The Washington herald., 1909-03-03
SUBSIDY Is LOST
BY THREE VOTES
House Declines to Increase
Pay for Hauling Mails.
LIVELY DEBATE ON QUESTION
Representative Landis Makes Strong
Appeal FOR Measure, Declaring the
Progress of the nation Depends on
ActfOn-COckran, Burton, Champ
Clark, and HObsOn Also Speak

The Pacific mail subsidy bill was de-
fsatsd in the House OF Representatives
yesterday by a vote Of 175 TO L. after
one Of the most interesting debates % the
session. The fight began at L:S9 o'clock,
and the vote was taken last night few
minutes after s.
Following the debate a motion was
made TO suspend the rules and pass the
blT the Republicans believing they had
enough strength to see the movement
through, but several Of the members who
pledged sheir support did not answer 10
their names when the roll was called.
Speaker Cannon voted for the bill
The bill proposed TO give 10 the vessels
Of the second class. making sixteen knots
an hour, 81 an hour on the outward v0y-
age. instead Of &. as at present. and to
the vessels OF the third class. making
fourteen knots an hour, 8, instead OF s..
The vessels that would have been af-
fected by the passage Of the bill are
those whose voyages exceed 400 miles,
sailing 10 South America, the Philippines,
Japan, China. and Australia
Many Join In Debate.
The debate was entered into by Repre-
sentatives Fassett, OF New York; Ian
dis. Of Indiana; Overstreet, Of Indiana,
and Hobson, OF Alabama, supporting the
bin. while Representatives Burton, OF
ONO; Cochran. OF New York; Champ
Clark. Of Missouri, and Moon. OF Ten
nessee. opposed the measure
Il was probably the last tine. at least
for two years. that Mr Lands. Mr.
Overstreet. 8Ir. Cochran. and Mr.. Burton,
viii he heard in debate on the floor Of
the Mouse
Mr.. Burton declared subsidizing any
thing was not the way to improve It. He
said that K was human nature for any
thing receiving help TO ask for more He
cid mot believe any nations progress In
commerce could be traced 70 subsidy. and
in isubstantiation ef his statements re-
feired TO the difference IN revenues Of
the two great steamship systems OF Ger
many. He said the one subsidized paid
TIE smaller dividends.
HObson FavOrs BILL
Capt. FEobson was very much IN favor
Sf extending the mail system by subsidiz-
Ang he lines He declared the time was
touing when all OF the nations OF the
world would rush for the commerce OF
Latin America. and he believed the United
Estates would be handicapped unless
trade relations were improved. He said
the way 70 begin was 20 pass the bin.
and gradually build up the steamship
systems Capt Hobson was cheered
J generously by the Republicans opposing
! the bin
Representative J SlOat Fassett said
! other nations had chosen 10 sUbsidIze
ships. and when our trade rivals are
fdriving Us of the sea by the Unstinted-
\nor 70 say the Uuscrupulous-use OF di-
irect government aid. il does not become
Jus 20 be squeamish in employing the same
imesns for defense and growth
Champ Clark said it was Just another
fattempt TO spend the governments money
! and that he was against any such wild
J proposition" Mr.. Clark could see ab-
/ soluteiy no benefit 10 be deri=ed from
= tae mail subsidy bin.
Declares Il Urgent Need.
Representative lands made one OF the
klesrest cut speeches Of the day in favor
bf the bill. He referred 20 the great
fcommercial area OF Latin America, and
tsaid that the United States was simply fall
{ tng behind and letting other nations get
ahead He said trade with South America
was worth far more than that with China
or japan
TO get American ships for that trade
( and 10 make the United States independ-
ent on the sea, as she is on the land.
subsidies must be paid he declared. ~AIl
other propositions for restoring the ner-
chant marine have failed
The currents OF ocean commerce Ia
this western hemisphere are going to
be changed There wiz be one cross
roads al which the world VIII meet
All az once. without having fully appre-
ciated. until recently, what the comple-
ton OF that gigantic undertaking would
mean 70 them. Mexico, Central America
South America, and the islands Of the
West Indies are 10 find themselves lift
ed from the way station to Headquarters
Never, never IN al time, has anything
been done by the hand OF man that mems
80 much directly 10 so many people as
this canal means to them. And unless
We wake up. it win Be proportionately
detrimental 10 US.
Our only hope Of winning BY this i'm
mediate steps, TO share IN the coming
progress and prosperity Of Latin
America-to get into that broad and IN
Vlting market with energy and courage.
Close Relations Necessary.
In my judgment. the tine has come
for the people Of the United States to
make a speciality of Latin America We
want to make up our minds to get better
acquainted There is every evidence that
such a determination on our part would
be heartily reciprocated by the people Of
those twenty republics. We want 10 get
better acquainted with Latin America.
And Latin America wants 10 get better
acquainted with US. We have been do
ing little visiting on both sides. We
should DO more. We have been doing 2
little trading on both sides We should
do more.
Some one has referred TO Latin Amer
lea as the worlds neutral marIet. Bv
that ! presume IS meant market omen
te the cultivation Of all nations on euuzl
terms. Il is well applied to Latin Amer
lea But the application CT that term
robs no nation OF natural advantaSe with
reference 70 this neutral market. And
that IS what We have had. And that Is
what we have neglected. And that Is
what We viii have 10 turn our attention
to now. with the completion OF the Pan
ANA Canal, CT drop so far in the rear as
never 70 be able 70 regain the advantage
We have thus far all but sacrificed.
Conditions Changed.
Some people are inclined 70 sneer
when the statement is made that the
trade Of Latin America IS worth cult
vating. Such people do not know that
those twenty republics are carrying on