It is to be regretted that this disparity in the carrying
trade exists, and to correct it I would be willing to see a great
departure from the usual course of Government in supporting what might
usually be termed private enterprise. I would not suggest as a remedy
direct subsidy to American steamship lines, but I would suggest the
direct offer of ample compensation for carrying the mails between
Atlantic Seaboard cities and the Continent on American-owned and
American-built steamers, and would extend this liberality to vessels
carrying the mails to South American States and to Central America and
Mexico, and would pursue the same policy from our Pacific seaports to
foreign seaports on the Pacific. It might be demanded that vessels built
for this service should come up to a standard fixed by legislation in
tonnage, speed, and all other qualities, looking to the possibility of
Government requiring them at some time for war purposes. The right also
of taking possession of them in such emergency should be guarded.
I offer these suggestions, believing them worthy of consideration, in
all seriousness, affecting all sections and all interests alike. If
anything better can be done to direct the country into a course of
general prosperity, no one will be more ready than I to second the plan.
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