Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-05-16

| tIOuuuuH0 lTOln ftot oeS'J
ing our ocean mails in American yes
sells, Il seems TO me, ought TO be clear
To any one gifted with human inteih-
gence. The one is a Republican doc
trine of recent growth, and, as yet
untried in this coGntry-the other was
initiated by a Democratic Congress
and put into successful effect by a
Democratic President, James X. POLK,
more than sixty years ago.
THE original Ocean Mail BIZ was
passed in the year 1915. and a sup
plimentary act, extending its proyi-
slons. two years later, also by DEM
ocratic congress.
| The Original Efforts.
ITO Senators Thomas Butler King.
, of Georgia. and Thomas j. Rusk, or
TENS, whose efforts in behalf OF an
ocean mail service were put forth AS
early as 1S41. more than others, Is due
the the credit OF this legislation-leg-
islation which so marveOusly contr.-
buted TO the upbuilding of the Ameri-
4 can merchant marine and which made
the succeeding decade the most pros
porous In the history OF American
shipbuilding. That was truly the
golden age OF the American mer-
chant marine
The first mail contract let under
this law was for a service between
New York and Bremen, the amount
paid being 100000 year fer twenty
round trips. And this. think, in ad-
dition to the postal receipts. Soon
thereafter other contracts were en-
tered into for service TO the West In
dies, the Isthmus of Panama, and
points along the Pacific coast. Since
the year 1S4S the Pacific Mail Com
pany, the greatest Of all American
lines, has been the recipient CT APP
propriations made frcm the public
treasury for carrying the mails.
'sUnder this Democratic legislation,
too contract was entered into with
the Collins company. by which that
American line was TO make 20 round
trips a year between New York and
Liverpool. and carry the U. s. mails
for S3S5.000. In 1852 this compensa-
ton was increased to SS5S,OO0 for 20
voyages. In view of such inconteSt-
BILE facts as these how the proposed
legislation embodied in the ocean
mail bill which rallied in the ocean
last House could be characterized as
new and 'undemocratic' passes my
comprehension.
Principle Never Abandoned.
1T is true that a Democratic con-
gress in 1856 reduced the compensa-
ton paid the Collins line, and that
in 1858 certai'I changes were made
in the manner of payments. The prin-
ciple so long ago inaugurated under
Democratic auspices. however, has
never been abandoned. The bitter an
ti-slavery agitation which marked the
decade just previous to the Civil war
was wholly responsible for any change
subsequent to 1852 in the attitude OF
Southern Democratic congrS ssmen to-
ward these so-called mail subsidies.
American foreign shipping was mainly
an Eastern industry, as was slavery
a southern institution 1t was per-
haps too much TO expect Southern rep
resentatives to continue TO treat a
question in which the North had a
peculiar interest in the broad spirit
OF Americanism, when representatives
of that section were engaged IN
ceaseless warfare upon interests of
which they were immediate represen-
tatives.
1T was under such extraordinary
conditions in these-such exasperat-
ing and depIorable conditions-that
many Southern Democrats vSted TO
reduce the pay Of the Collins COM
pany, and to restrict that CT other
lines enjoying mail contracts to the
sea and land postage.
Pre-eminensIy Democratic.
so that whatever may be said OF
the wisdom OF such legislation no one
can. in the light OF more than half
century Of history. truthfully describe
ii as undemocratic. As a matter OF
fact such legislation is preeminently
Democratic.
But, in my opinion, the defeated
bill, FOR which vo.ed. vas. as ] said
in a speech on the floor Of the House,
as wise in economy as II was sccInd
in principle repeat that, in my
judgment. It will not be long before
the country will compel action by
congress aIcng these lines. The ton
mage OF American ships. engaged In
our f1reign commerce. is 100000 less
todly than it was hundred years
ago. Those who hereafter place their
opposition TO a fair and reasonable
ocean mail service measure on the
indesensible ground thar such a meas
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