The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-12-08

WEEhLY STATESMAN, THU
in the ocean trade of the Pacific we
did not possess on the Atlantic. The
construction Of the Canadian Pacific |
railway and the establishment under
large subventiOns from Canada and
England of fast steamship service
from Vancouver with Japan and |
China seriously threaten our shipping
interests in the Pacific. This line of
English steamers receives, as is stat
ed by the commissioner of naviga-
ton, direct subsidy of 100000 an
nually, or $90,T67 per trip for thir-
teen voyages in addition to some fur
Their aid from the admiralty in con-
nection with contracts under which
the vessels may be used for naval
purposes. The competing Ameri-
can Pacific Mail line under the act of
March, 1891, receives only $3.50 per
round trip. With view of promot.
ing this trade, especially in tea, Can
ada has imposed discriminating
duty of 10 per cent on tea and coffee
brought into the Dominion from the
United States. If this unequal con-
test between American lines without
subsidy, or with diminished subsidies:
and the English Canadian line to
which l have referred, is to continue,
l think we should at least see that the
incilities for customs entry and trans
pUrtation across our territory are not
such as to make the Canadian route a
favored one, and that the discrimina-
ton as to duties to which have re-
ferred is met by like discrimination
as to the importation of those articles
from Canada. No subject, think,
more nearly touches the pride, the
power and the prosperity of our coun-
try than this of the development of
our merchant marine upon the sea.
If we could enter into conference
with other competitors and all
would agree to withhold government
aid We could perhaps take our chances
with the rest, but our great competi-
tors have established and maintained
their lines by government subsidies
until now they have practically ex'
Guided us from participation. In my
opinion no choice is left us but to pur-
sue, moderately at least, the same
lines.
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
The report of the secretary of the
navy exhibits great progress in the
construction of our new navy. When
the present secretary entered upon the
duties only three modern steel vessels
were in commission. The vessels since
put in commission and to be put into
commission during the winter will
make a total of nineteen during this
administration of the department
During the current year ten war YES
sells and three navy tugs
have been launched, and during
the four years twenty-five vessels
will have been launched. Two Other
large ships and q torpedo beat are
under contract and the work upon
them we'll advanced; and the foul
monitors are awaiting only the ar
rival of their armor, which has beer
unexpectedly delayed or they would
have been before this in commission
Contracts have been let during this
administration under the appropri
alton for the increase of the navy, in
Guiding vessels and their appurte
napces, to the amount of $35, 900, 900
and there has been expended during
the same period for labor at nav,
yards for similar work $4,000, 600 with
out the smallest scandal or charge o
fraud or Partially.
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The work of the interior depart
ment, always very burdensome, ha
been larger than ever before during
the administration of Secretary Noble
The disability pension law, taking o
the eleventh. census, the opening o
vast areas of Indian lands to eettle
ment, the organization of Oklahom;
and the negotiations for the cession o
Indian lands furnished some of tn
particulars of the increased work ant
the results achieved testify to thu
ability, fidelity and industry of thu
head of the department and his effic
lent assistants.
THE PENS ON BUREAU.
The report of the commissioner o
pensions, to which extended notice i
give by the secretary of the interio
in his report, will attract great al
tentiop. Judged by the aggregat
amount of work done the last year ha
been the greatest in the history of tn
office. believe that the organization
of the office is efficient and that tn
work has been done with fidelity
The passage of what is known as tn
debility law has as was foresee
very largely increased the annual di'
bursements to the disabled veterans
the civil war. The estimate for thi
fiscal year was $144,659,OOO, and tina
amount appropriated, deficienc
amounting to $40, 058,621 must be pre-
vided at this session. The estimat
for pensions for the fiscal year endin
June 80, 1897, is $165,O0O, 900. Tn
commissioner of pensions believes ths
if the present legislation and method
are maintained and further addition
to the pension laws are not made tn
maximum expenditure for pension
) will be reached June 30, 1894, and wi
, be at the highest point $lSS, OO0, 900 pc
annum. | adhere to the views el
pressed in previous messages that tn
care of the disabled soldiers of tn
war of the rebellion is a matter OF M
tional concern and duty. Perhaps n
emotion cools sooner than that
gratitude, but cannot believe thu
this process has yet reached poir
with our people that would sustai
tbo ,oolioy of panoittinp the nara