New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-06-15
SHIPS WITHDRAWN FROM PACIFIC.
Result of Failure of Government to Increase
Subsidy.
, Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: On March / last the House of Representa-
tives by majority Of nineteen, refused to increase
the mail compensation Of the only American line
Australasia from $3.50 600 100000 a year, or IN
other words, 10 pay what the service Is worth and
what European competitors are paying their
steamship companies. few weeks later the
Oceanic Company informed the Postofce Depart
ment, It had Informed Congress wha: It would
have TO do-that the line would have to be aban-
doned
Now merchants handling American goods in Aus
tralasa arc protesting to our government that the
breaking down Of this American line will mean the
gripping and perhaps destruction of export
trade 20 Australasia. which has been increasing
and is about $50 600 600 year. Frank Coffee of
No. Castlereagh street. sydney Australia. IN an
appeal 10 the American Congress and the Amer
lean press. points to the fact that twenty lines of
modern steamships nave terminals at sydney
France" he says, pays the Messageries Com
pany $4,000 q year. Germany pays the Nord-
deutscher Lloyd 100000. England rays the PENN
sular and Oriental $1SOO.GOO in subsidies to China
India and Australia Australia pays the Orient
5000 600. Japan pays the Nippon Yusen $780,
Oco. and Canada pays tho Vancouver Line $4,000"
The American Oceanic Company required to
make faster speed than any of these lines-and it
was paid less for its services
Mr. Coffee. in his appeal has especial word
for the Middle West: at Is understood by Amer
leans in Australia that the Representatives. from
the middle states responsible for the defeat of
the subsidy proposals If that IS it would APP
pear that the middle states. which realize the ad-
vantage of tariffs in favor OF their products
to their fellow citizens the ocean borders equva-
lent advantages to build up and preserve maritime
Industry. The middle states should forget that
foreign trade means something to them. To-day 1t
may mean little but In the times when their
production shall have become serious they must
look to foreign export TO provide their profits"
In 1896 exports to Australasia were sl2,674000.
Now they about $4,000, 0O0-an increase due
largely to the quick and regular service maintained
by the one American steamship company. which
has now been abandoned. our South American
mails are being sent by way of Europe. our Aus
tralasian mails must go in the round
about way by another roundabout way by infTe-
uuent Canadian steamers from Vancouver. It Is
not strange that American merchants who have
built up a great trade in the products OF American
farms and factories in Australasia should be in
despair at this deserton by their government. AS
grace to-day the United States pays foreigners
$500 600 q year for carrying American goods
abroad while the total earnings OF American ships
amount to only Sl0.00O00 year.
Then there Is the vital naval argument mani
fest loOSerson in distant lands. Says Mr.. Coffee
further: 1T Is proved by the best all financial
the Pachc-that America have merchant
men the Pacific to support her fighting ships
less as "a nation she pays TOWARD the support of
those merchantmen. And SHE can afford 10 pay.
She can afford to pay for anything essential to
the maintenance of American power and American
prestige where she had undertaken responsibilities
of battleship large fleet of first class mer
chantmen could he subsidized" This Is the ques-
ton II appears to merchant interested in
American trade I'm far-away Australasia. He and
intense competition for the worlds markets. believe
Americas neglect of her merchant shipping is a
costly blunder which cannot be too quickly and
Cleveland, June s, 1907.