The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-04-14

steamship lines being established under
the provisions of the bill. Already
signsof renewed activity are seen in the
few ship yards in this country. The
Postmaster General is in daily consul
tation with the owners or projectors of
various steamships lines, and every
thing points to a marvellous revival in
American shipping. 1t is correctly re-
ported, and with a show of authority,
that a large ship building firm will
establish a so, 600, 900 plant on the
Delaware for the purpose of building
steel and iron vessels, and it is already
estimated that 100, 900 tons of iron and
steel vessels will be built annually in
this country under the provisions of
this bill. This lean employment for
many mechanics.
SUBSIDIES PAID BY OTHER COUNTRIES.
1t is acknowledged that the United
States Merchant Marine is inferior to
that of other countries.
In these days, when business men of
every country are reaching out after
profitable trade, the country under
whose flag a vessel sails, stands but a
poor show, no matter what other ad-
vantages the country may offer. Every
other country has realized this, and
acted uyOn it. England followed this
policy for years, until the trade she
had built up made it profitable for
steamship lines to pursue it without
government aid, but she still pays annu-
ally So, 900, 600, in subsidies. France,
under the new impetus she has re
ceived since the overthrow of the
empire has also realized it, and now
pays about 81, 900, 600 annually. Ger
many comes next with over So, 600, 900
while poverty striker Spain spends a
million and a half every year.
HOW THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN
DOING.
The United States paid last year but
eighty seven thousand to American
vassels for carrying the mails, while
during the same time she paid to
foreign vessels near half a million.
This was because there were no Ameri-
can vessels to compete with foreign
built ships in this matter. Under all
the circumstances it is not to be won
dered at that the United States fell
behind the other nations in the race
for trade. Heretofore the British mails
for the Australian colonies have passed
through this country and been dis
patched across the Pacific from San
Francisco, England and Canada pay
ing to this country the cost of the
trans continental carriage. A few days
| ago the POstOffice Department received
notice from England that a contract
had been entered into with the Canada
Pacific Railway Company, and a line
Ofsteamers playing between Vancouver
and Australia to carry those mails.
Just what subsidy is paid to the Van
couver line is not known, but England
and Canada do not propose to help
build up an American line if they can
keep from it. The Postmaster General
is devoting all the time he can to in
vestigating the various propositions
made for the establishment of new
lines, and in the near future the public
will have more definite information
and can better base calculations as to
the good that will follow the passage of
the bill.
THE BAD SIDE OF H BILL.
The bad side of the bill may be
piece of rank class legislation, and
while it was claimed that it would
benefit the country in many ways, it
was passed in the direct interest of
great shipowners and ip-building
companies. The bill does not limit the
amount to be paid out. The Post
master General is empowered to make
contracts, and so far as the bill goes,
he could legally make contracts with
thousands of vessels, and thereby pay
out millions and millions of dollars.
In this way the most Outrages frauds
and swindles could be perpetrated at
the expense of the people. Under the
power given by this law, a dishonest
and INSCRIPTIONS Postmaster General
could easily arrange for "jobs" by
which he could put millions into his
own pocket at the expense of the public
treasury; and there. might be found
some shipowners who would pay him
big bonuses on condition that he would
give them Subsidy" contracts.
Postmaster General Wanamakers said
to a representative of the Reform
Press Bureau" that he did not intend
| to pay out a dollar to any line or COM