se
measures, which seem to me most important, I now briefly call your
attention.

I desire to repeat with added urgency the recommendations contained
in my last annual message in relation to the development of American
steamship lines.[13] The reciprocity clause of the tariff bill will be
largely limited and its benefits retarded and diminished if provision is
not contemporaneously made to encourage the establishment of first-class
steam communication between our ports and the ports of such nations as
may meet our overtures for enlarged commercial exchanges. The steamship,
carrying the mails statedly and frequently and offering to passengers a
comfortable, safe, and speedy transit, is the first condition of foreign
trade. It carries the order or the buyer, but not all that is ordered or
bought. It gives to the sailing vessels such cargoes as are not urgent
or perishable, and, indirectly at least, promotes that important adjunct
of commerce. There is now both in this country and in the nations of
Central and South America a state of expectation and confidence as to
increased trade that will give a double value to your prompt action upon
this question.

The present situation of our mail communication with Australia
illustrates the importance of early action by Congress. The Oceanic
Steamship Company maintains a line of steamers between San Francisco,
Sydney, and Auckland consisting of three vessels, two of which are of
United States registry and one of foreign registry. For the service done
by this line in carrying the mails we pay annually the sum of $46,000,
being, as estimated, the full sea and United States inland postage,
which is the limit fixed by law. The colonies of New South Wales and New
Zealand have been paying annually to these lines L37,000 for carrying
the mails from Sydney and Auckland to San Francisco. The contract under
which this payment has been made is now about to expire, and those
colonies have refused to renew the contract unless the United States
shall pay a more equitable proportion of the whole sum necessary to
maintain, the service.

I am advised by the Postmaster-General that the United States receives
for carrying the Australian mails, brought to San Francisco in these
steamers, by rail to Vancouver, an estimated annual income of $75,000.
while, as I have stated, we are paying out for the support of the
steamship line that brings this mail to us only $46,000, leaving an
annual surplus res