The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-03-14
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER..
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 10th

WAsHINGTON, ID. c., March 10th.
MIR. En.ToR:-On Wednesday and
Thursday of last week Senator Alexander
S. Clay, of Georgia, presented in an able
| and compr. hensive manner the democratic
attitude tow?rd the ship su! sidy bill, but
the length of his speech precludes the
possibility of giving even an epitome in
this letter. At my request. however.
Senator Clay consented to make the fol-
lowing brief statement for your readers:
"My opposition to the measure, iii which
am supported by the entire democratic
minority of the Committee on Commerce,
is based on the fact that it will increase
the expense of transporting the foreign
mails from 81 100000 to upwards of $2,-
100000 without securing to the govern
ment any adequate return. l desire to
see the mail service of the United States
as perfect as that of any country in the
world, but this bill does not provide for
the establishment of single new route,
nor for the construction Of single new
ship. By the provisions of the bill this
greatly increased sum will be paid to the
owners of ships already in commission
and sailing over routes now established.
If there is need of increased facilities for
transporting the mails, why has not the
Postmaster General been called before the
Committee as an expert witness, to indi
cate in what direction the increased funds
may be best expended,
"As to the simple subsidy provision of
the BILL there is no necessity for such leg
islation. Our shipping trade is constantly
increasing. We retain. by statute. all of
the coastwiSe trade for our vessels and as,
in the past that has been the most profit
able, it las absorbed every increase in
American shipping, but there are now
ample vessels engaged in it and the atten-
ton Of American ship owners is naturally
turning to the foreign trade. Our ship
yards have orders exceeding their utmost
capacity Our vast mineral resources,
our improved methods of production and
the superior productivity of the American
laborer and artisan combined, more than
counterbalance any difference there may
exist between American and foreign
wages, and without this unnecessary and
extravagant legislation the American ship
ping industry will, in the near future, lead
the world in its field as do American in
dustries in other lines.
There is one important point, however,
which should not be lost sight of. The
most serious detriment with which the
American ship owner has to contend is
the fact that our tariff duties rob him Of
so large share of the profits on the car
goes which he must necessarily carry on
his return trips from foreign waters. If
our republican friends honestly desire to
benefit American ship owners, let them
revise the tariff and so modify or remove
this serious obstacle. The coastwise skip
per carries his cargoes in both directions
without let or hindrance by tariff duties
and his profits are eminently satisfactory.
Taking lesson from this, the majority
can materially aid our foreign commerce
and simultaneously benefit American con-
sumers without the expenditure of one
penny of the funds in the United States
Treasury"
Senator Clay was followed on Friday
by Senator Hanna, who, with sledge
hammer style of oratory, reiterated all
the republican sophistries in regard to
protection and claimed that because in the
past it had been the policy of the govern
ment to build up hot house industries
there must be no deviation from that poll
cy. The debate on this bill will continue
until the 18th inst when a vote will be
taken Senator Vest will address the
Senate on the subject soon, if his health
will permit.
The bill reported by the Senate Com
mittee on Judiciary for the protection of
the President has also received some con
sideration. 1t is cPp">ed by many of the
democratic members on the ground that
it is contrary to the constitution in that it
is an extension of the law against treason
and is violation of the tights of the
sovereign States.
The week in the House has been devoted
to the consideration of the rural free de-
livery bill The bill as reported not only
provides for the establishment on per-
manent basis of this form of postal SER
vice, but goes further and instructs that
the routes shall! be carried by the lowest
bidder, bids to be advertised for, etc
This clause is opposed by many members
of both parties and has been the occasion
of prolonged debate. Mr.. Williams, of
Mississippi. tells me that he is confident
that the service can be carried on more
equitably and economically on a contract
basis. He further claims that the funds
appropriated for this purpose will reach |
farther if the contract system is employed. |
Mr. Swanson, of Virginia, is, on the other
hand, strongly opposed to the innovation
as he fears the service will not prove as
competent or as generally satisfactory as |
would be the case were salaried employees |
to carry the mails The question will |
come to a vote today.
The irrigation bill, which passed the |
Senate, has been favorably reported by |
the committee on ion, but Repre- |
sentative Newlands tells me tn It h, will |
not push its consideration at this time as
some work remains to be done before, in |
his judgment, the House will be prepared |
to vote intelligently on the matter Sena-
tor Hansbrough recently expressed graft
fication at the general support the measure |
had received in the Senate and told me
that he felt that it could be in no more
competent hands, than those of Represen-
tative Newlands, in the House. Mr..
Newlands is remarkably well posted on
the subject" said the Senator, land will |
give his best efforts to securing its enact
ment'
The republicans are as badly divided as
ever on the subject of Cuban reciprocity
and there seems little likelihood of any i'm