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10. CHARLOTTE DAILY OBSERVER, MARCH 22, 1003. Tlir CCEA.N MAIL SERVICE t: ADDKLSS TO SENATE t nlor Senator From North Carolina Advocate Uo r7mit of the Same Hal to Seoood-Class Vessel 1 or Mail e-rie. as That Xow Paid to Hrwt-Class Ship For tli Same f-vlrf The Biii Amend the Act of 1891 Also Offer Amendment iTovldlnz That the Corapeo'ailon or Foreign Mall Service Miaul Not xrwd Uio ljAlruated Revenues 1 hcrrf rom. Fpeecn of Hon. F. XI. Simmon, of North Carolina. In the 8enat of th I'nlted State.-Friday, March U. 108.. The Senate bavins under consideration th bill S. 3) to amend the act of March J. 181. entitled "An act to provide for ocean mail service between the United Ftates and foreign port and to promote ' commerce." . Mr. President: I hav given much tliourht and study to the proposition con tallied In the bill now before the. Senate. It deal with an exceedingly important nuestioti. and I have earnestly sough to bring to It consideration an unblaaed and untrarnmeled Judgment. I shall not attempt an elaborate dis cussion Of the subject but I hall con tent myself with a plain, direct state ment of the purpose and effect of the bill and the practical condition which thick, make it enactment at thl time wise and expedient The bill 1 atmply it proposition to amend the ocean mail ervice law of JOL It doe not change the principle of that act In the ilghtest. The bill I very ahert. ambrsctng only a few line,, and In order that I may present my argu tnent with greater clearness. I will read It. . Be It enacted, etc.. That the Postmas ter General la hereby authorised to pay for ocean mall aervlc under the act of March S, 1891. In vessels of the second class oo route to South America., to the phlUpptoes. to Japan, to China, and to Austraiasila, 4,000 mile or more , in length, snitward voyage, at a rata per mile not exceeding the rat applicable to vessel of the first class as provided In aid act. The act of 1591 authorised the Postmas ter General to enter Into contract for term of yars. not leaa than five nor more than ten, with American cltixens for carrying the mall between thl coun try and the port of foreign countries. For the purpose of that law American Steamships are divided into four classes: jflrst, steamer of 91 knot speed per bour. with a grosa tonnage of not less than 8,000 tons; second, steamer of It knot per hour speed, with a groa ton Rag of not las than t.000 ton; third, steamer of 14 knots, with a groa ton nag of not less than J,00 ton: and fourth, of U knots, with a gross tonnage of sot less than LMO ton. Tfcs act provide that the rate of com pensation fer sue ocean mall service for steamers of the first claas shall not ex ceed $4 per mil outward voyage; of the second class, $2 per mil; of the third class, ft - per mil; and of the fourth class, 64 cent per rails, by the shortest practicable routs. In order to corns within the provisions of the act steamer of the first, second, and third classes are required to be con structed open plan and specifications agreed upon by th Navy Department, with s view to prompt and economical conversion Into auxiliary naval cruisers. Thess steamships are required also to carry a mall messenger and to provide suitable room and accommodation both for him and the mall: also one cadet or apprentice, is to be an American boy, for escb thousand grosa tons ca pacity and for each' majority fraction of S thousand groa ton. ' By ths term of the law all steamer so employed may at any time be con demned by the government and purchas ed for nee as auxiliary cruisers or trans ports upon a price to be agreed upon, or In case of disagreement to be fixed by appraisement. ' v " , Finally, under the act the contract is let by advertisement, a required In the Revised Blatutss, section 2311, for letting contracts for carrying Inland mall. These are ths essential provisions of th act of 1X91 as they are affected by th bill under consideration. '. it present. Mr. President,, and for tnajiy year past oor foreign mail service Jhas not only been self-sustaining but It baa yielded a considerable profit. While th adoption of this bill will probably sdd fwenty-fivs or twenty-seven high- das merchant ship to our almost at present Insignificant merchant marine and give us prompt and reliable business communication with the Orient and th Important countries to the south of us, It I practically certain