Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-12-04
Roosevelt BthIad Movement 10 Pro.
mute Ds'p Sea Commerce.
1T WILL Be uRGgD IN CONGRESS-
Not Contemplated to "MIlk" tho Gov
ernmsnt for the Benefit of Favored
Steamship Llncs-planned to Pay
Mail Subsidies.

WASHINGTON, u. G.. Dec. "a
vigorous effort Is to he made In III,
SiSucth Congress- To enact into law
n measure directed toward the up
building Of the American merchant
marine. President Roosevelt has In
Gcated that no will support strongl,
such measure and. In both tho
House and the Senate, It will b,
cAampioned vigorously, although It is
not likely to be made party Issue
as 1t will have friends and opponents
On 10th SIDES OF the two chambers
It Ia not unlikely ,nat tho moauro
which just failed of passage ut the
is1t eeasion OF Congress- might have
been for the persistent and fragrant
lobbying dor" by some Of It's iliadvis
ed advocates. Nhoy bored the public
: aud members OF Congress with theli
= continual plants. They protested toe
much and finally aroused some oppo
clifton that the bill need not have
had.
Everybody, practically. comedies
the necessity for doing something Il
promote tho interests OF tho Ameri
can merchant marine: but to accom-
pLRh such result Il IL not necessary
TO milk the government by providing
big subsidies for favored lines. II
has become more aud moro evident
In the oplnlcn of POSTAL omlclnls
Tint 1t will bc the part OF good policy
Tor the United States to pay certain
specified mail subsidies. They point
out that such payment would insure
prompt and speedy mail comniunica
tion between tho United States and
various countries to which American
mail now has to be sent In II circuit
GUS way.
The measure to no pressed before
Congress at this session will provide
for mail subsidies. although the de
tails of the bill have not been dis
closed. 1t Ia known. however, that
the measure will provide for direct
steamship mail route between this
country and South American coun
tres. BY this means II Is hoped
further TO promote American trade
and commercial relations with the
g,sople of tho Southern countries. The
Dill will be introduced I'm the Senate
by MI. Gallinger. Of New hampshire
end IL also VII be introduced stimuli
tnheously In the House. 1t will be
an administration measure.
Affirmative and positive action, in
my opinion" Haid Senator Galllnger
viii be taken Icy Congress Mt this
session on the merchant marine cues
/ lion. 1t Is vital to our interests TINT
the American merchant marin.
Rhould be built up. Gradually that
iact is dawning on all OF our people
avery year sees an accession to the
ranks OF the supporters of such q
proposition In Congress-. Last winter
we had majority CT both the House
and the Senate recorded for good
Dill, which WAS defeated in the clos
ing houra of the session by a flibus
ter.
am not prepared to say how faI
the measure to be presented will 20
but an effort will be made to create
new American mail lines TO South
America and across the Pacific ocean
These lines are urgently needed
There are many points IN the Orien'
with which America has no direct
mail communication. Since last
spring the postonlce officials have
found IL necessary to send American
mail intended for Southern Brazil ant
Argentina to its destination by wa,
OF Europe, because of tho inetllcIcn
service OF steamships plying between
this country and those points. w,
are nearer to South America than ART
our trade competitors OF Europe, We
because of the wetched mai! and 9th
er facilities between North and Soutl
America. we might as well lie On tn.
other aide OF the clone. On accom-
OF these inadequate facilities tht
United States is losing valuable trad,
and the opportunity to make goot
friends; but I am hoping we shal
remedy, In part at least the trouble.