Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-09-30
Washington Bureau of
The Ottllmwa Courier.

| ,
Washington, D. c.. Sept. 2S.
That the whole force of the admin
istratiOn is being put behind the move-
ment to get some sort of legislation
mex. winter calculated to build up the
merchant marine is pretty clearly
demonstrated by the trend of the con-
sular reports. These reports TEEN with
matter which furthers the idea that
subsidy legislation is desirable for this
cou try and that without subsidies for
American shipping. American trade
and shipping interests are at a disad-
vantage.
So much Of this matter appears in
the consular reports that it leaves the
impression that the consuls are In
structed to omit no opportunity to
further subsidy legislation. At any
rate, they are not overlooking oppor-
tunities in that direction nor does the
bureau of manufactures of the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor, which
las charge of the publication of con-
su'ar reports, fail to obtain great
deal of publicity for whatever is in
furtherance Of the subsidy idea. Much
contained in the consular reports finds
it's WAY into tie House or Senate to be
used in support of arguments for sub
sidy legislation and much of 1t is used
by speakers in behalf of the cause Of
subsidy, who are making an education
Ill campaign over lHt country anu nave
been for some months. In other words,
some valuable subsidy ammunition is
furnished by the consular officers. IN
the debate over SUBSIDY matters 1.e6t
winter. much will be heard Of the re-
por;s which they are making.
Illustrative Of the ;rond OF cons,ilar
opinion and reports on this question.
an exhaustive one, by Consul General
r,Gk nf Rip do J1na:r1
lis IN Icint. II deals with the question
Of How American trade with Brazil
and South America in general is han .
dicapped by Inadequate shipping scrv-
ice" This report is important because
1T covers n vide scope and deals quite
generally with the South America n
shipping situation. Mr.. Andersons re-
port will be quickly seized on by eha
subsidy advocates. and the more 50 as
one Of the strong points they will try
to make next winter is that the gov
ing expansion of trade and Develop
lacnr in South America constantly
makes it iaore important that Amer
lean shipping interests take larger
part in South American business.
Mr.. Anderson says that as the re-
silt of more OF less aid from thu gov
ern,nt ntE concerned, within the past
three years there has been developed
between the east coast of South
America and the several countries of
Europe, notably Great Britain, Ger
many. France and Italy, a service of
fast modern ships, the least of them
of IA knots speed, (which has come to
be a prominent factor in the foreign
commerce of that coast with the rest
OF the world" He said:
'"rhe number of such ships entering
and clearing from the port of Rio dc
JaEeiro from and to Europe has doubl-
ed in the past three years so that
there is now, on an average, about
twenty ships of such speed, and an av-
erage gross tonnage of about $500 tons
es oh per moath in either direction, af-
fording mail connections between Rio
de Janeiro and European points about
sixteen times a month, in twelve to
fifteen day voyages. compared with
two twelve-knot ships per month, with
ar average gross tonnage of about g.
200 tons each, between New York and
Rio de Janeiro, sailing on an eighteen
and one half day schedule By reason
of such communication Europe and
eastern South America are becoming
more and more closely related, while
American trade is suffering