Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-01
ROOSEVELT WRITES POLLARD
Continued from First Page.

foreign competitors. The higher wages and
the greater cost OF maintenance OF Amer
lean officers and crews make Il almost Inn
possible for our people, who do business
on the ocean TO compete on equal terms
with foreign ships unless they are pro-
tected somewhat as their fellow country
men who do business on land are pro
have the wages and the manner of life
of our seamen cut down. and the only
advantage to the ship itself.
THE proposed law which has been intro
dueed in congress- is in no sense expert,
successful precedents, as, for instance, on
the recent Cunard contract with the Brit
ish government. As far as South America
Atlantic and Pacific coasts better American
lines to the great ports Of South America
than the present European lines The
South American republics now see only
our warships. Under this bill our
trade friendship will be evident to them.
The bill proposes to build large-sized steam
ers OF sixteen-knot speed. There are nearly
200 such steamships already in the world >
foreign trade, and over three-fourths Of
them now draw subsides-postal or ad-
miralty or both. The hill will encourage
our shipyards, which are almost as neces-
sary to the national defense as battleships,
and the efficiency Of which depends in a
large measure upon their steady employ
ment in large construction. The proposed
bill 10 OF Importance to our navy, because
II gives a considerable feet OF auxiliary
steamships, such as are. now almost wholly
lacking. and also provides for an effective
naval reserve.
Provisions of Bill.
The bin provides for fourteen steamships.
subsidized to the extent OF over l,5OeO 900.
from the Atlantic coast all to run to
South American ports. It provides on the
Pacific coast for twenty-five steamers,
subsidized to the extent Of 2,25o,OOO, some Of
these to run to South America most OF
them to Manila, Australia and Asia. BE It
remembered that while the ships will be
owned on the coasts, the cargoes will
that the bill win beneht the Mississippi
valley as much as 1t dement's the seaboard.
Il have laid stress upon the benefits to be
expected from our trade with south Amer
lea. The lines to the orient are also Of
vital Importance The commercial possi-
bilities OF the Pacific are unlimited, and
we should have direct and adequate COM
munication by American lines with Hawaii
and the Philippines; The existence Of our
seriously threatened by the foreign subsi-
died lines, Our Communication with the
markets OF Asia and with our own pos
our communication with Australia, should
depend not upon foreign but upon our own
steamships; The southwest and the North
west should alike be served by these lines,
and II this is done they will also give to
the Mississippi valley throughout It's entire
length the advantage OF all transcontinental
fail to establish adequate lines on the Pa
cine is equivalent to proclalming to the
world that we have neither the ability nor
the disposition to contend for our rightful
share OF the commerce of the orient. nor
yet TO protect our interests I'm the Philip
pines. IL would surely be discreditable for
us TO surrender to our commercial rivals
the great commerce of the orient, the great
commerce we should have with South
America, and even our own co'- munication
with Hawaii and the Philippines
II earnestly hope FOE the enactment OF
some law like the one In question"
For the reasons given above l feel that
the whole country owes a debt OF gratitude
fer the entirely disinterested support which
you and those who felt like you have given
TO this measure, and II will be a misfortune
TO the nation II II does not become a law.
l append Secretary Roots address to the
-TTansmississippi Commercial congress, in
which he discusses the matter at length
and gives what deem unAnswerRble argu-
ments in favor OF the proposed law. Sin
cerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Hon. Ernest M. Pollard.
House OF Representatives.