Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-06-16

to lodge and feed sumptuously and
care for with expensive vigilance. II
owners could load ships with freight
at two cents pound-less than one
half newspaper ratcs-it would fetch
them $40 the ton so that big 5000
ton ship, fully loaded, would get on
her cargo $4,000 from port to port.
IL they could load at letter rates, it
would amount TO more than $780,
600 on the single trip. The foreign
steamships, therefore, are anxious to
obtain as much of this sort of freight
as is possible, since it is the most re.
muncrative business they can do. So
much for sea postage and foreign ships.
AS regards American vessels, the
Pestmaster-G General is authorized to
make and does make a great distinc-
ton. In such cases the department
pays both sea and inland postage
rates, or, stated in figures, about ten
cents n pound on printed matter, and
and about 81 Lao per pound on letters.
American ships, then receive about
three times as much as foreign ships
for precisely the same service. The
American lines to Brazil, Havana and
Mexico, in other words, get higher
prices for carrying letters than they
do for carrying cabin passengers.
The law provides this as direct en-
enlargement to American shipping,
and the government considers that it
is most generous compensation for
the service performed. AS an illus
tration it is calculated that the Pacific
Mail Company would have received
under this arrangement, during the
year 1885, not less than $751; 900 from
the Post Office Department, nine
tenths of that sum being clear profit.
The company refused it, and were the
only sufferers.
Now the original Post Office APP
preparation bill provided for carrying
all our foreign mails at the rates
above spccifed-sea postage to foreign
ships, and sea and inland postage
combined Cor about three times as
much) to American ships. The idea
was that American owners would feel
satisfied and encouraged at receiving
So for doing what a foreign owner is
glad to do for 81. But the Senate
amended this by approprating an adj
ditional 100000 to be distributed
among American ships carrying our
mails. For what? Not for additional
mail service since none is contemplate
ed in the amendment. Not for the
extension of American commerce,
since the companies receiving this
money are not required to increase
their fleets. What, then, was to be
the consideration for this $500, 900?
The Postmaster. General can discover
none. The Democrats of the House
could discover none. So the latter,
with the cordial approval of the adj
ministration, refused to sanction this
princely gift, and both the party and
government arc ready to 60 before
the country on that issue.
They ask simply that the issue be
fairly stated and intelligently under
stood. The Republicans declare that
a blow has been struck at American
shipping and American commerce.
They retort that American ships have
been handsomely, generously provided
for and that commerce cannot be cre-
ated by giving away money. The
Republicans assert that the people |
have been denied additional mail fac
ulties. The administration replies
that no additional mail facilities were
contemplated in the arrangement,
and that, therefore, the people have
saved their $780, 900 and lost nothing.
Neither the administration nor the
Democratic majority in the House
has been approached with any pro-
position to minister to the wants of a
growing commerce by affording adj
ditional mail service. The PROPOSE
ton has been simply to donate an en-
ormous sum of money to certain steam
ship companies which are already be-
ing paid three times as much as for
eign ships are glad to get for the same
service. There has been no showing
of an increased commerce and no
provision for an increased mail SER
vice. The government and the party
have therefore opposed the fruitless
and uncalled for expenditure, and be-
lieve that public sentiment will sus-
tain them.-New York Star.