that tongres will never b called upon, if this amend ment is adapted, to appropriate ens dol lar far this new and additional service. Certainly that will be the oass if the amendment I shall offer and of which I shall speak later Is adopted. For th fiscal year ending Jun SO, 1907, th receipt from thl service, exclusive f Canada and Mexico, amounted to sG.579Q43.4S, while the disbursements amounted to only 12.941,814.87, leaving a profit from this service In favor of the government In that year of $3,07.000. For the year 190 the excess In receipts over cost In this service in round figure amounts to t3.OO9.O00; In 1905, to 13,000,000; In 1304. to $2.soo.000: in 1S0J, to n.WO.OOO; In 1301 to IXttOOO, and In l, to H.CX0O9. . on the average fer ths past seven year th volume of ths ocean mall has in creased annually a trifle over it per cent, th postage for ocean mails nearly 1J per cent., the cost of ocean transporta tion only iV, per. cent, and th profit iiolect . to slight qualifications. 21 per Cent, These figures show not only s gradual, and I trflght add a rapid. Increase in the profits of this - service, but they show that th excess in receipts ever cost in tills branch of ths postal service Is not occasional but Is a fixed factor In the t nances of thst department, and may therefor be safely relied upon as a fund for the Improvement of that ser vice. Early In the month of February, ahort- ly after tnie bill was introduced, and I wun to ask the attention of the Senator from .'Sew Hampshire th Senator, I would be glad to hav him restate his amendment. Mr. Cullom. The amendment I t b Inserted at th snd of th bllL Mr. Culberson. Has ths Senator th text of tb amendment thereT Mr. Slmmona-! have. It reads a fol lows: . v . , .. J Provided, That the compensation for foreign mall servlcs In any one year shall not exceed th estimated revenue therefrom In that year. ' Mr. Culberson. Mr. President. If It does not interrupt th Senator from North Carolina, I desire to ask a further question.- and that Is, If he 1 able to state the expenditure and revenues of ths nostal aarvice with reference to South America, the Philippines, Japan, China, and Australasia: In other words. should like to know how the amount of expenditure for that particular semes comnarea with the receiptsT Mr. Simmpns. I have not been able to get the department to segregate th x oenditures and the receipt of th ser vice so as to enable me to answer the Senator's question. Mr. Culberson. Ths figures now pre sented by th Senator from North Caro lina refer to the whole foreign mall ser vice? Mr. Simmon. Te; they relate to th whole foreign mall service. 1 will state that I have asked for such a segregation, but I have not up to this date received it. The department" estimates that It will requlr twenty-seven ls-knot teamer to give us adequate mall with south Amen ca and the Orient under thla bill, and that the cost of that service wilt be aoout S3.fi3S.008 per annum, or about S3. 000 less than th profits on our foreign msil .service for 1907. If the present rata of prodt on our foreign mall service con tinues and the department s estimate or the cot of thl new ervlce la correct. the receipt will be ufflcient for th er tabllshment of the route now contem plated and my amendment would be unnecessary. But, Mr. President, the bill doe not limit the number of lines the department may establish, nor the number of ship It may employ, and my purpose in offer ing thla amendment Is to limit expendi ture to receipt and to prevent expan sion of th service faster than the re ceipt from it may Justify. 'hls amend ment la in line with the general policy of our postal administration, by which receipt from postage re appropriated to the expenses of th postal sdmlnls tratlon. It fixes automatically a limit on expenditures by requiring that the. ex pense on ocean mall service can not ex ceed receipts, but as the business In crease snd the receipt Increase thl service may be extended and Improved. stir. President, th bill simply amends the act of 1891 by authorising snd em powering the Postmaster General to pay American steamships of th second claas engaged in carrying our mall to South America, to th Philippines, to Japan. China, and Australia the same rate that that act allow to American vessel of th first class, and th only difference between vessels of the first snd second class as defined In th act is tbs differ ence between