New-York tribune., 1910-03-23


iS no' a Subsidy. The truth rs that an a.
- eNpsnoitunes serve the public soos -,
the same considerations thar t,,-,,,s soeD' ana
Justify the other believe. bo1,.,.-- .ie one
case Tor tho ocean mail servi,. !. -, ',,@' lne
''oisesi OF the three. for he-e a. --I ene
y not 10 spend sum of u.aD,,- -, .i''oi 10
more revenue and no
.,' p certain that sum not evoo,a,,.- 9,
'''Oo uhoer properly guarded eoD,r,c,s 80,
suine'eht 70 create new lines q, Ar,a-,---
'.'" steamships where none nou o,,., = -
.f4neipal countries % South Au,sr,.o -, :. -
me Faeihc Ocean Very much s,,,l,.-
'u'es nave actually created exceri.,. -
Nnes OF steamships shorter ana - -,
'ss' 10 the Me1 Indies. Cuha Af.xt.,, -,
u'Ater ports OF South America. Trh. ,,ol;o.
a'ol'eo IN the ocean mail bIn IS siuplv ,b.. ov-
<,'-.s-,' - ne" routes % a principle already
Jusuiied by the strengthening of our
! -. ana the expansion OF our
-N"'iiefoe- IL = no accident that Ar,e-s,.,
merchants control 90 per cen, % ,b. ,r,,,. =.
those Latin-American countries 20 z-hio,, -.
iar American steamship lines are running ~.
UHey manage 70 secure only II or II r,er 80,
~ nc uaoe % those countries .xhfther ,,,.,-
I'uai sena Their mails and goods An tl,e shin. -
i"ielsh sofernments. cur rivals in trade aps
possible enemies in Nar.
Pay for Services Rendered..
friends q this ocean mail legislation o,,-,,
"'' % aiio" themselves 10 be drawn OF h,- thp
"lposltlon into foolish and illogical disr,,S-io,
90 a general snip subsidy bill. Tb.r. 4. no
o''-aI snip subsidy measure before con--.ss
NeN sIaT'eTs and others that speak Of iris n,o
i0sea measure as a subsidy bill either do not
s'-'o ais terms or are prone TO an in
'--'tt Use oi iaiisuage The expenditures which
'le oiA proposes are distinctly nav, fo- s-,,-
taUt public services rendered Ia tb, g., -.
the steamships required TO perform the service
must be built according 10 the requirements ~
eAisOns law. in the United States. under in
Shecnon q the Navy Department. with refer
eii'e 70 tHelr use as auxiliary cruisers and fast
transports or supply ships in case Of war. They
must pass rigid trials under boards OF naval
oHlcers. They must be entirely oaioerea h.,
American citizens. and manned by crews =
-'iEe and increasing proportion of whom must
"e Americans. This requirement OF an Amer
can crew Is not made Of any ordinary CONNER
eial ship. nor does such a ship have 70 be built
1naer naval inspection or turned over 10 the
government in war
Moreover, the mail ste2 2nIships. once IN COM
mission, must perform a fixed and uuEa-y-ing
sehedule They must san - a given hour
whether they haVe any cargo and passengrrs
ur not They must maintain certain speed
and any irregulsrity in the service is punished
by severe fines ana penalties by the Postonce
Department. Our American policy in this re-
spe-t is declaled boy maritime authorities 10 be
ne most eslacting in TIE world.
The compensation provided in tie ocean mail
ban Tor this service Is substantially that given
for Ike service by foreign governments. Fore
ample, the British line across the NOrth Pacific
lrcIn British Columbia 10 japan and China rs
paid Gt the rate OF - 6S mlie for l6-knot
steamships. Existing America law would give
American steamships of sixteen knots only s. 80
a mile. The new bill proposes that American
steamships o. from sixteen 10 nineteen knots
siall receive g 80 a mile but shall be required
10 make the longer and oostlier passage 10 the
Philippines. and shall carry crews made up Of
white men and not Of coolies. Service oOnsid-
cred. The 81 90 q mile 20 the American ship is
certainly no more, and is probably less. than
equivalent 10 ,he s. IS a mile 70 the British
stca mCrs.
Why Forsignsrs Have Good Servies.
Il believe that very few Senators viii be found
willing 10 oppose the granting 10 American mail