New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-07

| tional postage accounts This can DO readily
Of hostage and by proTding upon Ike general Principle.
wei established, that every letter brings reply
that the hostages collected all International
pondeBce shall belong wholly tie dspatchiDg object
destination ia the country wherein the correspondents
may be delivered; and that In all cases tho dspatcng
office shall deray the expense Of intermediate transmits
SION lhe nconslderabe pceunary disadvantages which
mi ht result 10 either post department. under tho pract
pcnsaed by the convenience OF the arrangement and the
abolition OF intricate and yexatious This prin-
OF the countries with which tho United States has
direct postal relations aud II Is hoped that the post de-
partlneDts or others Will also tho prOprcty adopt
Ing IT, as means Of simplifying aud promoting inter
The excess OF collections in tho United States over the
postages collected IN Europe upon The letter correspond
Union France, Belgium. the Netherlands, Switzerland.
and Italy, S37i24 S. CO per cent Of tho entire inter
country This result is owing, mainly TO failure 10 PIE
pay hostages abroad. Tho excess Of Ike collections
during the previous year was $liN20 So Ihese excessive
collections Of postage In tho United States cause heavy
balances against tins department on settlement 81 he
quarterly accounts with the respective foreign post de-
partmenrs During the last fiscal year, the aggregate Of
| such balances amounted 10 SlS5,38j CT.
The steamship lines employed by this department in
the transportation Of tho mails TO Great Britain and the
Continent Of Europe, pefofmcd four weekly services
from Quebec IN Summer aud Portland In Winter, aud
three outward trips from Baltimore. receiving cOmpen-
The earnings of tho respective lines amounted to the
sum Of S536,2yI 40, as follows:
Tho North German Lloyd line, for ffiy-tvO trlps
from NewYOrt to Southampton. II
York to Queenstown. 715Ts %
fourth quarter at $4,000. 10
York to Queenstown. 156J 50
he Baltimore and Liverpool Steamship tcmpa:
ny. FOR three trlpsfr Baltimore TO Liverpool rs
Making total of.....................sa15 .2o1 4,
Tho cost OF the United States Transatlantic mail steam.
Inc e ycar st i d ' Efat eec rates ca Ss
established by the present postal convention win
Great Britain having been III operation during the last SIX
The United States hostages the mails conveyed to
and from the West indies amounted 20 $9si a. aud tho
compensation pad for their transportation was Jsa 20
There also pad to the owners OF steamships cQn-
&C.. under the provisions Of the general law Inning 20
compensation TO the postaees. The sum OF $%2i2 20,
portaon under the general law OF $ils,eu 70, Adding
the special appropriations for the mail steamship
to Japan aud China, TO Brazil, and to tho Hawaiian
Islands, which amount 10 $4,000 Ito total cost Of the
United States ocean mail service for the year 1859 was
tl,l433l 49, The tabular statements IN the appendix
furnish detailed information Of the operations OF he for
TIC appointments Of Government agents in charge Of
the United States mails on board Of the mail steamers
plying between san Francisco, Japan ana China ana
between san Francisco and Honolulu. were revoked in
the month OF ApI1l last ana notice was given to the
respective steamship companies that henceiorh they
would be required to securely transport ana safely de-
liver the mails az each terminal and intermediate port
according to the stpuaons OF their contracts A. me
employment OF mail agents on board OF tLcSe steamers
appeared to be OF little practical benefit considerably
my duty to discontinue their services ihe duties when
oy discharged are now performed without charge by
Propositions have been made TO this department by
parties representing as responsible and experienced IN
OF the United States mails to European ports by Aeri-
steamships Of tho first class and OF equal speed to
pensaton limited to the amount OF sea hostages: upon
opg term Of years sHJccI 10 ne appr0ral OF Congress;
and some have offered IN this connection 10 Tx the rate
of sea postage at two cents per half ounce Bnt tie
general relating contracts for carrying tho mails
the expressly limits tie authority 81 the DEPART
Inent 10 a term not exceeding two years. have declined
contract longer tir, LOU
any manner 10 fOresal the action Of Congress upon
subject OF so much ippOInncci
IfH DO possible, Should greatly prefer such legisia-
ton by Congress would far revive and encourage
shpbulIding Interests as TO enable American
builders and mechanics 10 enter into active competition
in the construction and equipment of steam vessels WIN
the builders and mechanics OF otter countries IL .0M
IL should be decided that this cannot be- donc thea
would IesPec1ig sesse't tne bVIey % ~ g Of
American registers to such iOrcgnbut steamers rs may
be purchased and employed by citizens OF the United
States under contracts with Tits department IN tie
| transportation OF our foreign mails.
