New-York tribune., 1909-02-26
AID FOR MAIL SHIPS
F4VOR4BLE REPORT FOR
SUBVENTION BILL.
Seeks to DeCeiop Ne50 Ocean Lines
Congress Nay Enact 1t at
This Session.

rFrom The Tribune Bureau
Washington, Feb, 25.-The shipping bill. which
was introduced in the Senate by Mr.. Ga1linger
of New Hampshire. and passed by the upper
house year ago, was favorably reported to the
House to-day and its friends are confident that
it viii become law at this session. The vote
will be taken under a special rule Saturday.
and Representative GoebeI, of Ohio, who has long
been an advocate of this class of legislation
predicts that 1t will pass with not less than
fifteen votes to spare. He and Representative
Watson of Indiana. the Republican whip, are
actively engaged in making poll cf the House
and as the leaders are strongly in favor of the
measure no effort will be spared to insure its
adoption The measure enjoys The cordial and
often voiced Endorsement of the President.
Properly speaking. this is not ship subsidy
bill although it is often so termed, chiefly be-
cause it was framed and advocated by those
who originally favored subsdizing the merchant
marine. and who. finding that the opposition to
such measure was insuperable sought to de-
monstrate the accuracy of their views by induc-
ing Congress to make an experiment by increas-
ing the compensation to mail-caTrying ships, as
is provided for by this bill.
The postal subvention bill, reported to-day, IS
merely an amendment to the existing law fixing
the rates TO be paid for the carriage of ocean
mails 1t leaves existing contracts exactly as
they are in no way increasing the compensa-
ton Of the carriers. but seeks to develop new
mail lines routes where experience has
proved that the present rate of compensation is
Inadequate 1t therefore authorizes the POST
master General to pay not more than 81 a mile
TO sixteen knot and 81 a mile to fourteen knot
steamers on routes to South America, the phil
ippines, Japan China and Australasia. provided
such routes are four thousand miles or more IN
length The rate now paid to twenty knot yes
sels sailing TO Europe IS $4 mile.
A g. 3000-nile 20-knot American mail line has
been established to Europe and other lines
two thousand miles less in length, to the
West Indies. Mexico and Venezuela but after
seventeen years the present rates have abso-
Iutely failed to create a contract mail service
to Brazil. Argentina, Chill. Peru or the Orient
A line was started in 1901 across the Pacific TO
Australasia, but it proved financial failure
and two years ago was abandoned
Not one American steamship is now running
on either the Atlantic or the Pacific to South
America. not one to Australasia, and only FIVE
or six 10 the Orient The chief South American
mails are sent out by way OF Europe The ships
on the Pacific have shrunk in number one-ha!f
in two years
The making OF contracts under this bill is left
TO the discretion Of the Postmaster General. hur
the expenditure on this country's entire ocean
mail service Is limited TO the estimated revenue
from that service. IneTe Is now al dppditIlA
net profit from the ocean mail OF about $500
coo a year. The Postoffice Department esu-
mates that this will suffice 70 create two 10
knot mail lines TO South America and two to
Japan China and the Philippines, sailing alter
nately and providing a weekly service. and one
TO Australasia.
The ships under this law, must be American
built. owned and oficered. and certain in
creasing proportion OF their crews must be
American citizens All 16-knot and 14-knot
steamers must be built on designs approved by
the Navy Department for auxiliary service. and
in case Of need must be turned 10 the
government Thus the bill provides not only for
a swift and regular ocean mail service, but In
cidentaIy for a fleet of auxiliary cruisers, fast
transports and supply ships
An amendment adopted by the Senate stipu-
lates that If line is established from At
lantic ports south Of Cape Charles to South
America, and more than two lines are estab
lished from North Atlantic ports vessels of one
OF these lines shall touch going and coming
at at least two Atlantic ports south of Cape
Charles.