The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-22

in either OF two ways. The government
may at its own expense build and own
all the auxiliary vessels required. It
has been estimated that to do this for
even our present navy would cost not less
than $le0,0O0000. The interest on this in
vestment may be reckoned at Sa.O0QG0O
year, at least. the depreciation at not
less than 100000 a year, and main
tenapce at say. $3.50 900 a year With
an original investment then, OF 500, 00e.-
COO and an annual expenditure Of, say.
$D,OBOOO a year. our government could
provide and maintain an efficient auxil-
larry feet. Under this plan We could Sc
cure efficiency, but the expense would be
very large.
Can equal efficiency be secured at
less expense? If so. II win manifestly be
in the public interest TO adopt the alter
native plan. If the government could
secure the required auxiliary vessels for
its navy without the necessity OF making
the original investment Of 10000, 600 and
save the interest on that enormous sum.
and at an annual expenditure OF less
than one-fifth of what 1t would cost the
government for depreciation and main
tenance If it provided its own vessels.
that would surely be the wiser plan for
the government 10 adopt.
Outlines HIS Ideas.
IF the government could have these
vessels constructed by private individuals
according TO plans approved by the Navy
Department and under the supervision of
its officers so that the vessels would be
promptly available for the use Of the
fighting fleet in case of war, and If the
government could secure from the owners
of the ships so built binding contract
70 turn them over to the government for
that purpose on demand-if all this could
be had for an annual payment not great
er than what the interest and deprecia-
ton would be If the government under
took TO furnish its own naval reserve, it
would surely be in the public interest for
the government TO accept such a propo-
sition.
But how could private individuals be
induced TO assume for the government
this heavy burden of investment and
maintenance and risk Of loss? It is not a
duty owed by few of our people 10 the
rest Of their cOuntrymen. 1t IS a public
service for which they could rightfully
expect to be paid from the public Treas
ury TO which they make due contribu-
tons.
Refers TO the Mails.
THE function of carrying the mails is
committed to the national government.
For carrying the mails to foreign coun-
tries other than Canada and 3s.exico the
government received last fiscal year, ac-
cording to the estimates Of the Post
office Department, over S65O0.OO0. OF this
more than S3,5o0.000 was profit. The mails
are not carried for the purpose of gain.
If our national government is willing TO
forego this profit and is willing to have
its mails carried by its own citizens in
stead Of by foreigners, this $4,000 of
postal receipts will provide at a mini
mum cost this naval reserve, which the
nation is bound TO provide at any cost.
and will at the same time secure for this
country lines Of ships which will de-
velop valuable streams Of commerce with
South American and other parts Of the
world, the benefits of which viii be felt
by all our people"
The Other Speakers.
Senator Gallinger was also a speaker at
the banquet. At the evening and afternoon
sessions Assistant Secretary Of the Navy
and,Lewis Nixon, former Tam
many chief, made notable addresses bear
ing on the need Of a rejuvenated mer-
chant marine
A dispute as TO the virtue Of a change
in the protective tariff as Of more ad-
vantage than ship subsidy involved the
delegates in bitter debate just at the
luncheon hour