New-York tribune., 1901-01-10
| Mr.. FRYE ON SUBSIDIES.
Continued from first mage.


render it ineffective, and subsequent experience
mas proved the correctness of this view.
II is the purpose of the pending bill TO give to
express steamers practically the same compen-
sation provided for in 1891 in the Postal Subsidy
bill as it passed the Senate and also to give to
slow vessels. which were not considered at all
in the Postal Subsidy bill, such compensation
as will permit them to compete with foreign
vessels of the same class.
FAIR TO ALL CLASSES OF SHIPS
The pending bill, therefore, embraces all the
good features Of the Postal Subsidy bill, and in
addition has the distinct merit of being fairer
ard more democratic, because. while under the
Postal Subsidy bill when a contract was given
10 one individual or corporation to run lire of
sh1ps between an American port and a foreign
port no similar contracts were given to any
oLher lndlVlduals or corpora tions to run lines
OF vessels between the same ports thus. in
eHeCt' creating a monopoly so far as the service
by American vessels was concerned The pend
ing bill on the other hand. offers precisely the
same compensation to all individuals or cor
poratlons for performing any service under the
Dill. and the only condition under which any
individual or corporation get compensation
unoer the pending bill is that he must perform
the service required of him at least as cheaply
as any other individual or corporation will per-
t@9rm @ II. Competition under the pending bill Is
therefore absolutely unrestricted, not only as
between American ships and foreign ships but
also as between American ships themselves, and
II is absurd to say, some enemies of the bill
saying that the American Line or any
other line, will get an undue share of the sub
sidy, for any American citizen can at any time
within ten years after the passage of the act
establish similar lines and get precisely the
same contracts and the same compensation as
the lines complained of
SeCond-As to the objection that has been
raised in some quarters to the giving of any
compensation to fast steamers, 1T being claimed
that the slow cargo steamers, commonly known
as "tramps,' which run about from place to
place seeking cargoes. are the kind of ships
most needed by this country, because they carry
ont of the country the largest proportion Of
farm products, I would say there appears to be
no foundation in fact for this objection. There
is difficulty in ascertaining the relative
values of the exports carried out of the country
by different vessels as the shippers manifests
file in the custom houses must state the kind
quantities and values of all goods and products
exported and an examination of a large num-
Der of such marifests which have made clearly
demonstrates several facts Of interest and I'M
portance in this connection.
OF BENEFIT TO THE FARMERS
First-That even the fast express steamers
while they carry out of the country less exports
in bulk than the slow cargo steamers never
theless. by reason Of the greater value of what
they carry and the greater frequency Of their
voyages. actually carry in value every year con-
sderably more exports than the slow steamers
can possibly carry in the same trade and under
similar conditions.
Second-That cargoes Of even the fast express
steamers are composed more largely of farm
products than OF any other commodity
Third-That ii is of more benefit to the coun-
try as a whole to export the kind of farm prod
ucts which can only be carried by fast express
steamers. because Of their perishable nature.
II
move in the slow cargo steamers, because the
greater value of the former represents the ad-
ditional American labor proftably employed IN
their preparation.
Fourth-ATl of our export trade is primarily
and fundamentally dependent upon regular
lines Of steamers of a speed of twelve knots or
over sailing on fixed rates on established routes,
far more than upon the slow cargo tramp.
which has fixed sailing date route, and
which sails when and where II can. The great
majority of shipments made from our ports. as
shown by the manfests file in custom
houses consist of comparatively small lots, and
sold to be delivered at destination within a
specified time. and therefore must move by
regular lines since the tramp, rule, deals
only with shipments Of cargo lots and cannot
give the requisite assurance as to time OF de-
livery.
Our export business is all started and devel-
oped by the regular lines. and II Is only after
the business has been fully and firmly estah-
lished that the tramp comes In to follow the
regular liner and carry the surplus exports
which not required by the purCha serS abroad
for consumption from day 70 day, but which
the daily consumption being provided for by the
regular liners. be moved IN slower and less
regular steamers and arrival stored
plus until required.