more
than liberal compensation as mai!-carrierS
Whether ar American company can compete
against these conditions under the terms OF the
Postal bill as the House passed it is a matter
for calculation If any will make the attempt
we have no doubt that American merchants vii
be found sufficiently patriotic to sustain the
experiment heartily.