to knota and 16 knots' speed per hour and th difference between a tonnage capacity of 1.900 ton and 8,009 tona. Would thl amendment be to the In terest of th postal service? would It promote our foreign commerce and would be a proper expenditure of th public money? I think, Mr. President, an analysts of ths facts will show that the differentiation made by th act of 1891 between the compensation allowed steamers of first and second claas is un warranted and that In the condition and requirement of our ocean transposition ia unjust and discriminatory against our oriental and South American postal service and trad. There are to-day In the whole world. Mr. , Frsaident-and this I regsrd as a very Important fact in connection with the: subject whloh I am discussing there are to-day In ths whole world but twen ty-one steamship of the first class, as hip of this class are defined In the act of 1891 and every ens of these steamships. except two owned by the Canadian Pa cific Railroad and running between Can ada and Europe, sail from New Tork to port of northern Europe, Not one of them enter or clear any other port In thla country except New Tork. Th great volume of business and travel between New York and Europe, the charactor of that traffic, especially Its high-class pas senger and express business, has made these swift, luxuriously appointed steam ship necessary In that trade, but they are not needed to meet the condition and requirements of trade anywhere els tn the world. Mr., Foster. Mr. President Th Vice President, Doe the Senator from North Carolina yield to th Sen ator from Louisiana? Mr. Simmon. With pleasure. Mr. Foster. Mr. President, under the act ef ltsl -th Postmaster General Is au thorised to pay to ship sailing 20 knot an hour or mar $4 per statute mile for the outward trip. That law also require that such ship shall be built under cer tain requirements of th Navy Depart ment Mr. Simmon. I hav stated that. Mr. Foster. And that they must be manned by American seamen and muat be' available as cruisers In time of war. Mr. Simmons. Tea Mr. Foster. If this amendment prevails or this bill passes, giving to ths 1-knot ships the same pay that the original law gave to th 20-knot ahlps, will It likewise require the ship to b built according to tbe rerulatlon of ths Nsvy Department, and will It likewise require them to be available for cruisers In time ot war, and must they be manned by American seamen? . - ..,- Mr. Simmon Such ships will hav to be built upon ths same terms and condi tions thst ths set of 1891 prescribes for ths construction of ships of the first class to be employed In carrying th mall of the government. This la a mars amendment ot that act The Senator wa probably absent from the Chamber when I slated ths general provisions of the act of 1891 I stated them to be sub stantially as h ha stated them. Mr. Bacon. I understand the details which the Senator ha recited apply to all th different claases. air. Simmons. To alt classes; ye, lr. i The proposed amendment raise th com pensation of steamers of th second to that fixed by the original act for steam ers of the first clsss that Is ths only cbsnge It makes as respects compensa tion. . The vessels of the first claas. Mr. It wae the first class I Li ' V :. ' v ' - ,-e . ... J: --fr"- 3 -c .-: : ' ? . t y. t - - v. At '"-. - : - ) v .V b:'tl - ( r : ''; t . ' " v , V - ' f ' ' ' " -. v ' e ' r'.'-'r'' i ' --' X 1 V ' ' " ; f i ; , " 1 .'j5' 'V y ff " r :.;.V i ..' i . mi- Mt Tine complete elaborate Spring ; assortments are . ready. This means the finest ready-for-service " Clothing that is produced made in New York by V the Washington Company of : choicest wool fab- ! rics from the best looms ;Top-notch garments with ; a snap and style and a just-right swing . to" it that : makes it worth seebg The fabrics present all the ; v new effects and fancy shades as well as the staple -; . blues and blacks The maximum amount of hand- - -work on every, garment The best - workmanship that is known to clothing making . ' V XC -N In connection with the display-of Ready-to-wear ; Apparel' our .. r V V 1 Custom Tailoring Department Presents . A Spring Exhibit of new Suitings and Trouserings, foreign and do- ; mestic. It would pjease us greatly to have you call and see what we have to offer. . ' 1 "i re present there is not a single ship either of the first or second class, snd only three of the third class, employed