St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-31
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
The Bill Passed Yesterday Contains
Provisions tor the Saving OF
About 81, 100000 to the
EnVnpumput
UONtflIntllI.
Especial Telegram TO the Globe. |

WAsH1NGToN, Jan. 30.-The pOstofIice ap-
preparation bill, as reported to-day, cont ains
the substance OF all tue most important
measures nov pending in congress affecting
the postal service. 1t provides for contracts
for steamboat service between tue United
States and Canadian ports 81 the lakes and
tue Pacific coast, aud with the West Indies,
upon the same terms as for the domestic
steamboat mail service. II authorizes con-
tracts for four years for mail service by
American steamers for foreign countries at
a com pen sation not to exceed fifty cents per
mile Travelled. For this purpose above $780,
600 is allowed. while last year only s322,-
900 WAS expended for the entire foreign mail
tran sportatiou. The provisions OF the bill
are substantially the same AS those OF Mr..
Hunts bill for the encouragement Of the
American merchant marine and to promote
postal and commercial relations with foreign
countries, except thatthc maximum appropria-
lion Is reduced from 81 to fifty cents per mile.
The most I'm Dortant legislation in the bill
Is that changing the method Of fixing the
CON pc nsatlon to railroads for carrying the
mail
The presentlaw makes no discrimination
in the pay for railroads for providing apart
mruts in which clerks distribute the mail in
transit and for carrying the same weigat OF
mail IN baggage ears, There is also no al
lowauce Tor the frequency OF trips or the
speed OF trains. For given weight of mail
carried by two daily trains, running forty
miles an hour, seven times a week, no
more is paid than for the
same weight carried six times a
week at n speed Of twenty miles or less per
trip. II is true that, upon some roads, there
/ is a special allowance for postal cars, but
they are only paid for in about 10 per cent.
/ of the railroad routes, while more than 30
percent OF the railroad routes furnish cars
/ or apartment, for ist,l clerks TO WORK in.
/ Tue new rate OF compensation proposed by
+ the postofIicc appropriation bill likes the rate
( nf uav in accorIlucc VITA the weight OF
mails, the space furnished, and the
speed Of the trIins. For instance,
on trains running at tie rate Of twenty mile:
per hour seven days per week, $3.50 Pei
linear foot Of car space Is allowed. The same
train running at iiiy mile rate would he
allowed s. ~ per linear foot No railroad
shall receive less than SIS per mile per an
mum. Tue present minimum IA Si!.75 per
mile per auuum. The rate j. fixed al 6v'
mills per foot OF car spIce per mile Travelled
a, % miles an hour, With 10 per cent. addi-
lunal Tor each mile Of increase OF speed pc
hour up to thirty u. les, and shove thirt!
miles per hour , per cent more Tor each Ad
,Etonal mile. Tle Allowance for pnst4
cars aud for special facilities are discouiIn-
ued. Toe rate Of pay is based upon the aver
age earnings OF pIsseu ger coaches. and it Is
expected tuat when necessary special mai
trains viii be run b. the price aKsd- I'll
argument ia favor OF the change is that
while it sill reduce the pay OF the small line
AMI Increase that Of the trunk lines, eael
viii b. com eusated in exact accordance Eiii
the work performed, and al will Dc relieves
OF messenger service a. stations The i'm
mediatr saving 20 the government b. IL
proposed charge, after assuming the mes
sanger service, IS estimated a. Sl,0OO, 600.