New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-04
MAIL SUBSIDIES ECONOMICAL.

Democratic economists have had much to say
about the extravaganza OF Republican Con-
gress in authorizing the payment OF mall sub
sides for an improved commercial marine
Little argument is required to prove that 1t was
economy and not extravaganza. The first re-
suit of the passage of the Ocean Mail Service
Act is the establishment of an American line
to the River Plate ports. Three ships OF over
5000 tons with a speed exceeding 10 knots
will be built for this service. Under the con-
tract TO be made with the POstmaster-Geneml
the Government will have the privilege of TAX
ing and using these steamers as transports or
cruisers if serious emergency ever arises re-
curing an increase of the naval resources.
These three ships and any other vessels OF high
speed and large tonnage which may be built
in consequence of the Ocean Mail Act will be
available as an auxiliary navy The mail sub
sides earned by this new merchant fleet will
be an insignificant fraction Of the expense of
building and maintaining in actual service
cruisers for the navy. The mail subsidies will
practically reduce the cost of constructing and
operating an efficient navy adequate, not mere
ly for service in time Of peace, but also for
National defence in time of war. 1t is policy
of retrenchment and economy rather than ex-
travagance.
In order to emphasize this point we direct
attention to the fact that not one of the new
cruisers now in service has tonnage equal to
that of the steamships to be built for the Plate
line. The tonnage of the largest cruisers is as
follows Chicago $500, Boston $3.50, At
anta 3,1S9, Newark 4,083, Charleston 4,04O,
Baltimore 1900, San Francisco 4,OS3, Phila-
delphia 1924. The 5,000-ton ships OF the
Buenos line will be superior in that respect to
any cruiser that has been completed, and will
outranb all the unarmored ships now under con-
strucdon except three: No. 6, now building in
San Francisco $500 tons, and the Pirate and
her consort, No. 10, which are to have a dis
placement of 7,400 tons. Among the armored
cruisers now building they will be exceeded in
tonnage by the Texas, $500 the Maine, 6,G4S (;
the Newly York, $3.50, and the three coast-line
battle-skips, 10000. The value of the addition
of three 5,000-tOn ships TO the auxiliary navy
is apparent. These vessels will be secured as
a reserve for future contingencies by the pay
ment Of 81 mile for each outward voyage.
This is a low rate in comparison with the sub
ventiOns paid by the British Government for
eserving the White STAR Cunard and other fast
steamships.
The Ocean Mail Act, if it brings under the
American flag not only these Buenos Ayres
steamers, but twenty-five or thirty additional
vessels, including several s,00O-ton ships for
the transatlantic trade, will create an auxiliary
navy Of high power. The cost to the Govern
ment Of having this reserve force available for
service in any crisis of international affairs will
be trivial in comparison with the construction
accounts and operating expenses of the regular
navy. At the same time this fleet will perform
its helpful function OF enlarging the foreign
market for American exports and ministering
to the requirements Of commerce.
The restoration of the flag to the high seas
is broad National policy to be advocated by
Americans of all parties on grounds of patriot
ism and enlightened sef-interest. Every pro-
ductive and industrial interest will be benefited
! by the expansion of the export trade and the
promotion OF mail facilities and commercial ex-
changes. 1t is the high National policy with
| Which President Harrison with profound sa-
gacity has identified his Administration. There
are the weishtiest reasons for advocating this