In tbat trade. That trade does not require ships of the first class; it could not support them. Ships of 16 knots speed, with a totinsge cnpaclty of 6,000 tons, are as fast and as large a class of boats aa either our South American or Pacific business at present requlns, and they Interesting -statements and exhibits. With the indulgence of ths Senate I will read a part of this letter. . t omitted giving you yesterday .the statement you asked for showing that at the t4 rate under the 'ocean mail contract law of 1891 ' the 20-knot American mall llne steamers hare really received less than they would have received had they been paid under the get of 1S72, sea snd sre Just a well adapted to that trade ; JnIn(1 poStage. The annexed table shows as ahlps of 20 knots speed snd (.000 tons burden are - to the trade between New Tork and Europe. T submit, Mr.- Presi dent that under these circumstances there is no reason why steamers of th second class should not be pold as much for carrying the mall In these waters as the larger and faster ateamers-which sail from New Yrk. Under the clrcum tanoea. to allow 14 per mile for carrying th mail botween New Tork and Kurope and 'only $2 per mile for carrying It to South America, and the Orient I an In justice snd a discrimination which. In the Interest of the public and the busi ness involved, ought to be removed. Mr, Oalllnger. Mr. President M'he Vice -President, Does the Senator from North Carolina yield to the Sen ator from New Hampshire? Mr. Simmons. Certainly. Mr. ' Galllnger. I want to Call the at tention of the Senator from North Caro lina to ths fact that while the law of 1SS1 requires thst second-class steamer hall not be less than 1.000 tons, two ships. I think, that were built last year the detail since 1909, taken from the re ports of the auperlntendent of foreign mills. I have no reports earlier than that date. : The report for J907 was not printed, but the' company was actually paid under t'ue act of 1S91 the sum of 191,224, while on sea and inland postage on malls carried It would have received 931.3.li, showing that it would have re ceived $140,086.12 mors under th act of IXii than It did get under ' the contract act of 1891. For eight years the shewing is as follows: . Excess of receipts. , Excess act 172): 1907 .. se 106 .. .A..... 1904 .. 1903 Excess (act 1S91): ; 1901 !..!..:;..' 1000 140,0S5.12 . . 17,904.08 .- 119.741 4 61.6G6.28 .- 38,589.36 . J307.892.J2 M.52J.38 182,071. 44 ' 258,325.93 446.92J.72 nor 4 pound of mall of any kind Is car rled from an? South Atlantic or Gulf port to any country in South America, except Venesuela, upon a ateamshlp of any kind floating th American flag. , Moreover, not a i slngls American steamer of any kind or ciass is to-day running between this country and Brazil, or any South American country, except Venesuela. If we are willing that our work ahould be done by Asiatics, we can get tt don at Asiatic prices. If we want it done - by Americana, . we . must pay American nricea. . It has been - demon strated that wo can not get our malls serried- to Kouth America In American bottoms at the prices fixed by the act of Mr. President, the condition of our pos tal cnmmiinirntinn with South America Is a disgrace to our government and peo ple. Tire only steamship communication, either commercial or postal, we have with this country, with the exception of Venezuela, Is by foreign ships,- not one of which Is of the first or second class snd most of which nrs below the third class, ail running upon slow and Irreg ular schedules, when, Indeed, they st tenfpt or pretend to operate-under any schedule at all. r They ar practically freight . steamers and . where they hav any passenger, accommodations at ' all they are of th crudest and most primi tive character. Under these conditions I we must either send our mail to South America by these- alow and Irregular channel, or wa must send it across the Atlantic to Europe and then aoros the Atlantic again to its destination. A ' a matter of fact, to secure greater dispatch, a, large part, perhaps ths major part, of our foreign mall to .South "America goes by way of Europe. In his report of 1907 the superintendent - of the ' .foreign ' mall service says that In the last year the bulk of our mail to South America was sent by way of Europe, because business men- of this country engaged In business with South America found that j was ths most expeditious method of communication with their customers In that country. Mr. Gslllnger. . Mr. President ; The Vice President. , Does ths Senator from North Carolina yield to th Sen ator from New Hampshire T , . - - f . Mr. Slmmona. , , Yea. ....... Mr. Galllnger. I suppose the Senator means direct to 8outh America? . Mr. Simmons. Of course. I under stood th Acting Second Assistant Post master General to mean that we . had only one direct dispatch of mall to South America during February. I regret I cannot find the letter among the mUss of matter I have before me. ... Mr. Foster. Mr. 