The New York herald., 1869-12-29
THE CTXER SIDE OF THE MA TER.

The Post 0hice Department Is In temporary
guandary. This quandary has reference 10 the
foreign mall service. The case LOOKS now
though the public would soon be involved
III the quandary, although at present IN bliss
fn ignorance OF anything connected with the
mali service, either foreign or domestic, involving III
any special degree its interests convenience. Tne
following elucldaiion OF iacts VIII serve to explain
the case:--
For the last two years the British mails. is well
KNOWN have been carried from this city by the
Cnnard, Inman, Hamburg and Bremen lines of
steamships. The contract with our Post Onice De-
partmcDt was by the week, at SO much a letter, the
price pad being twelve cents letter OF an ounce
weight OF this sum the United States received
two cents each letter for inland postage, the
British government the same amount on each letter,
AMI the remainder going tOthe steamship coinpa-
Mes
WHAT THE COMPANIES SAY.
This rate Of allowance was considered too high
by the late Postal Convention, and the result
was sending letters from the Post ONCE De-
partment the 2ad inst. to each OF the steam
ship companies named, giving notification that
In pursuance OF the action OF the Postal Con-
Venton the rates OF allowance on letters carried
their respective steamships and after the LIST OF
January would be reduced to six cents for each let
ter Of an ounce weight. These letters reached the
companies on the succeeding day, ana on their re-
ceipt conference was held by the directing inter-
ests Of these steamship companies. The letters each
received being couched In the same terms. letter
OF response also coucbed in the same terms, was
agreed upon. and sent to the Post ONCE Depart
nent Like the letter of nOtifcaIlon the answer
bref eacn company refusing to carry the mails
at the reduced rates. The reduction, 1t should be
explained allows the same compensation still to our
DYtitc at 10 fyyn
cents to each government each letter for inland
postage, was the Old arrangement, thus leaving
only two cents for each letter to be paid to the steam
ship companies IL Will be seen that this Is q large
reduction; hut great as IL Is the steamship COM
panes "a stated Yesterday upon inquiries at their re-
spective Offices and thus wrote TO the Post Office
Department tnat they dO not object to it, provided the
same be made pro rata tnat Is. II the allowances for
inland postage be reduced to cent letter, which
IL Just one-Iar, and their own rates OF compensa-
ton be only reduced IN proportion
VINO Is TO BLAME.
Thus stands the case as above described. II there
il any delay in forwarding mails 10 Great Britain
after the commencement OF The new year 1t ls
claimed that the OF blame must be thrown
on the Post once Department. and not on the
steamships. There is general suppositi0n that
the pay for transporting European mails aggre-
gates TO each steamship company handsome sum
enough indeed, TO pay the running expenses OF their
steamers The fact Is that IL does not pay tenth
OF the expense incurred for coal, and therefore,
far as the steamships concerned, the withdrawal
OF the mails from them will be attended
with no pecuniary loss. Under the present
system mails have been despatched TO Europe fonr
times week by the four steamship lines question.
This arrangement and the prompt ana speedy trans
portaton OF the mails have furnished every required
facility to the public. There are other and slower
steamers which will he glad to carry the mails, butno
arrangement that can he possibly made with them
win so fully and surely satisfy the public demands
Meantime the Postmaster General has taken the mat
ter in hand, and In conference with the Post ONCE
authorities here and the steamship companies VIII
cudeavor to bring about satisfactory adjustment OF
tLe case.