The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1907-12-03

mail service, which because Of the
lack of American steamship lines is
now largely done through foreign lines
and which, particularly so far as South
and Central America are concerned. is
done in a manner which constitutes a
serious barrier to the extension of our
commerce.
The time has come. in my Judgment.
to set to work seriously to make cur
ocean mail service correspond more
closely with our recent commercial and
political development A beginning
was made by the ocean mail act Of
March 3. 1891. but even at that time
the act was l,novin to be inadequate in
various particulars. Since that time
events have moved rapidly in our his
tory. We have acquired Hawaii, the
Philippines and lesser islands in the
Pacific. We are steadily prosecuting
the great work of unitinrat the 18TH
mus the waters of the .1tlantic and
the Pacific. To greater extent than
seemed probable even a dozen years
ago we may look to an American fu-
ture on the sea worthy of the tradi-
lions of our past. AS the first step in
that direction and the step most feast
BILE at the present time recommend
the extension of the ocean mail act of
1891. That act has stood for some years
| free from successful criticism Of its
principle and purpose. 1t was based
on theories of the obligations of a
great maritime nation, undisputed in
our own land and followed by other
nations since the beginning of steam
navigation. Briefly those theories are
that it is the duty of a first class pow
er so far rs practicable to carry it's
ocean mails under it's own flag; that
| the fast ocean steamships and their
! crews, required for such mail service,
are invaluable auxiliaries to the sea
power of a nation Furthermore. the
| construction of such steamships in
sures the maintenance in an efficient
condition Of the shipyards in which our
battleships must be built.
The expenditure of public money for
the performance Of such necessary
functions Of government is certainly
warranted, nor is it necessary to dwell
upon the incidental benefits to our for
eign commerce. to the shipping indus
try and shipowning and navigation
which will accompany the discharge of
these urgent public duties, though they.
too, should have weight.
The only serious question is whether
at this time we can afford to improve
our ocean mail service as it should be
improved. All doubt on this subject
is removed by the reports of the post
Office department. For the fiscal year
ended June 80, 1907, that department
estimates that the postage collected on
the articles exchanged with foreign
countries other than Canada and Mex
leo amounted to $6,579, 043.4S, or So, 637,
226.S1 more than the net cost Of the
service exclusive Of the cost of trans
porting the articles between the United
States exchange postofces and the
United States postoffices at which they
were mailed or delivered In other
words, the government of the United
States, having assumed monopoly of
carrying the mails for the people, is
making profit of over $3600,OOO by
rendering a cheap and inefficient serv-
ice. That profit believe should be de-
voted to Strengthening our maritime
power in those directions where it will
best promote our prestige. The coun-
try is familiar with the facts of our
maritime impotence in the harbors of
the great and friendly republics of
| South America. Following the failure
Of the shipbuilding bill we lost our
only American line Of steamers to Aus
tralasia. and that loss on the Pacific
has become. a serious embarrassment
to the people of Hawaii and has Who'll
ly cut off the Samoan islands from
regular, communication with the Pa
cific coast. Puget sound in the year
has lost over half -four out of seven)
I Of it's American steamers trading with
the orient.
We now pay. under the act of 1891,
81 statute mile outward to 20 knot
American mail steamships built accord
ing to naval plans, available as cruis-
ers and manned by Americans. Steam
ships of that speed are confined ex-
clusively to transatlantic trade with
New York. To steamships of 16 knots
or over only So mile can be paid, and
it is steamships Of this speed and type
which are needed to meet the require
ments of mail service to South Amer
lea, Asia Gncluding the Phi1ippines)
and Australia. l strongly recommend.
therefore, a simple amendment to the
ocean mail act of 1891 which shall
authorize the postmaster general in his
discretion to enter into contracts for
the transportation of mails to the re-
| publics of South America. to Asia, the
Philippines and Australia at rate not
to exceed 81 Il mile for steamships of
1G knots speed or upward, subject to
the restrictions and obligations of the
act Of 1891. The profit Of $3,6OO,OOO
which has been mentioned will fully
cover the maximum annual expendi-
ture involved in this recommendation
and. it is believed, will in time establish
the lines so urgently needed. The
proposition involves no new principle,