'President Th Vice President. Does th Senator from North . Carolina yield to the Sen ator from Louisiana? ..,"' Mr. Slmmona Of course,- Mr. Foster. While the author' of the 1.111 ,1. f . a T . . . , . win. - tun ovimiur ironi now jnampsnirn fMr flu lllnu.rt tm A Vi4- T U .. 1 .t like to ask hint a question for Informa tion only. Why la it that the provls-4 Ion of this bill are limited to South America, the Philippine. - Japan, China,' and Australasia, and not - to Central A m Yl - U rf . ( , - Auicit.ai it 117 IB vvuirm Amines ex cluded from the provUiona of the bill? ' " Mr. Galllnger. Mr. President, those of - us who looxea into tnai matter were or the opinion that the -urgent necessity' was to get communication with 'Draz'.l and Argentina; that the 4,000-mile route would apply to those countries, as well ' as to the oriental countries, and that we " uuum niaita proriviun nr - sucn service at the present time. More than that. our traae win largely . oa with South America, rather than with Central Amer ica, and It is much more- Important. I think, tbat we should develop that trade. - Mr. Bimmons. Besides that. If the Sen ator from New Hampshire will permit ' me,. I think our trade with Central America and out1- communication .Is In much better condition than with South ' America ' ' ' - . Mr. Galllnger. It Is In better condition at the present -time. Of course we have . , no communication with South America. Mr. Bacon. Mr. President " ' . -, The Vice President. Does the Senator t this DOlrfL I Introduced a proposed amendment te the 1 President and , wns discusslns-get 14 per mil, s th Provided, That th compensation from ! Senator from Louisiana Mr. Foster haa foreign mall servlcs in any -on year shall Jt atated. and every en of these not exceea th estimated revenue there- twenty-one ahlps which file th Amerl from In that year. " can flag la now under th employment I hop the Senator from New If sfhp- of th Postofflce Department under the Ur will se his way clear to accept ' act of 1831. t!.!s amendment. i The rnnnin f th . fne tha West India trs.de. althousrh sec anit-elnaa steamshlDS. wera of (.000 tons. I Balance .. 60,969.60 and It la exceedingly probable, indeed Thla . table ' shows, ' Mr. President, that almost a" certainty, that on , the longer . 1 . the beginning of it contract' with the route ship will be built of at least government the company operating this I. (ICO tons, and yet they will be denoml- line of steamers would have received un- hated "second-class ships." - ' - , der the mileage basis of the act of 1891 Mr. Ftmmon. That Is, they will' hav something ever S2S&.000 more than under less thsn the maximum speed required the weight-rate act of 1872, and that that for first-class ships. No' doubt as the , condition continued for , several years, business increase ships of larger -ton-,, but in recent years, especially-during the nags will b required, and the Senator Is last three, on account of th. Immense right In saying the cnpaclty of these ves- volume of mall these' steamers now car sels will be Increased, but It wll be a ry, it would hsve received largely more long time before that trade will require under the weight-rat basis of ths sot o. ships of 20 knots thst is, of the first 1872 than under the mileage basis of the chisa. '.-".' "' act of 1891. For these reason. Mr. Presl- Mr. Galllnger. Tea; they 'are simply dent, I say that th postal rate preacrlb-H-knot ships, but they ar larger ship ed In this act Is no longer necessary 'to than would be required under th law of aecur our malls carried In- American We -Are Wholesalers to the Trade, Let Ua Quote You Lowest Prices.' ship from New. York to Europe. .Mr. Galllnser rose. Mr. Fljrimon. Certainly. ilr. G:ilnrer. Mr. President. I will sty to the Senator from North Carolina that I think Ma amendment I a very f ar and proper one, and so far as I am f r-re-n&ny concerned J will take great t '.