States aud France Concluded on March 1851 IL es-
tlbshes combined rate OF international postage al Is
higher rate than is charged upon correspondence be-
the United states aud any other elyized nation
with which are In direct communication IL simeon:
pitte IN that makes 10 provision Tor te eHebanseO %
tonal standard weight u oEe'quarter ounce for the
single rate 81 letters, differing nom Tie Uniform standard
tic postage charge FOR letters is exorbauty hign com
pared with tue cheaper rates recently adOpe1 WIN az
other countries OK Europe In It's Getas au ptac,lc
OPERATION II IS very unequal fyinS unr aut ~, "
advanced opinions OF the ti9ts ~ regard 10
postal intercourse, and to afford the public dement's that
| postal conventions are intended 20 secure.
Tho necessity NJ "a revision OF this convention on
liberal basis made known 10 me general posi-
department Of France In December 1856; ard on The th
OF February, 1867. official intelligence was communicated
by the French minister, NJ. BerIbemy through Tue De
pertinent Of State that the Government OF the Enperos
was also OF the belief that convention would DE OF
advantage the countries, accompanied win the
pOstoce should be sent TO Paris with complete IN
slructOns confer with the Director General OF me
French Posts the conditions OF
the two post departments THIS Invitation was promptly
| accepted the Hon. John A. kasson was appohtea
5th OF April 1867, special commissioner on Dcnh
Of this Department proceed TO Paris, and there ne2o
tte aud arrange the conditions OF more hDeral post
Convention subject TO the approval Of the Postmaster
general Of the United States. Mr. hassOh lClI luuer
atcIy for pats aud entered upon the negotiations in
trusted to him. lie remained In that city several months
aborug faithfully and petsevernSy 10 accomplish tne
non of our postal relations France although he
ceeded during the visit 10 Europe In negotiating
liberal postal conventions establishing greatly reduced
postage rates with Great Britain, the North German
Union Belgium, the Netherlands. Switzerland and ltay.
The apparent unwingness OF tue French post deIdlC
ment to modify the provisions OF the present convention
in conformity with the moro liberal principles adopted
in postal intercourse with other countries Oh Euope
induced my predecessor tho Sh OF january lsCs 10
give the required notice 70 terminate that convention on
the LIST OF February 1862, ana al the Sno hc 20
tie French post department to send an agent 10 WASH
iugton authorized TO enter upon the hsgV,atph VI ,
now convention This INVITATION was CJeilnSu ~ Inv, tne
French administration. AiterWaI' on tue applvas,on
Of the French Office, the duration OF tue CONVENTION Wa
| prolonged until the LIST or April, 1879.
soon after assuming charge OF the department;
learned that no progress had Oeeh auo ~ VIC
basis Of convention, ana that unless seeohu en
tension could DO had, the suDsstlug convention WOu!u
expire before any further action eon1 DO taken 10. ~
reformation ImpelIcd by an earnest uesIe 10 hau'aI.
our postal relations With France on an improved
basis OF hberay mutually auy9h'ISeous 20 Ino PuJs
Of both countries proposed 20 the fIenJh
date OF 10th March, 10 futile proong tho dui atlon OF
the present convention until list January 1870 ictet
from the French DirectorGeneral OF Posts dated 81
March, making the same proposition crossed my ONnlh
transit and was received at this department. ON the lah
| OF the same month. second extension having oeen
| thus effected, | immediately reopened ltsolla'i0ns.