The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-12-11
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES REPORT.

Postmaster General Wanamaker de-
votes an interesting portion of his annual
report to 4 discussion of the new Postal
Aid act and the bids that have recently
been received by his department under
it. Some have been inclined to pro-
aounce the law disappointment in its
operation. Mr.. Wanamaker, however,
declares that exactly the reverse is the
case. The measure was one that from
its nature could not show its full value
on Importance in any short period of
time. The purpose of it was to secure
SECULAR and qhicker service between the
United States and foreign countries, to
develop new and enlarge old markets
under reciprocity treaties, to assist in
the promotion of powerful naval re-
L. Serve and to establish training school
for American seamen. Now it is APP
parent that all these pre-suppose or
-aecessitate the existence of a fleet of
fast American steamships. Such thing,
however, exists in only limited way.
The rapidity, therefore, with which the
new law can be put into active operation
Us dependent upon the time in which
capital can become interested in the en-
teCprise and the necessary fleet be
created. As it is, however, Mr.. Wanna
maker announces that the immediate
fruits of it will be total tonnage of 100,-
600 tons carrying the American flag, in
addition to the tonnage under the flag
hut not under the act. The Pacific
Mail Steamship Company, if its bid is
accepted, will have to spend between six
and seven million dollars for new steam
ships, while the line to the Argentine
Republic will be obliged to put out nearly
half as much for the same purpose.
Other companies, too, will have to make
important changes in their ships to give
chem the requisite speed, and in time the
zines must be stronghold throughout.
Certainly very important point seems
10 have been gained already in this ad-
dition to our shipping. Like advantages,
however, ARE to follow in point of quicker
communication with foreign ports, es-
pecially those in South America. The
Post Offioe Department advertised for
6fty-three lines of service. OF these
t#enty-seven were to South America,
ten to Great Britain and the Continent,
seven to the West Indies and the others
to China, Japan and Australia. From
the necessity of the case there could not
be much competition for immediate ser
vice. on account of the few American
built vessels in existence. The Post
master General estimated the limit of
Bids at fifteen. As matter of fact,
twelve bids were received, but four had
- be discarded for technical reasons.
Now these eight bids are for practically
new service. They are, to be sure, with.
two exceptions, upon old routes, but in
quicker and peremptory transit the
change is complete. By them, the line
between New York and Buenos Ayres is
TO be reduced from 20 to IS days, from
New York to Colon from eight to six
and a-half days, from San Francisco to
Panama from p to 16 days, while in the
course of three years the time between
San Francisco and Yokohama is to be
reduced by five days. What is signifi-
cant, this reduction is carried out
through the whole service.
Mr.. Wanamaker states that if the con-
tracts are completed with all the com
panies whose papers seem to be in pro-
per form the service will probably begin
m March. The sum necessary to be APP
propriated to that case for the remainder
OF the fiscal year will not be much more
than S247, 900 in excess of the present es
Inmates for sea and inland postage,
while for tho year June 30th, 1892, to
.fune 30th, 1893, something like 1862, 900
will have to be added. Those who know
what the other Nations of the world paw,
if order to have their mails carried
under their own flags, must smile at the
distress of some over this assistance to
American shipping. France pays in sub
Sidies to its steamship lines nearly ST.
with S3,000.0OO, and Italy, burdened
with taxes and heavy ornaments, sus-
tains its shipping to the extent of nearly
$2,000,000. Spain and Japan already do
better than ever we propose to do. The
fact is that the Nations of Europe ap-
preciate the Importance of controlling
speedy service between their own ports
and those of other countries. 1t is the
adoption of something of this same
policy chat is proposed in the Postal
Aid act. The gain in time which the
law, even in its inception, promises, can
not fail to commend itself to American
merchants. So good a beginning assures
success.-BOstop journal.
POSTAL TELEPHONE AS WELL AS POSTAL
TELEGRAPH.
The Postmaster General recommends
this year the adoption of the telephone,
as well as the telegraph, to the postal
system, showing that it is not only tie
constitutional privilege, but the duty of
Congress, to utilize all the means of
modern science for guickening the
transmission of intelligence He says
apon these two points:
One-cent letter postage, three-cent tele-
phone messages and 10-cent telegraph
messages are all near possibilities under
~ enlightened and compact postal sys-
TEN, using the newest telegraphic in