New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-02
PRESIDENT ON SUBSIDY
RELL,S DEFEAT REAL LOSS.
Western Congressman Thanked for
Supporting Measure.

Omaha, Neb, April 1.-COngressman Pollard
of the Ist Nebraska District has received letter
from President Roosevelt thanking him for his
support Of the Ship Subsidy biz. congratulating
him and other Western Congressman for taking
a broad and patriotic view OF the situation and
deprecating the defeat Of the bill as a serious
injury TO the commercial interests OF the United
states The President says in his letter 70 Mr..
Pollard:
] feel that IL is due not only 70 you, but to the
other Western Congressman, the Congressman
from the interior. who voted for the Ship SUBJ
eidy bill that I should express to you. not only
for you but for all Of them also, the reasons why
] think you have rendered a great and patriotic
service.
Al the outset, let me emphasize the fact that
the present proposed Ship Subsidy bill has
nothing whatever In common with certain pre-
yious measures of the same name There were
we'll founded objections TO certain features OF
these previous measures, but In the present
measure all these Objectionable features have
been eliminated. should heartily favor the pres
ent measure in any event, but the experiences OF
Secretary Root on his trip TO South America
ard the course OF events on the Pacific seem TO
me 70 render It OF the utmost consequence to
pass the proposed BILL AS a matter OF fact my
only objection 70 IL Is that 1t does not go far
enough / personally for instance. would like 20
see q lnesto South America from one OF our Gulf
ports
I feel that you men from the West who stood
BY the cause OF American shipping In support
ing the Ship Subsidy bill deserve the same
pralse that should be accorded TO those men OF
The seacOast regions who voted for and by
their votes succeeded IN establishing our pres
ent system OF national irrigation in the states
from Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas west
ward 70 California. Oregon and Washington. AT
that time the argument was made TO me by
many men representing the country east OF the
Mississippi that It was not fair 20 ask their sup
port Of a measure purely TO benefit the states
OF the great plains and the Rockies Ny an
ewer 20 them was that anything that benefited
q part OF this country ultimately benefited all OF
g. and that we were IN honor bound TO support
any such measure, even IL our particular local
ity was not affected The same argument ap-
piles now in reference 20 the Shipping bill Il
Is deeply discredibie TO US as q nation that our
shipping should be driven from the high seas
and il has thus been driven partly because
our steamship lines are quite unable 10 compete
With foreign steamship lines. English, German,
japanese French, which are heavily subsidized
by their governments, and partly because the
high standard OF wages and OF living which we
exact for our seamen puts our ship masters and
ship owners at a disadvantage when forced 70
compete even with unsubsidiZed ships OF foreign
powers This difference IN standards and the
together, have created an obstacle 20 the 6evel-
Opment Of our shipping which is insur1nount-
able except by a subsidy, and this obstacle
must be cleared away as we would clear away a
bar from the mouth OF river.
] felt that the loss Of the Shin Subsidy hill
at the last session of Congress was a real blow
70 our country. and that Il was particularly to
be regretted because 1t has tended 20 dampen
Of the enthusiasm for closer relations with
this country which Secretary Roots visit
aroused IN South America