Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-23
Behind the Subsidy Proposition.

Behind the Subsidy Propos1t1on.
Until the present session there have been
three distinct and conflicting interests seek
ing the enactment of subsidy bill.
l. Those who are anxious to build a fast
passenger and mail traffic on the Atlantic
in competition with England and Germany.
2 Those who want to encourage the con-
struction of American ships by Offering a
bounty on tonnage and cargoes, without
regard to regularity of service.
8. Those who advocate fixed lines of COM
muncation under the Post Office Depart
ment for the transportation Of mails, which
they believe is the only constitutional
method of assisting the steamship service.
The latter class appear to have triumphed
and the pending bill provides for an ocean
mail service as follows:
/. To Brazil, fourteen-knot steamers.
monthly service, s1o0,OOo; fortnightly serv-
ice. SsO0.00O.
2. Uruguay and Argentine Republic, four
teen-knot steamers. monthly service, $751;
500; fortnightly service, $4,000.
3. South Africa, twelve-knot steamers
monthly service, $751;, 800; fortnightly serv-
ice, $4,000.
A. Gulf ports to Brazil, tweive-knot
steamers, monthly service, $751;, 500; fort
nightly service. $4,000.
D. Southern states to Cuba, fourteen-knot
steamers, weekly service. $75,OOO, or semi
weekly service Sl23.0tO.
u. From Gulf ports to Central America and
the isthmds. tweive-knot steamers, weekly
service. $4,000. --
Z. From gulf ports to Mexico, twelve-knot
steamers, weekly service, $4,000.
S. To Hawaii, Japan, China and the Phil
ippines, siXteen-knot steamers, monthly
service, $4,000; fortnightiy service, $780,
900.
9. Puget Sound to japan. China and the
Philippines, thirteen-knot steamers. month
ly service, S21O,OOG; fortnightly service,
S430 600. @--'-S
10. To Hawaii. Samoan Islands and Aus
tralasia, sixteen-knot steamers, three times
week. $217,O0O in addition to present mail
service.
IL. To west coast of Mexico and Central
America, twelve-knot steamers fortnightly
service $4,000.
The Expenditure Proposed.
This schedule contemplates the immediate
expenditure of 81, zoe. 500 for a mail service
upon the lines mentioned, and an ultimate
expenditure of s2,932 goo, when circum-
stances seem to justify more frequent sail
ings, but 1t would be impossible to start
any of the proposed lines at onces except
on the Pacific. The ships do not exist in
| this country. and Congress would not per-
NIT any company to buy them abroad One
of the chief objects of the bill is to encour-
age the shipbuilding trade. We have the
best feet on the Pacific Of any nation. In
| addition to thesabove schedules the existing
contracts will undoubtedly be continued.
We have only one contract on the Atlantic,
| which is with the American Steamship
Company. 1t Is paid 81 mile for every
voyage between New York and Southamp-
| ton, making a total of S662 6SS last year.
| On the Pacific the Spreekels line to Aus
| tralia is paid $2,a mile, or total OF $685.
| S62 last year. Steamers to Tahiti and the
Samoan Islands are paid 81 mile, with a
| total of $40, 100 last year. There are two
| lines to Venezuela, one to Cuba, one to
Mexico and one to Jamaica Three of them
! are paid 81 a mile and the other two Ga
| cents a mile, the aggregate pay on the five
| routes being 1926 961.
| Last year the ocean mail service cost us
| total of $1.431 .621. This, as have said.
| viii be continued as at present, and, as the
| other lines are developed, the total will un-
doubtedly be increased at the rate of five
| or six hundred thousand dollars a year I'M
| til the maximum is reached
The Postmaster General has been author
lied to make ten-year contracts for the
above schedules for steamships built in the
United States. according to specifications.