The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-04
AMERICAN LINE TO CHINA.
ONE OF TIE OBJECTS OF THE So
CALLED SHIP SUBSIDY BILL.

Commissioner OF Navigation ChsusbsrIain
SAYS II will Develop Our Shipping I'm
the Pacific and Bring Berlin, Paris and
London Five Days Nearer to Shanghai.
WARRINGTON, Sept. 3.-"There 10 not any
ssnctity or mystery about foreign ocean mail
contracts which puts them above tho plane OF
reasonable propositions to promote American
shipping" said Mr.. Cham berlain. the Com
missioner OF Navigation. In discussing the So
called Ship Subsidy bill. The theory that the
former afford examples OF the dlsinterested
patriotism OF our com petttors. while the latter
are the evidences OF the greed OF American
shipowners and shipbuilders." he continued.
will not stand hve minutes examination.
The most important contracts at this time are
those OF Great Britain, Germany. France. Italy
and Austria Hungary for mail service to the
eastern coast OF Asia tChina, Japan. Cochin
China, &c.l. These Ave nations spend annually
$4,000 900 for their mail lines to the east coast
OF Asia. according to figures given In last years
report to the German Reichstag. The United
States. 1t may be added. for it's Asiatic mails In
1907 paid $23. 900 to American steamships and
$4,000 to foreign STEAMSHIPS This sum Of
$4,000. 900 is not expended by those nations
for the exclusive purpose OF sending the mail
from London. Berlin. Paris. Marseilles. Vienna.
Trieste and Brindisi in the shortest possible
Yokohama. The time made by the sub
sldized foreign steamships on this route
10 not the shortest practicable by an
average OF about fve days, and II
delivery OF tho mails were the main object
sought to be attained by those contributions
to steamships. the completion OF the various
Pacific railroads OF North America, the use OF
triple expansion engines and steel hulls ended
the need for the expenditure.
Tho British Peninsular and Oriental line
agrees to carry the mails. under its latest con-
tract. from Brindisl, Italy. to Shanghai in 73o
hours. The Peninsula and Oriental Brindisi
express train. with it's Channel connections.
takes the mail from London to Shanghai In 7S0
hours. or 80 days. The best that tho company
does 10 to cover the distance In 80 or 80 days.
and it's lines arc faeter than those OF any other
nation on the route. Under its now contract
the North German Lloyd undertakes to carry
the mails from Berlin to Shanghai In 80 days.
Mails are now brought across the Atlantic
to New York In nine days from Berlin. and
eight days from Paris. Seven days is not n
low limit at the present time for mail steam
ships from Liverpool to New York. Tho run
ming time OF our fast mail train from New York
to San Francisco 10 now four days and three
hours. Any letter ought to reach San Fran
cisco from Berlin or Paris within thirteen and
ono half days. and letters doubtless do cover
that distance in shorter time. The distance
from San Francisco to Shanghai by way OF Yoko-
hama is 5.709 nautical miles. A seventee en- not
steamship. such as the two Pacific Mail steam
ships now building at Newport News. can trav-
erse the distance In IA days. and probably
will do II in Is days. The establishment OF q
fortnightly American service from San Fran.
cisco to Shanghai. which is one OF the objects
proposed and to be complished by legislation
ipt aI NJ hA Ia a. ~
bring Berlin and Paris. not to mention
British ports. within 20 or 20 days
Of Shanghai. and under favorable but not
extraordinary conditions. within 81 days,
while the best British achievement and the
best German promise by subsidized routes is
now 80 days. and the average is 33 or 81. II
| quick mail communication between the api-
| tails Of We stern Europe and China and Japan
| were all that 10 to be accom- plished by the ex-
! penditure OF S4.500000 annually on their
| steamship limos. time and money could be
saved BY the development OF the American
route. We shall be disappointed. however. II
we look to these quarters for support OF bill
which would increase American shipping and
, at least incidentally improve the worlds ocean
mail facilities.
Whatever may have been the fact In the
recent past. there Is very little substance in the
notion that the present large subsidies to
| foreign lines to Asia are to secure the quickest
| transit for the mails. There is not much ore
in the claim that they are for necessary politi-
| cal purposes, The new German contract does
not even prescribe a regular connection with
| Kiautschau. but leaves that matter open for
future decision. The only connection with
German possessions in New Guinea provided
under the new or old contract is a twelve knot
steamship Of $500 gross tons tsimilar to our
| cherokee. which once in eight sweeks runs
| between Singapore and New Guinea. On the
| Asatic coast. this side OF Singapore. Spain's po-
icalinterest. the Philippines. which who have
now come to be ours. was greater In population
and II think in area than those OF Great Britain
Germany. France, Italy and Austria Hungary
combined. and on political grounds We have
better reason than any other nation. with the
possible exception OF Japan. to develop oul
shipping on the Pacific By the most feasible
! means at hand.
! In point OF fact. the Peninsular and Oriental
the North German Lloyd. the Messageries
Maritimes. the Socista Navigazione ItalIana
and the Lloyd Austriaco companies are now
backed up literally by their respective govern
monts as q means OF promoting trade. and es
pecially the export trade In manufactured
goods OF Great Britain, Germany. France
Italy and Austria Hungary with China anG
japan. There 10 no effort at concealing thi.
| fact in the reports OF the companies every year
and there is nothing discreditable for the
United Statos TO adopt tho same policy
Whether 1t be profitable or not depends on
balance OF the value to the country OF the trad,
to be acquired and the extent OF the invest
ment necessary to obtain 1t.
To the Government which makes thes,
foreign contracts. they mean carriage OF tn,
mails and the increase OF national prestige, t
the manufactures and labor OF the countr,
they mean increased opportunities for com
merce. to the ship owners they are q comfort
able addition to receipts and an opportunit!
for the employment OF capital. and to ship
builders they afford q better chance to bullC
ships. To the United States these foreign
contracts must seem very sagacions mean
Of obtaining national wealth and innuenc,
from which we shut ourselves out"
The Loss of the Cnbleship Hooker.
| WASHINGTON. Sert. 3-Gen. Otis cabled tn,