New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-29
cpINCE FOR REVISION.

Tho object of the Ocean Mail Act was the
nromotion of the interests of the American car
wing trade. The measure enacted by Congress
WAS not the one which the steamship lines ana
shining leagues wanted, Those interests, which
had suffered from National neglect for gen.
Grafton. were naturally disappointed when the
bill advocated by them was defeated. sui
there was a general disposition manifested by
them to make the best of the situation aud to
avail themselves of the provisions OF Senator
Frye's Ocean Mail Act, although 1T had been
greatly weakened in its passage through the
House. We are informed that one of the Amerl-
can lines agreed to build three new ships at
once. and that each of the other lines was will
ing TO order one vessel for the mail service, pro-
yided the act were applied under conditions
which they considered essential. This would
have been good beginning, and If followed up
by the construction of other vessels would have
secured partial accomplishment of the obJecb
of The legislation
The Postmaster Generals proposals can De
modified, in our Judgment, so as to enable the
existing lines to carry out their plan OF par
ticipating in the movement for the restoration
of American commerce on the high seas. In
those proposals the act is applied OR the broad
est possible lines so as to encourage the organ
ization of new steamship corporations in At
lantic, Gulf and Pacific ports. This Is as ID
should be. But the practical experience OF the
existing lines deserves to be carefully consid-
cred by the Postmaster eneral When they
declare. as we understand that they do that
the Department is asking steamship companies
to undertake physical impossibilities, there Is
ground for urging a revision OF the proposals
in some practical details. Steamers, Tor ex-
ample, which 90 south on their outward courses
have strong ocean currents against them In
returning these currents are with them. 1t is
manifestly unfair to apply the act in such
way that the steamers will be timed on the
outward course without having adequate adj
vantages from the returning currents. Aver
aging the time for the round voyage would be
q lust method of enforcing the act There are
some other details in which concessions can
properly be made to existing interests.
President Harrison, in his messages and IN
his recent series of admirable speeches in the
West has advocated the largest possible meas
ures for restoring the efficiency OF the CONNER
cial marine. All his utterances on TINS queS-
ton have been broad minded, sympathetic ana
statesmanlike 1t is the duty and privilege OF
the postmaster-General to construe the ACT
passed by Congress on the broad lines defined
in these patriotic speeches and messages OF the
President. and to render it as helpful as pos
sible to the interests OF the American CONNER
cial marine. If it be true that the Postmaster
General has unnecessarily ant1gonzed all the
American lines by being too eXacting IN some
of his requirements, the Department ought to
lose no time in adapting its proposals to the
conditions of navigation and transportation
business in Southern waters.