The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1909-04-01

meat of the contracts entered IN
20 by the POstmaster-General
hereunder. and. 50 lar as know
10 the contrary, there has never
been a Democratic vote cast
against these annual appropria-
tIOns. Moreover, the identical
bill, for supporting which il is
now sought TO read me a lesson
IN Democracy. passed the Senate
d year ago tbis month without a
single dissenting vote, after a full
| discussion Of its provisions, and
after the adoption by that body
! of two SmendmentS-One pre-
pared by Senator Bacon, of GeOr-
eia. and the other by Senator
| Simmons. of North Carolina, both
good and true Democrats, which
immensely increased is aCcepta-
bllity to the Democratic minority.
and most eaeCtually removed all
Democratic opposition. One Of
those amendments provided that
It two or more regular lines should
be established, under the provis-
ions of the ocean mail bill OF 1891,
At least one should touch at at
least two ports on the Atlantic
coast south of Cape Charles on
ali outward and homeward vOy-
ages. This meant in all proba-
bility, that line of American
owned steamers. built in American
shipyards and Running to South
American ports. would touch reg
uisrly at either Newport News or
Norfolk, Va. and Charleston, s.
e.. and what that would have
meant to the trade and commerce
OF the Southern States. had this
bill been passed. | leave to the
imagination of my critics. To-
day our mails TO South American
ports are either carried by slow
foreign tramps at irregular inter
walls. or are sent from New York
TO London or liverpool, and
thence, by either British OF Ger
man ships, 10 their destination.
None Of OUT Southern products,
under existing conditions. can be
seat to any South American ports
by any regular line Of vessels.
| The other amendment provided
that the total expenditure for
foreign mail service for any one
year should not exceed the esti-
mated revenue thereirom for that
lyear." This provision robbed It's
opponents OF even 4 pretext for
charaCterizing the bill as a mere
gTatHity or subsidy measure. IL
provided beyond a.y peradven-
ture that the contemplated ocean
mail service should be sell-sus-
tanning. that it should not take
one dollar out Of the public treas
lury, and-I submit that, in view OF
the Obvious benc6ts. direct and
indirect. TO be derived from this
proposed mail service. liberal
yes, even gen eTous-cOmEensa-
ton should not be within ED by
Congress. especially when it in
wolves no payment out Of the
public treasury. II snch cOmpen.
satiOn for services actually per.
, formed is to be characterized as
ship subsidy" what ought we
to call the immense sums so lone
paid the Southern Railway Com
pany for so-cailed fast mail ser
wee. which received the hearty
support OF many Of the Southern
Democrats in Congress who nou
baiS az this ocean mail service
billi And il it be undemocratic
TO expend a sum not in excess OF
the receipt Of the service for
ocean mail service. VIXEN that
service will open up new markets
: for Southern products. create an
increased American trade and
commerce. provide an auxiliary
Reet in time Of war. promote the
= upbuilding and resuscitation Of
Cur merchant marine, and rrovide
work for our shipyards, what
must be said Of Our rural free de-
livery system. which costs the
United States annually some SIo.-
Ooo.oO0 more than is derived
thsrefSoml
Simply because the opponent.
| of the ocean mail service bill 30,