Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-12-02

enue OF $l32.23l. The cost of the ocean
service has steadily increased from
SIS 90 IN 1870 to 1892 20 in lss4 Ard
toe $5lI decrease IN 1885 is explained
nrst. oy the fact tha. large portion OF
tue mail that has heretofore been dis.
paicned 70 Mexico by sea ia nou con.
veyed overland. and secondly, from a
general depression Of Business and A
decrease OF imnigration to this country.
ine amount estimated to be appropri.
sted Tor the present year Ia f45OOm.
Referring 70 the Pseifs ocean ssrvics
tne superintendent says, Prior to An
soss ist most Of the mails for the 18th
INNS OF Panama and for Central and
Souto Americs, via the Isthmns. we're
conveyed from New York to Colsn and
from san Francisco to Panama bv the
vessels OF the Pacific Mail Ssssm.bip
CoBpany, which declined 10 convex
CRtted states mails after that date. az.
copt those for Mexico and Costa kica-
Which 10 vas Obliged 70 convey under
It's contracts With fhoss countries. and
which 10 CONVEYS from San Francisco.
although IL declined Ia q letter endsr
dsts OF October 7th to furnish this de-
partment In advance With the dates of
sailing OF its steamers, q, that the pres
ent dispatch from San Francisco 10 lin-
tied 10 those for Mexico and Costa Rica
and for the vest of Mexico BY the Cal
ifornis and Mexican Steamship CON-
pany, and the mails previsasly scot
from San Francisco TO the Central
American States ether than Costa Rioa
being nov sent to New Orleans for dis
patch, With an average saving In the
time occnpied In transit of aboat seven
days, and a weekly instead of Q semi
monthly service"
The Superintendent recommends that
Congress be asked To re-enact the Law
requiring all steamships of United
States registry. as condition to their
clearance, to convey mails on sach
terms AZ are nov or may hereafter be
allowed by Congress. and adds: Toe
intimate social relations existing be-
tween the citizens Of the United states
and foreign countries, and our rapidly
increasing trade relations with Mexico,
render it almost necessary 10 the con.
venience OF our oitizsus that provision
be made for the interchange BY mail of
small parcels Of MERCHANDISE othsr thas
trade samples. the exchange OF which is
slre ady provided for, at reduced rates
Of postage, subject to such regulations
As aay be necessary to protect our Gus
toms revenue; bat In the absence of any
act OF Congress authorizing such an
arrangement, this Department has
bsen compelled to decline to eotertaia
special propositions 10 that effect. which
have been urged upon it by the govern.
ments OF Great Britain. Germany and
France. as well a. to decline becoming
q party to the parcel pos. convention
signed at Paris on Nov. 3, 1880,
aud the act additional thereto signed at
Lisbon on the 2lst of March last,
which acoompiishes the sans end, and
which embraces all the countries Of Eu-
rope and several Of those of Central
and South America. therefore recon-
mend that the legislation necessary to
enable the department. to adhere to the
parcel post convention above referred
to, and to execute special conventions
with foreign countries having the same
end In view. be asked Of Congress at an
early date"