The Red Cloud chief., 1885-06-19

n Pessoasesr Gssssal II OAjsetssos d
the Css 81 she FsoAL

~ Postmaster Ossss.l aas 0Ajsrtsses -
~ Tee 81 shs FssAI
wAsHIx0rox, June Irwin the ~
rfoval Of The Preident the Postmasta
General decided not TO advertise fer BIDS b
enter into contracts for the ~transpostatsoa
Of foreign mails upon the basis under
authority conferred by the act Of Congress
Of March 5. 1855. The subsidy 1T
has been under consideration By the
cabinet ome time, AID the rom
elusion above noted was reached
after the presentation BY the Post
master General Of An exhaustive argp-
nens covering the whole matter. The
Postmaster General hollis AL shows by
statistics that the presen; rate OF COM
peusation 10 just one. and pays carriers
more than any other freight Of ike char
actsr; that the money appropriated l. no,
intended IS . subsidy. because IA subss-
die at the rate allowed in the oct would
take over 81, oe0, 90, whereas only s4oo. o0e
is appropriated. lie thinks the vessels viii
continue Ia carry 81 the present rate. and IL
they should refuse, could be com
PEELED 70 do %. as common car
riers receiving just compensation.
He Is inclined u the opinion that the money
appropriated should be returned TO the
Treasury. and summons ~ bis argument
the folio wing: IL Is not necessary Ia make
such contracts In order u provide for the
transportation OF these mails, and rates nsw
paid give adequate compensation wherever
mails arc of n considerable volume.
while previous statutes AFFORD I'll authority
10 the department necessary to provide FOR
other CASES. This being 30. authority could
only he exercised with . virw 10 tie dis;ri-
button Of money unnecessarily, IN fact TO
compensate mail carriage for the
purpose Of aiding American steam
ship companies Desirable - Is
the development Of these lines. the
act does not profess 10 put the money ., the
Postmaster Generals disposal for any other
purpose than la carry the mail Besides, IL
% to be d siributed no reason for, nor rule
VI discrimination between different Amcri-
eap lines is provided. and yet Il would r.
Quire nearly three times the authorized
sum 70 give all existing liaes . rate
Of fifty cents per mile. No ether
means OF discrimination are given the Post
master General, except 10 reject bids In his
discretion, and, As there are but two In
stances Of American lines 50 plying between
the same ports ~ competitors. he must
therefore either choose aons line for favor
able consideration, rejecting the bids and
claims OF others. or enter into . eeucrAl I'M
~derssanding with all possible bidders before
their bids should b made TO TX . limit
such. that While the contracts should
absorb all, they shouid no, exceed the
limit Of the appropriation. The former
course would be ehargeable a unWzr-
nnted fayoritisin; the latter a. indecent
abuse Of authority, professcdly designed to
be so employed as 70 excite, not 70 destroy
competition. Neither course could fail
doing injustice To the steamship lines or to
the pubic; or promise any development Of
the steamship service. or incrcass Of mail
facilities. II tho general dsstributiou II
our appropriation among the American
steamship lines, on tho basis Of mileage.
were to be made the amount TO
each would be so small n To avail nothing
a. . stimulapt To increase the num-
Der Of vessels or frequency or sperd Of
their VOYAGES. In fact, ( the whole Of the
appropriation should be distributed on The
present numb~r OF vessels md mileage. no
inducement wouid remain for an increase.
1t has seemed. therefore. better To remit the
subject Ia Congress for more explicit legis-
la,iOn, that 40 attempt Ia Distribute a large
sum Of public money not IN fact required
for the purpose for which IL was appropti-
ated. merely because the act Of Congress
gives US a license.