The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-11-23

companies and the department. IN
respect TO their compensation and
method of engaging their vessels in
the service, occasioned much healthy
discussion. The carrisge of our fore gn
mails was, however. but very slightly
interrupted or Inconvenience. The
principal diminution. from the last ser
vice attainable on existing lines, was
due to the refusal by the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company and the he'd ID.
Company, of the use of their vessels 10
government, and occurred chiefly on
two routes from San Francisco to Japan
and China. The service was performed
by the Oriental & Occidental Steamship
lIRe alone, whose steamers sail from our
port at intervals of about twenty days,
alternating with like vessels of the Pa
citir Mail Company, and the refusal
o the latter TO reduce the frequency
of outward dispatches by one-haI
though not otherwise diminishing or
impairing the service which was well
performed by the former company.
The other course lay between New
York and Venezuelan ports. on which
outward mails were usually dispatched
first to Baradoes and thence TO
Venezuela, protracting the devia ion
of their carriage four or five days, a 10
somewhat compensated by the gr, alter
frequency of trips obtained being nve
in q month TO three by the Red ID. Line.
Aside from these two routes Interrupt
tons and delays were but little more
than are almost inseDarable from exist
ing means of Communication with the
States of Central America. Inward
mails were not affected. The actual
additional inconvenience to the general
II . q.
proved comparatively quite insignificant
for the reason that, aside from such
mail matter as relates to cargOes OF
steamships. correspondence b=tween the
countries referred to and the United
States is very limited. and such as con-
cerned the cargoes. the recusant com
panies transported on the same vessels,
under sections 1887 and 1888 of the
revised statutes, no interest being more
subserved by such mails than their
own. Proof Of the generally favorable
condition Of this portion of the service
is seen in the fact thai the weight of all
mails to the various ports not trans
increased from a total in the
previous year of oil ,070, s37 grams to
q total In the last year of 2i4. 334 400, a
gain of 3, 263 ,623 grams, being incompat-
IDLE with much interruption in the mail
Had the interests of
the contestants not have awakened a.
tention by aggravated complaint
through the press, it is probable the
difference in the service, such as il was,
might have taken place without attract
ing special notice, except by shippers on
these lines. The customary monthly
invitations TO all American steamship |
for the tender Of their yes |
sels. were continued during the year. |
md after the passage by Congress of |
The postal service appropriation without |
provision for any subsidy, the Red ID |
company placed their vessels at the /
service Of the department. on the usual /
.erms and the Venezuelan mails have, /
'ince the i4th of August last, been car |
ned in theee steamers in their former |
oThe Pacific Mail Steamship /
Company ut first declining, in the end /
oroffered the service of their ships also,
ind since the beginning of September
hey have been regularly placed on the
schedules of dispatches for
ports TO which they ply, and have trans
ported mails as usual. The department
having during the past fiscal year
allowed sea and inland hostages to
United States steamships, pursuant 10
;ec;ian 1909 OF the Revised Statutes.
Ind the appropriation for the current
rear having been passed upon the basis
VI that rate OF compensation, a similar
ate OF payment TO all such vessels is
till continued. and estimates for
he next fiscal yeE have been
calculated accordingly. This pro-
Tides q rate Of compensation 70 such
three times greater than,
With the exception Of two lines. they
lad habituslly received for seven years
previously, q compensation quite ade-
Iuate TO the service, when the carriage
5 performed by vessels sailing in the
course Of their own blsintss IS common
iarriers, and upon schedules Of arrivals
md departures regulated by their own
and without other obliga-
ion TO government than so to carry
md deliver with proper care and
diligence. 1t will have been OBJ
erved from the figures already given,
hat while the proportion OF mails
Turing the past year TO those countries !
o which American vessels sail, as com.
Jared with the Transatlantic was, ap-
one-ninth, the cost was
learly one-ifth, because Of the higher
ateS paid the vessels Of United States
egistry. Dispatches from San Fran
isco TO the Orient are now made ST
OF ten days, one-half OF the
ailings being OF ships OF the Oriental
nd Occidental Steamship Company.
hat company is of United States
rs am creditably informed,
,et two of its three vessels are not of
United States registry, consequently
ut one. the San Pablo, has received the
ca and inland hostages. the other
NO being By law limited to sea postage
My. Notwithstanding this the com
any faithfully performed this service
{ time when the refusal of its COM
etitor's ship rendered its aid more
han usually desirable. The statutory :
ule works still more unfair results, now
nat the two companies divide the car
age, because the quantity of mails on
'hich compensation is computed is !
sduced approximately one-half, and :
his the company which deserves recoE-
iuon OF its timely fidelity. finds not
My the extent Of the service materially
sduced. but the rate Of payment for two
hips only oue-third that allowed 70
hips whose service was then denied 10
overnment. II would seem too obvi- ,
US 70 require particular expression
nat the department ought to be author e
ed to pay vessels Of the Oriental & Oc- q
al linz kn II