New-York tribune., 1911-01-12
POSTAL SUBVENT|ON Up
Senator GaIIinger Outlines Pur'
pose Of His Bill.
FAVORED BY PRESIDENT
Measure Designed to Promote
Trade with South ana
Central America.
IErn-n The Trlhun. Bureau.

OGUlIdl
From Tie Tribune Bureau
Washington, Jan. 1.-THE postal SUD
vention bill. designed to encourage ana
aid i'm the establishment OF Ahercah
steamship lines I'm the trade with Brazil
Argentina, Chill, Peru and other oou'h
American countries. was formally launched
I'm the Senate to-day by Senator GaHinger,
who delivered a speech outlining the pur-
pose Of his measure. The interest WIN
which his plea for the promotion OF trace
south Of the equator was received WAS m
dicated by the suggestion OF Senator Haze
who Immediately afterwnrd delivered
short speech in support OF the bill and ex-
pressed the hope that the senate Nouiu
pass II by next week.
The present measure. as explained by
Senator Galllnger, is an extension OF the
purpose of the postal subvention ieglsia-
tion Of 1897, and confers on the Postmaster
General the authority to pay American
steamships UP 20 100000 for carrying
mail 10 South American countries. The
conditions under which these payments
may be made have been carefully consid-
erod I'm order that there may be no pos
siblity OF Objectionable results. The meas
ure has the support OF President Taft, who
considers IL one OF the most important be-
fore Congress.
Senator Gallinger drew attention 10 the
small share Of the United States in the
South American trade. largely due to the
fact that there are no facilities for Ameri-
can shippers. while European countries
have established and maintained lines Of
steamers by means OF ship subsidies He
outlined a plan of sailngs for southern
ports which may be expected. II full ad-
vantage Is taken Of the proposed subven-
tion by American shipbuiders, and suG-
Sested the enormous possibilities Of trade
development with the growing countries
OF the southern continent.
Senator Hale. who followed Senator Gal
linger. was quite as enthusiastic in support
of the bill "The picture drawn by the
Senator from New Hampshire" he said.
'is one 10 fire the Imagination. The con-
dtion OF our South American trade is a
problem which has always confronted the
Senate The Oriental trade is relatively
unlmportant compared to Il. I hope that
the Senate will give this question its i'm
mediate attention. We ought 10 pass the
bill at least by the middle Of next week"
Senator Gallinger said IN part:
II is probable that II this bill is passed
there will eventually be established three
lines from our Atlantic coast To the east
coast Of South America-to Brazil, tru-
quay and Argentina-One or more OF these
lines touching. as the bill requires, at least
one port south OF Cape Charles. II is also
probable that there will be established one
line from the Gulf coast 10 the east coast
of South America, and one line from the
Gulf coast through the Panama Canal 10
the west coast of South America, chill and
Peru, and one or two lines from the Pacific
coast TO Panama and South America.
II is likely that there will also be estab-
lished, not under the proposed bill. but
indirectly as consequence OF IL and or the
general stimulus given by il 10 shipbuild-
ing and navigation, short line under the
present rate Of compensation from a Gulf
port 10 Colon, a line from the Atlantic
coast to Colon and two lines from the Pa
cifC coast to Panama.
To equip these new lines would require
from thirty-five to forty steamships Of from
sixteen 10 twenty knots. ranging I'm size from
5000 to l2,Ob gross tons. and costing each
from $4,000 to 100000. Maritime au-
thoritieS say that no steamships like those
requisite for such a service nov exist dis
engaged in the United States, and that
new ships must be built before the lines
can be established. This work would take
TWO OF llTPF years.
Those new steamships would come under
the general provisions OF the law OF 1891.
They would have TO be built on designs
approved by the Navy Department with
reference to prompt and economical conver-
sion into auxiliary cruisers in time OF war
They would have TO be capable OF carrying
batteries of high power riied cannon, and
I'm case Of need would have TO be turned
over 10 the government. All Of their Of
Acers. and in the first two years Of
contract at least One-fourth. in the next
three years at least one-third, and there
after at least one-half of their men must
be American citizens. The ships must
carry a certain number of American boys
to he trained In seamanship. The wisdom
and practicability Of these requirements
were proved i'm the Spanish war, when our
entire feet Of mail steamships operating
under the law Of 1891 on the line To Europe
and the lines to the West Indies and the
Gulf of Mexico was taken over by the gov
ernment and found ready for immediate
and efficient service. Unfortunately those
auxiliary naval steamships were too few.
The proposed bill aims TO increase their
number to a fleet more nearly equal TO the
needs OF the United States.
The bill is in no wise subsidy bill.
hui simply provides for increased mail pay
for lines OF steamships To- the leading coun-
tries OF South America. where the posi-
bilities OF trade conditions are such as to
warrant a reasonable expenditure i'm the
establishment of steamship lines under the
American flag.
Senator Stone and Senator Newlands
made the usual general objections to the
Ag