The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-01-08
81 up SUBSIDY BILL.
Provisions Of the Amended Bill Now
Pending i'm Congress.

There is an amended subsidy bin
now pending before congress which
materially modifies the bill which was
passed by the senate in the last term.
The old bill provided q general sub
sidy of S. per ton for vessels doing
business between this country and GER
tain foreign countries. 1t also pro-
yided specific subsidies ranging from
10000 a year to 100000 a year for
ship lines 10 run between the United
States and certain other foreign coun-
tries under specified conditions.
The word subsidy misleads many
people upon the subject of the gov
ernment's relations 10 lines of vessels
running from the United States 70 for
eign ports and back ON regular trips.
There is a definite contract between
the government and each so-cailed
subsidized line. The items are:
% Part Of the payment is for the
privilege reserved by the government
to use all the ships of the line as trans
ports or otherwise in case of war. The
ships must be constructed SO that
guns may be mounted ON them and
other features must be incorporated IN
the construction to adapt the ships
for naval service. Good speed is re
quired.
(2) The government pays a small
compensation to all the officers and
the crew, ranging from about $10o q
year for the highest officers dowA 10
$24 a year. for ordinary seamen. and
the entire list is kept enrolled as a part
of the naval reserve.
90 The ships are required to carry
the mail between the United States
and the other foreign countries nam
ed. and bring return mail without
other compensation, than the sO-calied
subsidy.
Therefore, the ~so-called subsidy
proposed to be paid to new ship lines
is very much like the compensation5
paid to railroads for carrying the mails
and transporting soldiers.
The postmaster general is authoriZ-
ed under the bill. if it passes, to make
contracts for not less than five years
nor for more han 10 years, for Il new
ship lines as follows:
% From the Atlantic coast 70
Brazil. 14-knot ships, monthly service.
annual compensation not to exceed
5000, 900. If fo%rtnightly, the compen-
sation not to exseed $400. 900.
(2) From the Atlantic coast to t'ru-
quay and Argentina, 14-knot vessels.
monthly service, not to exceed $3.50. 900
annually; fortnightly not to exceed
$500. ZOO.
CD Gulf of Mexico to Brazil, L.
knot vessels, monthly service, not 10
exceed $3.50. 900, fortnightly not TO eX-
coed $500, 900.
ca From the Atlantic coast south
Of Hatteras to Cuba, 14-knot vessels,
weekly service not to exceed $4,000
annually; semi-weekly not to exceed
$3.50, 900.
90 Gulf of Mexico to Cuba, 14-kuot
vessels, weekly not to exceed $4,000;
semi-weekly not 30 exceed $4,000.
In both the two latter cases the dis
lance from the departure to first fort
of arrival must be 400 miles Or more.
CO. Gulf of Mexico to Central
America and Panama, 12-knOt vessels
weekly service $4,000.
CD Gulf of Mexico to Mexico, r.
knot vessels, weekly service $4,000.
go Pacific coast via Hawaii to ia
pan. China and the Philippines, 1e-
knots, monthly, $3.50 900; fortnightly
$500, 600.
CO. North Pacific coast (north of
Cape Mendocino) to Japan, China,
and the Philippines, 15-knOts. monthly,
$3.50, 900; fortnightly, 100000.
10) From port on Pacific coast via
Hawaii, Samoa Islands to Australia,
16-knots, once in three weeks, 1920 COO.
CID From Pacific coast to Mexico,
Central America, Fort Laboca TO
Isthmus of Panama, 12-knot vessels,
fortnightly service, s150, 009.-Charlotte
Observer.