New-York tribune., 1885-07-21
THE FOREIGN MAIL SERVICE.
MIR. Villas RECoNsIDERING THE sUBJEoT
WILL NE USE THE MONEY APPROPRIATED BY CON-
GREss-PETITIovs FROM THE PACIFIC COAST.
rBY TELEGR APH To THE TaIBuAA

WILL ne Use THE MONEY APPROPRIATED BY con-
GRrss-PETIrIovs FROM THE PACIFIC COAST.
rBr TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBusA
WASHINGTON, July 20.-There appear to be
some Indications OF Q disposition on the part OF the
Postmaster General to reconsider his determination
carry the intention OF Congress In regard 10
the appropriation Of 100000 to for the Transports
ton Of foreign mails by American vessels. Mr. Bell
superintendent Of Foreign Mails. said to-day; - oi
this Department has desire to do anything to
promote prosperity OF foreign steamship lines AZ the
expense Of American shipping interests ana nope that
affair solution OF the present difficulties may bs FOUND.
1t understood that the Department has received rDn
the Pacific memorials and petitions setting forth
the Importance and urgent necessity OF maintaining
American lines the Pacific especially the one between
san Francisco and Auckland aud Sydney, not only on
OF the speedy OF communication which u
affords but also because Of Its Importance I'D coh
mcrcial sense The value and Importance OF the
Australian line to have been better appreciated by
the Governments OF New-zeaand and New South Wales
than by the United States While Congress Appropriated
single year only $4,000 TO pay for the ransporta-
In American vessels Of malls from San Francisco 10
Australia the two colonies mentioned have been for
several years granting subsidies to the line ranging
from S25O.O0O to S45O,O0O year.
II may be said that such subsidiss were granted
because English mails through NewYork and San Fran
cisco would reach Sydney and Auckland a fortnight
than II sent by way Of suez That Is true But
another thing also; that the British Government
has been paying American railroads from 100000 to
s25OOO0 a year for the transportation OF Its halls
between New-York and San Francisco. Moreover. the
United States Post Office Department has Incidentally
derived considerable pecunary benefit from the trans
continental transportation Of British malls from New
York San Francisco The withdrawal Of the American
line between san Francisco and Australia therefore,
woud snlt either in the transfer Of the entire business
commercial well postal. to foreign steamers or In
the sending of all Australian mails-from tho United
States we'll from BngIand-by the Mediterranean
route the latter contingency the English as would
not reach Auckland and ~ ydney soon by some hve
days they do but they would have AL advantage
OF ght ten days the New-York and fifteen to
days San Francisco mails sent 10 the
same destination The of transportation OF letters
between the United States and Australia ny tue way o
England and the Contincrt wod he about the same rs
by the present route but the senng OF printed matter
by thc ncw route would entail considerable additional
expense.
50 far postal concerned, would be the
substitution OF slow aud roundabout resns OF cominuni-
cation for direct aud expeditions 1he wlth-
diaT ~ the American line between san tranci SEQ ana
Australia without lis place being sur piled by foreign
line would niure very seriously the commrrcia. manu-
aetuns agricultural aud Issuing interests OF the Pacnc
east Of the Rocky Mountains. Al the same tins the
OF the Pacific railroads. In which the Govern
nent ha large and direct pecunsry interest, woud he
materially reduced some II all OF these considefa
tons had weight with Congrcss-ons brarch OF when
was Democratic when 1t nado tho provision which
Postmaster General Villas last month decided not to
employ Congress controlled by still another motive
and one by witch Democratic party nas .or years
to.be rrc desire tO promote and extend
American ;ommerce in American vessels Tho money
was voted and hande O Democratic Postnl,t
General to he expended In accoHiancc with law What
will he do with IL
In stiI another respect the Posmaster-teBerai seems
10 have been strangely regligenL roviso la the las
Post Once Appropriation bin authorizes him Ia contract
inland and foreign steamboat msl service when ].
can combined route. where the foreign ONCE or
oncc. ar more miles distant from the domestic
Office on the aud conditions ~ Inland steam
boat service aud ray for the out Of the aprrcpria
tion for inland steamboat service. which Item asoune
tO s6i5OOO THIS provision II seems has not escaped
the of the Department. aud Is understood
that here has been sone consideration of the CT
p~ienry Iropriety of carrying into effect by send
ing tho Northern and Eastern mails destined for Cuba ny
tho way of West. fla. Those mails sent by
wa'er from Sew-York The change Indicated would
snye a great deal OF time In transit would nor Increase
the cost OF aud would relieve the appro
priaton for foreign mai service from considerable
bnr.n A admitted by the Post Oncc oncals that
the change would he beneficial 10 the service. II
rather strange that than four months have been
permitted tO uass without action II there i any
reason why the change has not been made II may be
found IN posed upon Mr. Villas Oy the gener
ons re- "fOudcntial" cirrlar 10 Democratic
the tho and ener2ies OF the
suuernt-ndrnt Eoegiu Malls have been pretty fully
occupied By efforts obtain Offices for his Missouri
frtfu