The Washington herald., 1908-03-21
THE SOUTH GAINS a POINT
Amendment Adopted Providing. that
ships Benefited by Law Shall Call
at Southern Ports IL More Than
One Line Gets Subvenfion-EIale
Exposes Nnvy's weakness.

class rates TO third-class vessels
First-class vessels are vessels rated at
a speed of sixteen knots; third-class YES
sells are vessels rated at fourteen knots
The present ocean-man law gives 10
twenty-knot vessels that cross the At
lantic TO European ports "a a mile for
mail service. to sixteen-knot vessels 81 a
mile. and 20 fourteen-knot vessels 81 a
mile. The bill passes yesterday raises
the rate FOR sixteen-knOt ships in the
South American. Australasian, and ORR
entail services from 81 20 81 a mile. and
the rate for fourtsen-knot ships from
81 TO s. mile. Ia short. the rates are
doubled.
Senator Bacon, OF Georgia. offered an
amendment providing that at least one
line Of ships getting the benefit OF the
liberal mail-carrying contracts should be
required to make at least two stops south
OF Cape Charles on the way to South
American ports.
Mr.. Bacon said tha; the South Atlantic
ports had large lumber trade with South
America. and their cotton export trade
was large. Under the bin before the SEN
ate. the South would be cut out of a
steamship line for the next fifty years
Would Delay, Says GaIIInEer.
Senator Gallinger. In charge OF the BILL
explained tha; Il would be a perversion
OF the purpose Of the bill II the amend
ment OF Mr. Bacon were accepted. It
would take the ships from New York
many miles out OF their normal course,
lAla,- 4ba ,,,afgs 81 - A.. s~..,--.,.- 80
South America slow and unattractive TO
shippers Mr.. Gallinger was soTry that
sectional tinge Was reflected upon the
bill by the remarks OF the Senator from
Georgia
At this point Mr.. Bacon interrupted
and expressed surprise at the turn given
his views. He would have the bin non
sectional. He had nc thought that II was
intended 10 help either New York or Bos-
ton or shipOwners. but to aid the CON-
meree OF the whole country. He did not
know that this subsidy was for the pur-
pose of inducing some men to build ships
or possibly 70 accelerate the South
American mails, but he had looked with
favor upon the bin merely because ne
thought It had been designed for the
purpose Of developing the trade OF this
country. going out and coming back. II
this were merely a subsidy to help
man build ships. ard not a subsidy for
the toiler and for the material benefit
OF the country, ne wanted none Of f.
NewIaads Wants Commission.
Mr. Newlands, Of Nevada, offered an
amendment providing for Foreign Com
Secretary OF the Navy, the Postmaster
General. and the Secretary OF Commerce
and Labor. This commission was TO re-
port 10 Congress The amendment further
provided that the government should
build the ships 10 carry these ocean mails
and have them OF such character that
they could be used as auxiliaries in time
OF war. Mr. Newlan6s also suggested
that the government could let the ships
for use in time Of peace in developing
foreign trade. He also submitted that
the government might in its mail con-
tracts provide that they shall be carried
only in such ships as would be avail
able IN time Of war as auxiliary ships.
The proposal OF Mr.. Newlands got
added strength from Mr.. Hale. of Maine
who made an impromptu address that
seemed 10 impress and astonish the Sen
ate. coming from the Senate's authority
on naval matters.
Hale UphOIds NevaSan.
The Senator from Nevada has made a
timely suggestion" Mr.. Hale began. I'VE
have assembled the greatest fleet Of for
midable ships the whole world has ever
seen Ii is completely manned. and in
every respect. except one. the most mag
nificent that has ever been put upon the
ocean. This great fleet has been seng on
its voyage around the earth, dependent
on its existence as a navy. depending on
its movements on the indulgence Of for
eign powers have here q list OF collierS
without which a feet can do nothing. that
arc attending our feet on its long VOYAGE
"Nine-only nine-of these coliiers are
our own; all the others, twenty-eight in
number. in attendance on our fleet. are
chartered from foreign owners.
Our fleet. magnificent as il is. without
the support OF those foreign colliers.
would be as useless as painted shin upen
a painted ocean. I am not sure that I'm
case of war neutral powers would not
be compelled TO withdraw the GOLFERS that
VIC nave AIOIn Iueln.
1t is not an agreeable thing 10 speak
OF. We go on building these immense
ships, atNenormous cost. and rashlv and
with great foolhardiness we neglect and
abandon the building OF auxiliarles. with
out which our great ships are absolutely
worthless"
Teller PrOPOunas a Poser.
Senator Teller moved across the aisle IN
get close to Mr.. Hale. and addressing him
added:
why, then. has this feet been sent on
its spectacular voyage? I do not under
stand t. What is the purpose Of it?"
Mr.. Hale replied that it was not for him
TO explain.
Senator Perkins. supporting the bill.
read d letter from the Secretary Of the
Navy. TO the effect that It was impossible
for the Navy Department te get efficient
American Golfers to carry coal for Adni-
raj Evans feet, even after il offered
them 50 per cent more than foreign rates
In response TO Senator Culberson thr
minority leader. who said his vote de-
pended upon the answer Senator CAL
linger explained that If there were any
gratuity OF subsidy provided by the bill. il
was very slight. The mail subsidy paid
to twenty fast ships in the Atlantic was
less than these ships would earn by car
rying the mails az pound rates
Senator Frye told Of one Investigation
that was made by him in 1891. which
showed that carrying mails at pound