Evening star., 1908-01-13

japanese people since the re1OrmatlOn OF
1868. when the present mikado was re-
stored to authority. 1t will be forty
four years in 1912 since Japan took her
place among the powers of the world.
and her progress during that period has
been greater than that of any other ma
ton In the history of civilization
Our own relations, political and COM
mercial, are worth celebrating. Our po-
litical relations began when Commodore
Perry went over to Japan in 1854. Our
commercial relations began practically
with the centennial exposition of 1876, at
Philadelphia, when the markets Of this
country were opened for Japanese silks.
tea and works of art. and we began to
ship our manufactured products and ma
chinery over there The trade between
the two countries received an enormous
impetus at the Columbian exposition at
Chicago. when japan made her debut as
an exhibition and had one of the largest
and most attractive displays of any for
eign nation. Then began the flood of
curios and manufactured goods that has
since been pouring across the Pacific into
this country until in 1907 our imports
from Japan reached the enormous sum of
try were $3S.77O.O6O This trade is very
largely the result of international ex-
positions.
In his message to Congress President
Roosevelt heartily indorsed the plan and
asked immediate authority to accept the
invitation to the Nippon Dai Bakuran
Kwai. He urged prompt action by Con-
gress because, as President Cleveland
said, in his message conveying an invita-
ton to the French exposition of 1900, the
period of four years and half Is none
too long for the proper preparation of the
exhibits.
Subsidies to British Lines.
The official report of the British post
Office department shows the amount Of
,l,cfJ ctn Chi J;na fa.
rying the mails during the year 1907 under
the British flag between the ports of Great
Britain and other parts of the world:
r. o. Co. to Australia and India 81 654 61O
Cunard steamers to United States. ...... 433, 1l9
Canadian Pacific Co.. ........;...... 29l. 800
african a mails; : =. ....... loi .s3l
r. 5. r. Co. to south America. ... 135' '7Ss
Royal Mail Co. to Central America. s5.l64
Mail service to France 12l ,662
Mail service to Holland. .............. 14l37
Total 81 SOL 772
Next year the subsidy to the Cunard
company will be increased to $695.91O be-
cause of the addition to it's fleet of the
Lusitania and Mauretania. the new tur-
bine flyers.
The above table shows the amounts paid
to British ships only. 1t does not include
the mail pay given to ships Of other ma
tions, which bring the postage bill of
Great Britain UP to nearly four million
dollars a year.
During the same time the government of
the United States paid s2,941,816 for the
transportation of its mails upon the sea
The chief items were as follows:
Transatlantic mails service. 81 81 S73
Transpacihc service. ......,............. 313 1914
Miscellaneous service. e.................. 6S3 465
Panama railroad service. ........... 4747O
And for various other purposes the balance
This total includes the entire cost of for
eign mail transportation of which 81 332,-
3b3 went to American ships under con-
tracts. The American line received of this
about $75O,0OO The New York and Cuba
mail steamers about. $3.50, 600, the Panama
railroad steamers 100000 and others ac-
cordingly.
Profits on Ocean Mail Service.
Mr.. McCleary, second assistant post
master general. who has charge OF this
branch Of the service, calls my attention
to the fact that the government OF the
United States made profit Of $3,637,226
last year out of the ocean mail service.
The entire receipts from foreign postage
were $6.579,043. The entire expenditures
to our own ships and to those of other
nations for carrying mails to foreign
countries were s2.941.S27. The balance
was turned into the Treasury to pay
other expenses of the government and
help make up the deficit on second-class
matter. 1t would seem as If portion
of 1t might be expended for the main
tenance Of mail service between our
ports and those Of South America and
Australia.
II have recommended the extension of
the ocean mail act of 1891, authorizing
contracts with Aperican ships" said Mr.
McCleary. That act has stood for some
years free from successful criticism of
it's principles and purpose. 1t was based
upon theories of the obligation of a
great maritime nation, undisputed in our
n land and followed nv other ha
since the beginning of steam navigation
Briefly, those theories are. that it is the
duty of a first-class power. so far as
practicable, to carry it's ocean mails un-