Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-01-20
Probable That Congress Will
Adopt Modified Measure Fav-
ored BY Roosevelt
BONUS FOR CERTAIN LINES
Steamships to South American and
Oriental Ports to Receive Govern
mont Aid-StyIed Ocean Mail Pro-
ject-Unanimous Report Expected
From Committee.

Washington, Jan. 20.-Before the
close of the present session of con-
gress bill will be passed granting a
subsidy to steamships to South Amer
lea and the orient, and the measure
will have the approval Of the presi-
dent
This is the program Of the repub-
lican leaders. The party having been
committed to the principle of promot-
ing development of the American mer-
chant marine, it dares on the eve OF
presidential election to take the re-
sponsibility of action. At the close of
the last congress only the hlibustering
tactics of the democrats prevented the
enactment of ship subsidy bill. These
tactics can be of no avail during the
present session, for adjournment oc-
ours at any time the will Of the re-
publican majority dictates Therefore
the president, speaker, and republican
senators have determined to have ac-
ton during the present session.
1t Is not intended to have bill
which can be called Subsidy meas
ure. 1t will be known as an ocean
mail" project and its ostensible pur-
pose will be to establish direct steam
ship connection with South America
and the orient for transportation Of
mails under the American flag. The
postmaster general is committed to
the idea, for in his annual report he
stated that lowing to the lack Of
American steamship lines to South
America our mails are obliged in many
instances, particularly in the cases of
Brazil and Argentina, to be forwarded
via Europe" He added that ito en-
able transportation Of our mails under
our own flag direct to those countries
and to the orient as well l urgently
those provided by act Of March 8,
1891"
, The secretary of commerce and la
Dor made an urgent plea in his an
nual report for the development of
our merchant marine, recommending
to this end measure that would in
sure superior mail communications
with the republics of South America,
with Australia by way of our insular
territories in the mid Pacific and with
the Philippines by way of Japan and
China. The president capped the rec
concentrations of his subordinates by
strongly advocating mail subsidy
bill.
Il am we'll aware" he said. that in
former years Objectionable measures
have been proposed in reference to the
encouragement of American shipping,
but it seems to me that the proposed
measure is as nearly unobjectionable
as any can be. 1t will, of course, ben
eft primarily our seaboard states,
such as Maine, Louisiana and Wash
ington, but what benefits part of our
people in the end benefits ALL just as
government aid to irrigation and for
estry in the west is really of benefit not
only to the Rocky mountain states but
to all our country.
IF it prove impracticable to enact a
law for the encouragement of ship
ping generally, then at least provision
should be made for better communi-
cation with South America. notably for
fast mail lines to the chief South Am
erican ports. 1t is not desirable to us
that our business people, for lack of
direct communication in the shape of
lines of steamers with South America,
should in that great sister continent
be at disadvantage compared to the
business people of Europe"
The president Is prepared to send a
special message to congress repeating
his views if it should be necessary but
the leaders do not anticipate that any
thing of the kind will be required. The
house committee on postoffices and
postroads to which the ocean mail bill
was referred instead of the committee
on merchant marine and fisheries, has
constituted subcommittee, of which
Representative Goebel, of Cincinnati,
is chairman, to consider the subject of
foreign mail communication.
Representative Goebel, of course, Is
in favor of the bill This subcommit-
tee has asked Representative Over
street, of Indiana, chairman of the
committee, if it may hold hearings.
and he has given his consent. These
hearings will be pushed so that some
time in March bill can be reported
to the full committee, and by that
body to the house. A rule will be
brought in at once and the measure
damned thru.
Opposition to q subsidy in any form
is expected to be weakened as re-
suit of the action of republicans in de-
! veloping IAN ocean mail'' measure, but
in any event a count Of noses which
has been made establishes to the salts
faction Of the leaders that the house
will give approval to the recommends
ton of the committee
In the senate it is believed the COM
mittee on postoffices and postroads
will make a unanimous report favor
able to the proposed bill. This COM
mittee was carefully made up when
the organization Of the senate occurred
for the express purpose of securing en-
phatic Endorsement Of the project. 1t