National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-02-24
TIE nRAZILIAN MAIL SERVICE.


The bill providing for ocean steamship
mail service between the United States and
Brazil has passed the Senate and has gone
to the House for its consideration and ac-
tion. The terms of the measure are as fol-
lows:
For ocean steamship service between the
United States and Brazil, 100000, and tho
PostmasterGeneral is authorized and directed,
after due public advertisement TO contract for
time not exceeding ten years, for carving
the mails once each month, commencing not
later than July, 1879, from New York, by way
OF Norfolk, Va. to Rio dc Janero, and once
each month, commencing not later than March.
1880, from New Orleans, by way of Galveston,
Texas, to Rio de Janero and return, including
appropriate intermediate ports, with the low
est bidders, being responsible owners, giving
ample security of iilst-Cass American built
and owned iron screw steamships, of
not less than 5000 tons, after the
modern models, capable of making
thirteen nautical miles an hour; such mail
carriage to be paid for at not exceeding $50 per
nautical mile per annum, ono way, for the dis
tanco actually traversed between the terminus
Of each said routes; P,Orided, hOUerer, That
the annual compensation for such postal ser.
vice shall not exceed the sum of Sl50,000 for
each Of said lines, the two lines to be CON
tracted for simultaneously, and neither CON
tract to go into effect unless both services shall
be contracted for and established according TO
the provisions of this act, neither contract to be
considered in force If the service on either line
be abandoned or discontinued, aud the con
tracts therefor to contain all provisions for Sc
curing efficient service which may be custom.
AIRY OF required by law in such cases.
The amount appropriated by the amend.
ment, it will be noticed, is 100000, though
each line is to receive $150,0O0 per annum
As the New Orleans line is not to be estab
lished until March, 1880, no greater appro
priation was required at this session.
Although this measure has been charac
terized and treated largely as a subsidy, tho
action Of the Senate indicates that, although
that body is understood to be averse Il
granting subsidies, it does not regard thi
bill within that category. If we viewed il
in that light, we could not consistently
favor its success; but as il involves only til,
establishing of two mail lines between New
York and New Orleans and the Empire o
Brazil at what is regarded as fair rate O
compensation for the service, we are disposed
to discuss il purely in that light. 1t is yer,
important TO the interests of this countr,
that regular and rapid mail communication
shall be opened and encouraged between i
and the Empire of Brazil. That, of course
under this proposed measure, will carry Will
il q commercial feature which, under fos
tering influence, will grow into incalcuIabl
importance and value to the general inter
ests of the United States.
In connection with the establishing O
these mail lines Of steamers comes up tn
question Of securing to American market
and commerce large trade that is now en-
ioyed by the nations Of the Old World
This seems to be worth contendng and pro
yiding for, and to leave IL without the fos