The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-07-05
NO SUBSIDIES.
y Postmaster General On
Political Economy.
! rrEE rrADx AE0UnEsr


WttHfS9TU<. July --fGefa4a>f<y-
General Dickinson has written let
~ 10 Chairman Bsouns OF the hoxixe
uoxtosssce COMMITTEES, In which be ysxps-
eusiy attacks what IL commonly
kpexn az the '.subsisiy amendment
MT III the rrpstofs,es appropriation iail
- the senate. This amendment ats-
neupriates $4Dygsyt TO provide more
elsesent mail service between tbs
intel States and south America and
authorizes the postmaster general "a
eonfract With American Lallt vessel.
- carry the mails at . compensation.
not exceeding for exrh oafwarsl trtt
81 fer nautical mile. The postmaster.
general beg:nss III viii hardly -
claimed for this legislation that IL 4
either demanded or that Il ran II
utilized for the benefit ~ the port 81
scrvire. The resources and powers Of
the department have proved entirety
adequate 10 afford 10 the citizens N
the United States foreign mail ssrysce
equal 70 and In iaost eases rE1periyr 10
that Of any nation In the world Nine
tenths Of our foFeigu letter mai s-ros-es
J the AtIanssg. and the settled f-o'iey VI
tl,e df.f,arfsnent has been 20 employ
M sx,ffest vessels from week - week
Tor carving the mails. The depart.
menf. ~ ttse request 81 prominent
merchants. irnpoY.ers and banker of
che Tinted States having commercial
relations with foreign countries, has
erdearored TO induce foreign postal
administration 10 adept a similar
policy 20 promote expedition and se-
eurify Ia CORE sgsoadenee. Under the
present system. ON routes other than
u European ports. mails have been
carried In American steamships az
four times the rate paid for the trans
Atlantic serysae, although no foreign
ve>zel has ever refused or besitated 20
screfs 4 seaport postage Of cnr-fogrth
the rate paid 20 American bottoms.
A ssaafsR TO cozPErIr1os.
After abiding TO the various aaya,,t-
ares given by Ceatrai and south
American countries - vessels carry
ing the mails. he continues III there
shall he snpaTaddrd to the functions
Of the postal administration that o.
administering subsidy or bounty for
the promotion OF American shipping
Interests. I can readily set why IN
practice these two offices must 80 com
hit that. 80 far from being OF afyant-
age to the promoters Of mail service,
xueii subsidy, with such a purpose.
in the hands 81 the postmaster gen
eraI. must antagonize and oyerbear
The primary object OF his oifice. which
l. 10 give the correspondence 81 our
citizens the best expedition and GER
tain transmission. II the bounty or
bonns system, i to be revived Il should
he done without involving this depart
ment into complications which are
certain 10 arise from the aslminisief-
ing OF ID, and without hainpcriug the
fundamental rule OF action. which i
that the malls must go at ali eyeats.
The proposed amendment II a man
date 70 the postmaster general u con-
tract with Ameriean-buiit ships for
transportation 10 the ports OF Central
and South America and the West In.
dies, for period Of not less than five
years, and with acompensatioa iog the
outward trip Of 81 per mile. There Il
no condition for advertisements, un-
Ike even the British Subsidy act.
Competition Il not contemplated or
permitted, a. The contracts are 10 be
limited to American hips. and as. too,
these viii be practically limited to
those now Ii existence. between whom
there i comparatively 80 competition.
Because oi the number who can be
employed Ia the service in it, present
condition. the proposed law might as
well have named the few persons to
whom this money Is Go be pail.
.sEvcn the laws under which AueTi.
can ships might he compelled to carry
the mails have been repealed. and i
gees without saying that the proposed
ksi .satsun intends the Department 81
nav the maximum rate provided ~
thrse few persons without troubling
them by any negotiation for terms,
and indeed. yoa will observe, without
Ipsginent of discretion tn the depart
ment 10 designate from what ports 90
fhe United states mails shall sail. II
NAV b. said. ln passing, that pfesliin-
ably the terminal points FROM VIII h
xaiiings will be made. IL sclf-interest, a
isnsuallg the ease. governs. viii be
those from which the greatest numbcr
Of nautical miles NAV be computed
rather than from those hg which ths
convenience and needs Of the service
would be suited II may he notesi that
the schedules OF sailinGs are to he fur
nishesl hy the contractors, ans not b.
The postmaster general.
40 POWER eIyrs rHg 0ovsRsHENr.
altogether, from an analysis o. the
pforosea legislation. It wogld seem 90
exria.le the exercise 81 any poker es
Any representative 81 this government
10 provide Tor mail service la the in
trrcst vi the people. except after estn.
tracts. which must he on the carrier ;
own tpfias. and after the carriers have
EAei schedule according to their
ideas ol what the mail service should
h.
"wth very great respect for the
trainers IL the bill. | Seriously object
u that provision of legislation which
placcs the mail service AZ the mercy 81
any firm. individual or corporation.
While. ia,lcesl. subsidized lines might
h. compelled 20 carry mails II ten
dered vet the department should he
independent, and should at all times
b. eAahlesi ~ send the maiis BY the
quickest roates. aud make use OF the
hest iagiiitit-s offered for that p srpcse
among all the carriers Offering. On
Me plan OF payment proposed. which,
h hsesi without regard 90 the amount
81 mail carried the service which cost
u< Ia thc fiscal year lSS1 SifS. isnwenl,l
hass ela gs. il paid for a. proposed,
NeiS.sn"
baztN INDIVIDUALS ufSEslrEn-
Containing. the acknowledgement
says In INV opinion the bill would
not he advantageous e. the service,
bat the Disadvantage woaid he posi-
live. Ia 80 Tar a. this department i
scaeeraed, while ii Il shall become .
nv the department viii of coarse
faithfully administer the fund in &C
serdanee with the art. Icci confident
0af such administration will result
ensy IN very great pee uaiaTy benefit O.
acren individuals. at the eSfAeass
MI sassarrx sSment OF c,Sog SERVES
nd 81 Inconvenience. injustice and
material injury "a the great body oi
krople whose money viii I've u$ea In
Ne purchase % those results"
TIE postmaster general, after say
nx that the matter. considered a.
subsidy pure and simple. unroa-
hceted with the postal service. l. 4
question With shick the department.
eas neihing IL do. makes an srgur;aeur
- 70 tie hcaesil OF subsidies Ia coia-
ere. with a view 20 showing that
snetr esssst : In desfEDy competition
"a that they are ns; beneficial ia =
coaanssrsal sense.
~ issssioCs fREE rRApE AEsVsESr.
hs SAYS in conclusion. the
saosssy policy j. 60 he pursued. |
En'urs Ia suggest the Mexican methtsi.
Wen ship arrives with cargo the
1if tax Is divided. the ship owner
ahg - per cent. OF the duty on the
49, he bring, in payment on az