New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-17
OCEAN MAIL SERVICE.
LACK OF RECIPROCITY IN DISPATCHING
FOREIGN MAILS-A REAL AMERICAN
GRIEvANCE-A FAST SERVICE
NECESSARY AND COSTLY.


to the transatlantic mail service. Each Gov
eminent has It's contracts with steamship lines
under its own flag. but the American postal au-
thoriies facilitate the dispatch OF foreign malls
whenever they DO So whereas the postofiice
authorities here do not regard the convenience
and requirements Of the public. Whenever the
postofllce officials in New-York perceive that
day even half day. can be saved In the
delivery Of an outw ard bound mail abroad, they
consider the game TO be worth the candle. Three
days mails frequently dispatched by a
North German steamship on Tuesday. when the
American liner sailing on the following day Is
available under the subsidy contract for four
days mails; and during the greater part OF the
year Thursdays mails are forwarded In advance
OF the Saturday steamer day. The British post
office authorities do not follow the same policy.
They bind themselves by contract to send the
mails to New-York by the two chief English
lines. the only exception being specially ad-
dressed letters; and there Is reciprocity in the
public interest.
For example. the mlGweek malls on Wednes-
day were carried out OF London by a fast train
running sixty miles an hour to Milford Haven.
and thence by fast boat TO Queenstown. where
they were transshipped TO the Britannia, one OF
the slow ships of the White Star fleet II the
day morning TO Southampton. and put on board
the German steamship Lain, there would prob
ably have been gain of twenty -four. or possibly
forty-eight, hours in their delivery in New-fork.
Tomorrow the mails will be carried to Queens
town for the old time Serva, and VIII probably
be delivered some time during the year. whereas
they might be dispatched by the American liner
ST. Paul. due off Sandy Hook on the following
Friday. Under the American regulations much
time would have been saved In each instance.
but here nothing is done except to forward TO
Southampton such letters as are especially
marked. In consequence OF this difference IN
postal methods the American mails are more
promptly delivered in England all the year
round than the British mails in America 1t Is
n grievance OF which the American postal Of
fcials have a right to complain. There ought
TO be reciprocity. One good turn deserves an
other
Whenever a protest against the mismanage-
ment OF the foreign mail service is presented 10
the postofiice officials here, the answer IS IN
variably made that they are compelled by their
contracts with the White Star and Cunard COM
panles to send by those lines all letters not
specially marked for other ships. The reJoinder
on the part Of the American officials shouid De
that such contracts operate to the preJudice OF
the public on that side. and are to be condemned
90 unreciprocal In advantage. The American
Government makes no mail contracts uhder inc
subsidy act without STIMULATING that the yes
sells should be Of a stipulated horsepower and
sneed: and even with this requirement In the
bond II does not bind itself TO send all the malls.
or even the bulk OF the semi-weeky mails, by
tho contracting line 1t leaves Itself at liberty
% disnatch mails by faster ships. or by those
calling twenty four hours In advance. IL time
can no saved at the destination. The British or
totals 40 not stipulate for mall carriage by SHIPS
% anv required speed and they bind themselves
~ send under contract all letters not specially
marked. They allow themselves no discre'loh
and pay double the rate per pound ior 'he
privilege OF employing the contracting ineS'
whether the ships are slow or fast
No exception IS to be taken TO the mail SER
v,ce of such ships the Lucania and TIE cam
mania Of tn, Cunard Line. or OF the "hite star
steamships Teutonc and Majestic. during 'he
greater part Of the year-at least elght i"ol''ns
.horo 20 certain 10 be fast mail boat to New
yor,, every other Wednesday and every o'her
co.vrdov The alternate ships are ordinarily
the IJmbria and the Etruria and the Gerihahic
ond tho britannia and time could often De saved
n tho dispatch OF mails by competing shps
from Southampton. There are also other mail
shins which are even slower, and the employ
,,o,+ ~ these during the winter often leaves
vev-York without an English mall for week
mr. even eight days. The Airiauc mas peeh
aeoat this winter and is booked FOR TWO adoi
,,oral Messages this year. The Aurahia ~ scheu-
,led for three voyages during four months pe-
Ginning December l. and the Servla lor t"o'
The routine Of the British Postal Service must
=. ,tr+oined Fast trains Will go laundering
Vale
,oats will dart across the Irish Sea, in order
,hot mails too late for the Liverpool dock may
So hooned into the holds Of these old ships for
o leisurelv voyage across the Atlantic. IL IS
,rotosoue performance. OF which only the Brit
Ish Postofilce Department couiu NC e"'''' 81 ~
end Of the century, ,
Tho officials excuse themselves for THIS dls-
n,av Of sheer ncapacity by laying stress upon
,bo fact that provision IS made for Forwarding
snec,allv directed letters by other steamers not
,,ndor contract. This IS true. but IT is an made
80. ,royis,on without corresponding railway
faVt,tos and II is not safeguarded by conspicu-
ous advertisement IN the daily press For ex-
or,n,e this letter which / am directing by the
,a-,can line St Paul. has to be posted to-
da,. CFrdav) in order 20 be carried by the ship
ceiling from Southampton at noon tomorrow
although the special mail train for the Servia
uiu not leave Euston Station until O'CLOCK
saturday afternoon The postal authorities
moreover do not take pains to advertise daily
tho specal facilities for mail service by rast
hoa.a as is done In NewYork There are post
office guides with steamship sailings. but these
are not 10 be depended upon. at least for the
middle OF the week The North German Line
has an inconvenient habit during the winter OF
dropping its Wednesday ship unexpectedly, and
# is not safe to post specially directed letter
without personal inquiry at the steamship office
II the question be asked at postal station the
clerk will tumble over printed guide. and
give the name of a steamer; but II the ship does
not run. as sometimes happens the letter will
go to Southampton. and remain In the postoftlce
there a full week