The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-11-11

the Report of the Special Commit
tee to whom was referred the mat
ter of the subsidy to the 0. S. 5.
Company:
HoN. j. S WALKER, President Legisla-
tive Assembly.
Sir: Your special committee to whom
you referred the item in the Appropria-
ton Bill, Subsidy to the Oceanic Steam
ship Company. $50 600, and the resolu-
ton of the member from Central Hlo
proposing in substitution therefor an APP
preparation of 81 900 a month, with an
additional $500 per month for each trip
made from San Francisco to Honolulu
via Hilo, has been duly considered by
the committee.
Preliminary to the consideration Of the
question, the committee have ascer-
tanned the following facts:
PREREQUISITES GRANTED THE OCEANIC
COMPANY.
Under the Statute allowing such re-
mission, custom house charges are re-
mitted to the Oceanic Steamship Com
pany. During the year 1891 remissions
for wharfage, storage, lights and buoys
amounted to........ $4,000. ....".S ,l76 Go
During the same period water
was supplied to them estimated
at the rate of p cent per gallon
10 the amount o.. ...........- CUB 60
Making total remissions TO
the Company for the year,. .$l3, POI 06
These figures are furnished to the
committee by the Collector General and
the Superintendent of Water Works
The charge for water being at the rate of
over $500 month seems to the commit
tee manifestly an eXtravagant and unjust
price, as no such tariff is charged to any
consumer OF water on land. The commit
tee are informed, however, that this is
the price charged to all ocean vessels
for water supplies.
II the charge for water is included in
the estimate, the amount OF the remis-
sion of charges would be in round num-
bers at the rate of $26, 400 for the period.
If the charge for water is omitted the
remission would be at the rate, in round
numbers, of $14 400 for the period.
POSTAL UNION CHARGES FOR MAIL CAR
RAGE.
The committee have ascertained the
following facts from the Postmaster GEN
eral:
l. The maximum charge allowed by
the Postal Union to be made for sea
transit on postal matter between any
two countries is, letter, $1.35 per pound !;
papers, 10 $40 cents per pound.
2. The maximum rate is seldom paid.
The rates actually paid depend upon the
amount of mail, the frequency of trips
and competition.
Actual payments made by the United
States for conveyance of United States
mails, and closed mails of foreign origin,
during the fiscal period ending June so,
1892, was, on letters and postal cards, "A
cents per pound. On prints and sam
Piles, ~ cents per pound.
These rate were paid to the following
named steamship lines running between
the United States and various points in
Europe, viz: North German Lloyd, Gu
nard, White Star, Inman, Liverpool and
Great Western, Hamburg American, An
Choir.
The rates named above are those paid
by the United States to foreign steam
ship companies, and Hawaii is charged
by the United States at this rate for any
mails sent from Hawaii through the
United States and over these lines OF
| steamers to foreign countries.
The rate paid by the United States for
carriage OF mail In ships under the Amer
lean flag is much higher, being 81 go per
pound for letters and cents per pound
| for papers. This is much higher than
| the Postal Union rate; the excess is in
the nature of subsidy.
| 5. According to the report OF the
| - 81
| for 1891, the total amount paid by the
United States for carrying the mail tc
| Hawaii from the United States was
81, 1924.
4. The approximate amount of mail
matter passing from Hawaii to the Uni
ted States during 1891, was, letters and
cards, 5000 pounds; prints, ETC., II, zoe
pounds.
maximum Postal Union rates it would
have come to IS, 252.9S.
If 1t had been paid for at the rates al
lowed by the United States to foreign
steamship companies, it would have
come to 81 1882.
II it had been paid for at the rates al
lowed by the United States to American
steamship companies, it would have
come to $1O,OS6. Averaging between the
two latter, say 81 pound for letters and
Ga cents for prints, it would have come
to SC, AIS.
COST TO HAWAII OF CARRYING FoREIGH
MAILS.
Under the Postal Union Rules the
country of origin is liable for all charges
for transmission of mail. Hawaii is
therefore, not liable to pay for mails
coming to the Islands.
The Post Office has financial dealings
with but two countries-England aud
the United States. All mail matter
originating in Hawaii, and sent through
and beyond either of those two countries
is by the courtesy of their respective
Postal Departments paid for by them
and charged to the Hawaiian Govern
ment, and paid for from time to time.
BY law, vessels carrying mail outward
| bound from Hawaii are entitled to charge
sea postage. No specific payment fol
carrying outward-bound mails has, how.
ever, been made for number OF years.
No contract exists between the Govern
ment and the Oceanic Steamship Com
pauy relative to carrying the mails; but
by tacit understanding the company has
made no charge for carrying the mails
in consideration OF the subsidy received
and privileges enjoyed.
For no other reason, apparently, thar
that the precedent has become estab