-&: u r-e in accepting It and letting It t-"r-'r,e a part of th proposed bill wlth c :t t'T controvwry. . 'r. C-,:'r,eron. Mr. President " ic F'rsitlr.t Dos the Fenstor f -.; -'1 Carollaa yield t the Sen- f -1 Texas? f :.-.,-. reri.iln!y.' : r. C . i.-" tu If it eoes not Interrupt 1891. Mr. Simmons. Mr. President the argn-' jf0W Mr. President, lot us se whst ment I wss presenting when interrupted j,M been the result of the efforts of the by th Senstor from New Hampshire re- owner of eeond-cls American team- celves additional force from th fact that ,hlps to- carry our foreign mall on ths a 14 per mil rate Is . not necessary to pacific for $2 per mile. There ar only get our mall carried In American bottom .even American steamships engaged tn between New Tork and Europ. while It for.tgn trsde on the Pacific which ar la necessary te pay a larger compensation eligible for contract under the set of thsn n per mfle In order to get our mall j,. cf lhMa seven steamships only carried In American bottom to South thr the Sonoma, th Ventura, and ths America and t th Orient Sierra, have aeen fit to enter Into con. I do not make thl ststement upon my tract under that act with the govern- own authority, but uponth authority of ment upon the ground that they were ta coming from officials of the losing money, and have gone out of busi- department having control of thee mat- nesa wai ter. Th report of th Postmaster Gen- In other words, the compensation of 13 ters doe not Justify tb. use of vessels em I shows that en account of the Im- tier mile Is so unattractive and unnroflt- of the first class. In tbat trade a vessel mens volume of our postal business be- able that none of the seven American ef this class could not live at all. Of tween New York and Europe the four steamships plying ths Psclfio ar willing ths eleven grept stesmshipn whether ', A merles n contract steamers sailing from to carry our mails at this price, Th ftotlng our flsg or that of a foreign r-'-w York would ,hav received for Jhe situation with renpeot to South -America, country, running between th Pacific fl r 1W HW.OOO mor than they did re- with the exception of Venesuela, 1 even Pjr1 of th United State and oriental olve In that year Jf they had own paid worse. For seventeen years the Post countries not on la of the first class. under th welcht-ratea basis of th. act master Qeneral ba been ready and will- mere of tb Pclflc ar entirely different Ti e Vice President Doe th. Senator from the. be-en New York snd the statemen from North Carolina yield to th. Ben-J port, of northern Europe. The volume departme atrr from New Hampshire? and character of our trade In thos .a J ter. Th 1 ii .11 e-v .J! r .' .r 1 1 l 111 tj , ... 1 j 1 j ... 1 ' r . - . ' . , Ai ri - -,i -.1 1. 4 w r .i 1 ' . VUUQH CO. Ii. f. ,1 M j'lB.BEIBlM nq only .'.etil are ef th second rlaaa, nd It will probably be many year be for the trad will Justify the employ ment of htps of a higher class thsn thos. uow in use. of 1T73 Insresd of the mileat basl of th ct of 1L -, pesrtng upon yl phase of th. ues tion I hav . a. letter from Mr. E. T. Chamberlain. Commlesioner of Navlgs- The am ia true with resect to our tlon. ddreed to me and dated March Ing and: anxious to employ American eleamshlp to take our malla to and from Bouth American countries, but no Amerlran shipowner bns been found who ia willing to perform that service for th compensation provided, with th result ocean commerce with Bouth "America. At,, 107, wUtclj eontaina soms sxcedlng!y that to-day not s letter nor a postal card Plumbers' and Tinners' Supplies. : Batli Tubs, LaiTatories, Sinks, Pipe and Fitting, Range Boiler, &c ointoB RKDiPPrn rooftko platk. jvttf.iv. SOX OLD ST VLB. Th Standard of yuallty. Surpassed by None; Equaled by Fw. . . Writ us for samples snd Information concornlng "IKuCRorD" HOOFISU. tb Beat and Cheapest Keeflag Mad. W -rarry a complet line of TAtREI fAPER. CITTEBnO AKD MWS gPOl'TS A!D BOOF 'J ISO PAISTS. THV PL.ATK AXn BAR IROI In Quantities t Suit. Quality and Prices Guaranteed. CORRUGATED AND V-CIUy Painted or Galvanised.' McGRAY'-YARBROUGH CO.; Inc., 9-11 S. 8lh St., Richioiid,Va. Local and -Long Distance, Phone 929.
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
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March 22, 1908, edition 1
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