Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-04-09
our Merchant Marine.

our Merchant Marine.
Tho following letter has been made
public by means Of the United States
mails under cover to the press of the
country:
An OPEN LETTER TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
DEAR SIR:-I have been told that it was
useless to address you regarding our ocean
mail service to South America; that a ma
jority OF members knew little and cared less
about the honor and interest OF the United
States in the southern half of the continent
Of America; that you were SO absorbed in
the tariff; the Presidential election or other
party questions, tn at you could not do any
thing for our commercial marine, even to
the extent of fair pay for mail service. l
am unwilling to believe this. believe that
members of Congress, as whole, are sin
terests Of our country, and if they
but understood that all that was
asked in aid of mail service to South Amer
lea was the application OF the same prin-
land, viz. Paying what the service is worth
without regard to the amount OF postage
earned on the route, there would be no de-
lay In authorizing it. At present the Post
master General is limited so ne cannot pay
more than the postage earned. On new
vice NAV be very costly and valuable. The
p0ny express and mail coaches built up cur
lar West, and thousands of mail routes to-
day receive from ten to fifty times as much
for carrying the mail as the postage earned
upon them.
Bills are now pending in Congress which
will permit the payment OF fair compensa
ton for mail service to South America. 1t
has been suggested to me that these would
be antagonized by American lines to other
countries. cannot believe this, for If this
principle proves successful in bencfiting our
trade with South America, surely Congress
ing the United States with other counties.
am sure 1t will pay our country to do this
at once, bat if it cannot be done, then 1t
should be tried with South America, and
am serving as President OF the United
States and Brazil Mail Steamship Line with
cut pay, because l would like to see one
American steamship line successful. 1t is
Its stock, aud yet it has paid no dividends,
M.s II would 0o: for nave the to ss5oSSpo Sp Brazil
pays us annually for mail service.
Dur Government repfesenting sixty mil
dered us about $4, 4,O0O-a sum about equal
to the boat service required to receive and
land the mails We declined to receive this
petty sum, although we have contiuuousl
carried the mails all the same and prefer to
than what the service is wo tn.
believe that when Congress III derstands
this, that the Postma aster General Will be
authorized to pay us what Is right, both for
past and future service; and commencing
10 your attention some facts stated in the
enclosures, remain, respectfully yours,
President q. g. and Brazil s. s. Co.
Mr.. Thurber is, OF course, grossly
in error when he represents the tariff
~ q mere party question. Republi-
can politicians may seek to make this
low use Of their side of the tariff
question, but there are many and
multiplying signs going to show that
In this they are making a mistake,
and that they will not succeed. He is
again arguing by fallacious methods
when he seeks to institute any CON-
parison between the duties or policy
Of Congress with regard to the mail
service on land and that by seasto
any foreign country. He discloses the
false reasoning IN his own words
further on when he points to the
development Of our country by means
Of the Pony express and mail coaches
Of Pioneer days. 1t was because our
own interests were built up, and be-
cause our own country was developed,
that these means can be justified
If the Brazilian Steamship Company
will have the effect of furthering the
interests Of our people generally, ther
It may appeal for National aid. That
Il can do directly the work done by
che mai service on land in this
respect, is not to be main
tained. That it can be bene-
Acial to us in any degree
commensurate with that resulting
nom the land service cannot bs
shown. But not doubling that such
: line Of steamers will be Of great ser.
yice In N indirect way, to our people
HDnerally. We are Ct the opinion thai
oume well considered degree Of aid
euch e may be necessary, and COM
wensurate with the public good re-
oulting therefrom, might with pro.
priety be granted from the National
Treasury. The same aid should be
given to now lines Of steamships
oonnecting our Pacific ocean ports
With thoss On ths same ocean whether
q The Annerican continent Or ca the
sherss y Asia, or II the islands Of Tie
keelae'