The Washington times., 1907-12-03

and lesser islands in the Pacific. We
are steadily prosecuting the great wori,
/ OF uniting al the Isthinus the waters OF
/ the Atlantic and the Pacific. To
greater extent than seemed probable
even dozen years ago, we may look
10 an American future On the sea
worthy Of the traditions of our pasr.
As the first step IN that direction.
and the step most feasible at the pres
ent time, recommend the extension Of
/ the ocean mail act Of 1891 That act
has stood for some years free from sue
cessful criticism Of It's principle and pur-
/ pose. II was based on theories of the
obligations OF a great maritime nation,
undisputed IN our own land and fol-
lowed by other nations since the begin
ming Of steam navigation. Briefly those
tneOrleS are mat 10 Is the uuty OF a
/ first-class power, so far as practica Bile
| 70 carry its ocean mails under its own
nag that the fast ocean steamshfus
and their crews, required for such mail
service, are valuable auNiliaries 10 the
sea power OF a nation, Furthermore.
| the construction OF such steamships in
I sures the maintenance in an efficient
condition OF the shipyards In which our
Dattleships must be built.
| The expenditure OF public money for
/ the performance OF such necessary func-
! tons OF government IS certainly war
! ranted, nor IS il necessary TO dwell
| upon the Incidental benefits to our
! foreign commerce, 70 the shipburding
industry, and 70 shipowning and naviga-
] pon which viii accompany the discharge
/ or these urgent public duties. though
they. 200, should have weight
Makes Profit From Cheap Service.
! The only serious question Is whether
at this time we can aTord 10 imurove
I our ocean mail ee---g.- - q.
J improved All doubt on this subject is
/ removed by the reports OF the POST
! office Department For the fiscal wear
ended June 30 1907. that department es-
Inmates that the postage collected on
/ the articles exchanged with forei--,
| countries other than Canada and Mexico
amounted to Ss,5Ts.O43.4s, OF s.ss7. .Z6 81
more than the net cost OF the service
] exclusive OF the cost OF TRANSPORTING the
articles between the United States ex-
/ change postOfhces and the United States
| postofhces at which thew were naira5
OF oeuFered- In other words the Gov
. eminent OF the United States having
I assumed monopoly OF carving the
li.a4ls IoF tne people, IS making a profit
OF over S5rbN,0JJ by rendering q cheaD
/ and inefficient service. That proAr 7
] oe4eEe. should be devoted 10 strengthen
! ing our maritime power in thOse 6ira~-
llohs Wnere II Will best promote our
! The country IS familiar with the +s.+,
/ OF our maritime impotence IN the ba--
/ oors OF the great and friendly RepubIics
oL SOuth America. Following the sf17r-a
- lLe ship9uilding bill we lost our only
american line Of steamers to Austrai-
asia, and that loss on the Pacific Leg
Decone serious embarrassment 70 the
! people OF Hawaii, and has wholly emf
on the Samoan Islands from regular
u q IN wHaNm
Puget Sound. In the year. has lost ove-
/ haif tfour out OF seven) OF lis American
| steamers trading with the Orient.
/ We now pay under the act OF 1891 s.
/ a a-s s'4llJe nlle outward to 20-knOt Amer
Cah L-all steamships, built according 70
IaVai plans, available as cruisers. a-ld
manned BY Americans Stea amshfDS ~
| nat speed are confined exclusively 10
/ re T s,ca-lc = .Lalllc Taqe with New York.
- steamships OF I6 knots or over ONLY
| = a nile can be paid. and II Is steam
snlps or TINS speed and type which are
needed 20 meet the requirements of mail
J sserV.Se 70 south America, Asia Gnclud-
/ Lue lhe Fnihppines). and Australia
! strongly recommend therefore. a simple
! amendment 10 the ocean mail 2 ~ Of 1901
/ which shall authorize the Postmaster
General IN his discretion TO enter into
contracts for the transportation OF mails
| 20 the republics Of South America 70
ASA. the Philippines and Australia AZ
! : raIe rot to exceed 81 a mile for
{
/ subject 10 the restrictions and obIfes-
I lions OF the act OF 1891
The profit OF s. 900 which has bean
mentioned will fully cover the maximum
| recommendation. and Il is believed viii
/ n TINE establish the lines so urgently
needed The proposition involves no
new principle. but permits the eficIent
( oLschaTge or public functions now mad
equaSely performed or not performed
]
Never in Danger of Militarism.
Not only there is not now, but there
| never has been any other nation in
\ the world 50 wholly free from the evils
! OF militaTism as Is ours. There never
/ has been any other large nation. not
even China, which for so long a period
/ has had relatively 10 its numbers So
small regular army as has ours Never
at any time in our history has this na-
I ton suffered from militarisn or been in
/ the remotest danger Of suffering from
militarisIn- Never at any time Of our
/ history has the regular army been Of a
size which caused the slight=s- a7pre-
ciable tax upon the taX-paying citizens
! OF the nation. Almost always il has
! been too small in size and underpaid
I Never in our entire history has the
nation suffered IN the least particular
/ because too much care has been given
( 70 the army. too much prominence given
1 II. too much money spent upon II, or
! because II has been too large.
/ But again and again we have suffered
! because enough care has not been given
/ 70 1t, because II has been too small. be-
/ cause there has not been sufficient prem
/ aration IN advance for possible war.
/ Every foreign war in which we have en-
: gagged has cost Us many times the
amount which. II wisely expended dur
/ Ing the preceding years OF peace on the
l regular army, would have insured the
! war ending In but a fraction OF the
/ time and but for n fraction OF the cost
I that was actually the case As 6 ma
I ton we have always been shortsignted
/ in providing for the efficiency OF the
/ army In time Of peace II Is nobCdy's
/ especial interest to make such prOvi sion
/ and no one looks ahead 10 war al any
! period. 10 matter how remote. as being
I a serious possibility; while an improper
/ economy, or rather niggardliness, can be
I pracuced at the expense OF the army
/ with the certainty that those practicing
! Il win not be called to account there
! for, but that the price will be paid BY
\ the unfortunate persons who happen to
/ be in office when a war does actually
I come.
/ I think It is only lack OF foresight