The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-11-28

entire Transatlantic merchant marine Is
freely rendered from conveyance OF United
States malls at the rates or compensation
offered by this department. Consequently.
the mails OF Great Britain and the conti-
nent OF Europe are dispatched Dy every
fast steamer. and when two fast steamers
the mails are invariably assigned 10 the
one whose previous speed record gives rea-
soonest on the other side. 1t Is difficult TO
Imagine q condition Of affairs more salts
factory from either a postal or commercial
built up. Under IL speedy transit Is the only
condition considered In the dispatch OF the
mails. and the letter destined for Europe,
which is careless.y thrown into a street
letter box is as sure of the quickest transit
as the letter fer the same destination
which is superscribed to be sent by a par
schedules have been carefully studied IN
order to determine by which steamer it
should be conveyed. Other things being
equal. preference is always given TO steam
ers sailing under the flag of the United
states. and these steamers are allowed for
their services all the postage collected on
the mails they carry from this country:
that is 10 say. that ; cents a half ounce,
81. 60 a pound Cor 600 a short toni for let
tiers AMI postal cards, and / cent for two
ounces. 8 cents a pound Tor S1.60 a short
toni for other articles But II a steamer
flying a foreign flag can deliver the malls
at destination sooner than one flying the
United States flag. the mans are assigned
TO the foreign steamer and she Is allowed
compensation with the rate OF Al cents a
pound tor $3.50 a short toni for letters and
post cards. and Az cents a pound (or $50 a
short TOM Tor otner articles. Inc ad-
mails are Invariably dispatched by the
fastest vessels and every new and fast
Of this department and a reasonable rate
OF compensation The disadvantage is that
the department has no control whatever OF
80. r~4Ua1~cn<c ~ the cfaar pvn9oh
controlled exclusively by the exigencies OF
trade or commerce.. without regard TO postal
interests: 50 that whether or not a vessel
sails at her appointed time or whether or
not she carries the mails which the de-
partment tenders her. are matters entirely
agents"
The communication with Central and
South America is regular and reliable at
least three times a month by vessels ply
ing between New York and Colon and to
Venezuela with the same frequency. Col.
Brooks notes the increase of the Pacific
mail service in the following: by uti,iz-
ing the fast steamers sailing once or twice
a month from Tacoma, Wash, as well as
the steamers sailing regularly three times
a month from San Francisco the oppor-
funity for the exchange of mails with Japan
and China lave been increased to not lesa
during one month This is an actual gain
OF one or two dispatches a month, the adj
ditional dispatches being made through the
postoffce ar Tacoma, which Office. by its
zeal and discretion. justified the expert
mcnt OF l0ITuSIinE 10 II the care OF tneSe
important International mails, which are
required to be handled and treated in strict
accordance with the stipulations of the uni
versal postal convention. No change has
occurred I'm our means of communication
with the Australian coionies-the service
being regular once every four weeks from
san Francisco to Sydney. performed by the
Oceanic Steamship Company under an ar
rangenent entered into with the colonies
many years ago, but which is renewed from
year TO year. This department Is not a
party to the arrangement. but contributes
toward the support of the service TO the ex-
tent OF its ability under the statutes in
force by allowing to the Oceanic Steamship
Company all OF the postage collected on the
mails conveyed by it's steamers sailing
under the United States flag. which
amounts to about $4,000 a year. Advantage
is also taken of opportunities offered for
the dispatch of correspondence for the
colonies by means of the Canadian line OF
steamers sailing from Vancouver, r.. g,
once a month. so that practically the fire.
quency of the service has been doubled.
The steamers above referred to call at Hon.
Dlulu and the Oceanic Steamship Company
dispatches an additional vessel every month
month en- route for Japan and China calls
1T Honolulu. so that there are not less
than three opportunities a month for COM
munication by mall with Hawaii, and gen.
orally there Is not less than four"
RuIinE That Affects DisdIIers.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-Commissioner
Miller, of the Internal Revenue bureau,
with the approval of Secretary Carlisle.
has issued a circular which. in effect, pro-