National Republican., 1885-09-08
TRANSFORMATION of the Mails,

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Sept. Z, 1SS5.-EDIToR
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN The following para.
graph appears in your columns this morning:
''By its refusal to use the means provided by
Congress TO improve our ocean mail facilities
the administration has justly incurred the de-
cided displeasure OF merchants in all COM
mercial cities"
1t is evident to me that you are not familiar
with all the facts in the controversy between
the Postmaster General and the managers OF
the several lines of American vessels regarding
the amount which suould be paid by the gov
ernment for the transportation of the mails,
and, as you have heretofore shown a disposi.
tion to treat the actions of the administration
fairly give you the facts as the question now
stands some tTenty.iiye years ago dtsiin,
opinion that he was monarch OF all he sur
veyed," refused to transport the United States
mails upon his vessels, The action OF this
gentleman was made known to Congress,
whereupon that body, on the 2jth of March,
1861, enacted section l2O3 ofthc Revised Statutes
making 1t obligatory upon the part of the mas
transport the United States mails. This act re-
mained in full force and effect until April /,
1885, when Congress repealed 1t, and appro.
priated 100000 TO pay American steam vessel
owners for mail transportation. The moment
the act of 1864 was repealed these gentlemen
presumed to dictate terms to the administra-
tion, threatening to disc9ntnnethe transporta.
were not accepted. Let us look at the PROPOSE
tion of the Postmaster General and ascertain If
1t was such proposition as would be consld-
cred fair, Just, and equitable by business men,
We Will apply the proposition to the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company, or tho route from
San Francisco to Hong Kong, China, 6,3oS
miles, as the proposition would have worked
greater hardshlps upon this route than upon
any other foreign mail route. The weight of
the mails transported, as agreed upon between
the officers of the steamship company and the
postoilce officials at san Francisco, for the
fiscal year 1885, was ~, ,i06 pounds, for which
the government paid slo,s$45. The steam
| ship company advertised TO carry, by the same
| vessels transporting the mails, parcel express
| matter at 10 cents per pound i7,4O6 pounds, ut
70 cents. $4,000 The government paid
individuals. 1t must be remembered
that they were responsible for the
| safe delivery of exprcss.- matter, but
II no way resPosble for the So SSfe delivery oi
| remember that the owners OF steam vessels de-
| pending upon this government for protection,
| and receiving from the government nearly
$50 per cent, more than they charge indivl-
duals Tor like service, refuse to transport the
letters and newspapers of the citizens of the
| United States; that the steamship company,
| which transports freight at one.half OF one cent
per pound, refuses to carry the invoices and bills
of landngof the freight when sent through the
United States postal department Mt sl.6fsoer
| pound.
The Postmaster General is an executive
officer, sworn to execute the laws lie has no
| power outside of that delegated TO him by Con-
| gress. Neither he nor the administration Is re
| sponsible rthe condition ofthe laws pertaining
to the transportation of the mails The Post
master General has done no more than his
| duty in refusing TO accept the proposition made
| by the steam vessel managers; and | predict
| that Congress will in the early days Of the scs
sion re.enact the law, compelling all vessels
| carrying the United States flag TO also carry the
| United States mails whenever requested so L
do by proper authority, Very respectfully,
| s. o. HHMENWAY.