New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-03-01

THE rOSTMAsrER.GENERAL CRITICISED.

MINORITY REPORT OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE on
POST oFFICrs ANp POST ROADS.
WAsHNGTON, Feb. 2S.-Mr. Burrows, OF
Michigan in hcraf Of the minority Of tho House Com
uitee Post Offices and Post Roads Will to-norro"
submit report dissenting from the views Of the ma
jorty In reporting favoraby the hill TO compel Ameri-
can steamships carry United stats mails. The re-
port states that under the Dlngcy bin American ves
sells wcro to be consulted Ike their foreign
rivals as TO the performance OF tho service
aud the De- paid the rcfor, and not forced
to carry the mails such terms "a the Pastna-teT
General might SEQ tit to impose. Tho Postm''tcrGcn
cral had wholly neglected and refused not only To
contract with any American steamship for
carrying foreign malls he wa- authorized
to do by the act Of March 3, l@So
but had declined to the appropriation therein made
for tie purposes named A. result ~ this action aud
In consequcncc Of the inadequate compensation now
allowed hy law several American steamship companies
had declined 10 carry the mails. II now proposed
instead assisting the Postmaster General by some
appropriate legislation tp execute tho law OF March J
l--j, 20 punish American steamships for refusal to
carry the malls By oi section 1909 OF the Re
yl.cd statutes the PostmascrG restricted IN
the matter Of compensation to be allowed 20 American
steamships to sea and inland postage on The mails 80
carried. II tho bl. ~ the majority wcrc 10 become
law American steamships would be- denied clearance
right carry tho American nag unless hcy con
-citcd to carry the mail Tor sum not exceeding the
expense. Tho sea aud ulani postage was the same
whether tho mail, were carried 500 5000 miles. and
the might allow the same conpen-
saiion for Transporting tlr mails from Key Wrst 20
Havana as from san Francisco to China. The Post
mh-icr-GeucraI could not exceed the sea anu
inland postage iu fixing the maximum amount.
but his discretion unrrs'rainrl IN liking th"
minimum amount lie wns therefore clothed with the
poNtrs To enforce American vrsSrlr 10 carry the mails
Tor any Hum ne saw P"t'I' L""'''' Hir't''' , ..,.
The report q cn soes into comparison of th" sums
paid by The United states FOR the carving ~ ne l'r"sn
with those paid FOR the Transportation oi mails by
railways. star routes Hud coa-ttg steamers III
oricr 20 show ih1t tue IoihrF FeI,l.tu on{ ~ ~, ,l
adequate and m'agre coHreusnilor KeirIrhR 10 ,h1
argument submitted hy tue majority that tine sea hnd
inland postage viii yield greater revenue Z" American
steamships than III" tsrf Tor c"rs"fs ot Ike aunHut
aud weight The minority d'snl-scs the subject WIN 4
decliu.t to ontrr into controversy wIth'hy one
xhO places tile important tHiitd STATES mans on h.
Same footing with the common freight IN the hold "f
snip. Afcr citing inter- sling tables showing the largo
mount Of money expended hy foreign matt ms I'm car
paid IN $50 for foreign mail service only fJ2'j' q"
ncl, S27s 900 was paid 20 foreign lines. leaving rss
tho report that II - needless 10 enlarge upon
advantages winch necessarily follo" IN coefei"
o those countries establishing ana MAINTAINING
"a regular line Of foreign communication. Inc history
every confirms this and every consideration
Of national pride and PatTiotism dictates 10 the
United states The employment of American steamships
o transport ts foreign mails. II should b" aciuhtd 10y
The merchant marine II necessary 10 Suhsldze
lines but only to allow them such compensation "s was
thi- but IL cup0wr red the IOstua stercn"rI To force
American vesscs to carry the mails At loss or surre
der the advantage Of sailing un Ter tic American uiG
The country was not prepared nor conh J, "notu to
place tho destiny Of its merchant marine ~ inc ketnE
Of any man The report IL Ssucd by Messrs Bur-
rows Bingham. Willard and Peters.
Mr. BurrowA viii offer substitute for the b'l author
izing the PostmascrGrneral to contract with Nmrrtm
liucs for carrying the mails at rate hot MY
cents a nautical mile for term Of ycyrars, ana au'h"-
zing tho President to enter into treaties WIN suth conn
tries desire 10 unite with the Ucd states III rromo
ing mail facilities between the two countries,