The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-05
TIE STEAMSHIP SUBSIDY QUESTION

The Alta seems TO want to nick a quarrel
With The CALL because this journal agrees
with 1t On the question of steamship sub
sides Il seems to feel a guilty conscious
ness that tO.agree with the dltd on any sub
.1ect raises the presumption that one is
wrong. But in this case the Alta seems to
be right, and the only difference between it
and The CALL is that the latter has stated
clearly and plainly that which the AHa has
expressed with some crcumambient VERDI
age.
The. Alta says:
- Les TN CIR drop its mean spirited impor-
tunlty for subs dies agd Join US in demanding
that the United States shall openly contrac. and
honestly and sufficiently pay for a fortnighIy
mail service ilom san Francisco across tie
Pacific TO Tie counties with which this port has
s5l,uo5,+ll annually OF foreign trade. \ half
million year paid for semi-monthly mails is no
more than we owe 10 the peo.le VINO built and
sustain that trade, ana the needs Of communion
lion justify that expendi ure, but not a sub
Shy.
Oar contemporary is not one Of those who
believe that rose by any other name would
smell as sweet Whether the sum paid by
Government to steamship companies be
called a subsidy or an allowance for mail
service, 1t IS in fact grant of money to en-
able steamers to ply between ports which do
not at present afford traffir enough to sup
port line OF vessels without assistance
j ne particular words in which the grant is
described do not alter its nature or its OBJ
iec'.
Tie alias Intentions in holding up Great
BrltGln'S policy as an example to fellow are
gcndi but its limited acquaintance with the
facts impairs the force Of its argument. II
says that England pays S3,0OO,OOO a wear
on mail contracts for carrying her mails by
sea throughout her vast empire and that is
all" England pays for carrying ocean
mails 450S,OO0 year-say $500, 000-and,
besides, she pays large naval reserve sub
sides, which are entirely distinct from any
compensation for carrying the mails. She
pays subsidy of 81 26 per nautical mile
sailed by the steamers of the Peninsular
and Oriental Company, plying to India
and Australia; she pays an average
Of SS5,000 year to each of the new ships
of tie Cunard and the White Star lines for
the privilege of chartering them, in prefer
ence to UV.:Hr applicants, in case of war;
she pays $4,000 year to the owners Of the
City OIL New York, and like sum TO the
owners OF the City of Paris, TO the same
privilege. 4 few years ago the British
Government paid to the z. and o. Companv
sum which was equivalent to an annual div
ldent of 20 per cent on its capital. That
subsidy has been Withdrawn; but in consid-
GRAFTON Of the enrolment of certain pro-
portion Of the z. and o. officers and sailors
In. the naval reserve, she pays a stated pro-
portion Of their wages. 1t will thus be
seen that the alta s statement that "England
pays S3,000,000 year for carrying the ocean
mails, and that is ALL" is curious y in
exact.
Our contemporary thinks that the Govern
ment ought to conclude liberal contracts for
carrying the mails across the Pacific, be-
cause we have trade with Pacific nations
amounting to S5l,OO0,000. 1t is not because
OF the trade that we have but because of
Inc trade which we have not but ought tn
have that liberal aid should be granted n
steamship lines Consul Griffin of sydney
reports that New South Wales imported in
1888 merchandise valued at S101 800, 900, of
which S90,000,00O came from England or her
colonies, and only 81, 700, 600 from this coun-
try; that the province exported in that year
about $4,000, 900 worth of produce to En-
gland and her colonies, and only So, 1Sl 900
to the United States. A similar disparity is
observed In the foreign trade tables of China
and Japan. That the lions share of the
trade of these countries has fallen into Brit
ish hands is principally due to the fact that
through the effect of liberal subsidies En-
glfsh 'hip-owners have filed the ports of
sydney, Melbourne, Yokohama, Shanghai
ana Hong-Kong with British steamers of
large capacity and great speed, which carry
HeI9ht cheaper than our unsubsidized YES
seiS are able to do, and which outnumber
our STEAMERS as ten to one.
We cheerfully supply our co,ta,,,ro.o..
with the information in order TO-, p !.
perseVere in its course with an inteii;,. may
understanding OF the subject. There : nv
heed Of any controversy between us. WI
peopie are agreed on essentials. II is mot
worth while disputing over words.