The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-08-01
STRUCK A SUBSIDY SNAG.
THE STEAMSHIP SHARKS Fooled
Postmaster Genera, Villas Refuses to
See the Country Blackmailed and
Chechm stes the Monopoly.
General Reports.
Tho steamshlps and the nrnils.

WASHINGTON, July 3l.-Five Ameri-
can steamship mpanies-the Pacific
Mail, San Francisco to Australia, the
Red d, Now York to Venezuela, the
Clyde, New York TO Turks Island, the
New York, Havana ard Mexico, and
the New York aud Cuba lines have
declined to carry United States mails
after to-day. In commenting
upon this action Postmaster
General Villas to-day said:
Certain American steamship lines,
probably under the lead OF the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company, entered
into combination apparently with
the purpose OF forcing tho distribution
among them Of 100000 appropriated
Dy Congress tor mileage compensation
for carrying the malls. Some OF them
wrote to the Postoiiico Department
10 know what terms would be given.
proposed TO each Of the companies to
gotO the full limit that the law would
allow, and award 10 them both gea
three times what they had boon
receiving for the same service during
the past II years. 1t is three times
what ispaid tor carriage across the AT.
lantic and it is probably II most cases
all that should be paid sfor carry
ing the mails. The conse.
quence Of their combination ia
a refusal TO accept these terms, which
were SO liberal as compared with those
they had had. They felt, | SUPPOSE,
that they could drive the Government
out OF the position II had taken by
refusing 10 carry the mail Tor the
compensation offered. Tho companies
seemed to think that II they refused 10
carry tho mails there would DO no
othor course left to tho Government |
hut To make contracts With them and |
Distribute the 100000. Accordingly n
complete schedule for the transporta- |
ton OF the mails has been arranged |
and they will all go with very
little difference in point of time 10 the |
points of destination. A statement |
has boon made in tue newspapers to |
the effect that the United States gov
ernment IL not as liberal 80 Great |
Britain in compromising steamship |
lines. In point of fact, tho |
rate which has been ollored to our |
lines very much exceeds Tho rste paid |
by the GOrernment OF Great Britain.
The rate we offered is sbou. G3 per
cont. moro than tho British lines |
receive from their Government.
10 was 4 ratio Wniugtifiablv
Iarg3-more than ought to havo been
Dald-but the Government deemed n
lair 20 go to tho utmost length which
tho law and reason allowed I'm
order to avoid any difference
with the American steam
ship companies until Congress-
could meet. The department has made
such arrangements that the public will
'utlor no Inconvenience worthy of
nontion In respect 10 carrying the
nails, and Ia some cases, notably tho
Cuban mails, viii bo expedited.
MIR. Bell, tho superintendent of the
oroign mails, sad the American com
)antes hal refused an offer Of SLIGO psr
Iound for carrying the mails. rms is
what is known as the combined inland
nd sea postage, and is equal 10 $500
'or ton that tleY receive at prgsout
ate, or II cents per pound.
ThO Postmaster General has
'oclded that the following changes be
nado in the dispatch OF CORE spond-
nee Tor foreign countries, 10 take eff
ect on tho lst Of August:
Malls for Cuba, heretofore dis
'atched by sea from Now York, TO be
orwardgd TO Key West, Florida, via
rampo, Florida, for dispalchps from
Ney West for Havana every Wednes.
ley and Thursday,
Correspondence for New Xsalaud
ma tho Australian tOl0alos, hereto
o'o included IN tho mails mado up at
san Francisco, ior dispatch To those
'oionie5, decided to DO forwarded OK
.lutively Via Great Britain. Wales and
New YORK, rs we'll ss San Francisco.
There being bu, ono dispatch during |
august next Ton tho LIST proximol from
SAN Francisco for China and Japan,
iiro0t correspondence for China,
Japan and tho East Indies.
o bo also forwarded until |
august 20 via Great Britain In
nails made up at New York rs well l
v San francisco; the mails made up
u New York TO contain all registered
appropriateness for the Destinations
.hOVO named,