The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-14

into the history Of that grant. Briefly, in a
much smaller amount, IL was given first, many
years ago to encourage mail service from
Liverpool TO Halifax. Then the service was
extended to Boston, and afterwards to this
port, each additional service Commanding an
With the invention Of the screw propeller a
great change came over steam navigation, and
when experience shows that screw steamers
can rival paddle-wheel steamers in swiftness
and when moreover, by the economy of space
in their holds, can carry large cargoes, and
thus run successfully, unsubsidized, by the
side of a subsidized line, the uselessness and
expense of continuing an enormous grant have
been so powerfully urged upon the British
Government that they have resolved to dis
continue it at the expiration of the present
contract that is, at the end of this year. We
learn from the report of the Postmaster-Gene-
raj that notice has been given of the termina-
ton at that time of the existing Postal Con-
vention, and it is proposed, under new CON
vention, the preliminary basis for which has
already been concluded, TO reduce the postage
between the two countries to twelve cents for
a single letter.
Beyond the mere convenience however, of
the statement that the postage is to be re-
duced to one-half of the former amount we
can discover no principle by which this precise
figure can be arrived at The only principle,
indeed, which can be any guide will, if cor
rectly applied, lead to the establishment of a
much lower rate. We have seen that after
the end of the current year no steamer
is to receive any subsidy from either
Government. The competition for the
mail service will be not alone the Cunard
steamers, but others that have proved them
selves just as fast. There will be the lnman,
the National, and the Great Western lines
all well known and favortes with the
travelling public. Now, as the expense to the
United States Postal Department will end
with the delivery of the mails on board the
steamers in this harbor, and that expense is
our inland postage of three cents, what will
be the additional cost of carrying the mails
across the Atlantic? Clearly nothing more
than what competing lines of steamers will
undertake to carry them for. Has, then, our
Government ascertained, before agreeing to
charge us twelve cents for letter to London,
that the fastest steamers on the route will not
carry letters for less than nine cents Is it
sure that they would not be carried for four
cents Our belief is that as these steamers
are managed by men who know that the
number of letters increase in more than
geometrical ratio inversely to the rate of post
age, they know that the rate of two cents for
half ounce letter would pay them better than
any higher rate, and that they would trans
port the mails for the minimum figure we have
named.
As we understand the proposed change, each
Government will see to the transportation of
its mail, and neither will charge the other for
sorting and delivery in its respective country.
Our own rate is already fixed at three cents for
this service, and what we insist on is, that in
addition to this no further charge be made
than that of the ocean steamers for carrying
and taking care of the mails. The keen COM
petition among them will insure the lowest
possible rates. If our Chamber of Commerce
will abandon politics for a time, they will find
in this reform subject worthy of their highest
energies and it is one which falls within the
scope of their legitimate influence. 1t is
scarcely necessary to point out how propitous
the present time is for increasing by every
means in our power our social and political
influence abroad, and how necessary in view
of the immense tide of immigration that is
setting to our shores, no less than in the in
terest of the increased number of our citizens
who are going annually to Europe, that postal
facilities be extended to the utmost verge of
hberality.
1t is not for us to suggest how or what
arrangements should be made with the steam
boat companies to insure regularity and des-
patch. Our duty is discharged when we press
this matter upon the earnest attention of every
business man, and when we in the interests Of
the public entreat the Governmental they
are not yet committed in their proposed new
Convention to any stipulated rate-that they
will pause and hear what those who are most
interested in the matter have to say about it.