New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-17

munity in England has discussed II, pro-
tested against it ami grown weary Of at
tempting to have It redressed. The postal OFF,
Gals make their contracts and tie their hanos
year after year, and then assert that notnih8
can be done about It, The newspapers nave
ceased TO take any interest in the question.
since they regard the reformation OF existing
acknowledgement of the foreign mall service as
irretrieyaby hopeless The Department .ri,ci mas
and Its incapacity for dealing with this ques.
ton in a practical spirit or with enlightened
judgment and plain common-sense. The indict-
ment Is an old and familiar one.
The point on which am seeking TO lay stress
is the essential unfairness OF existing arrange
ments. and the lack OF reciprocity on the part
OF the postal authorities OF the two Govern
ments. The POstofiice Department at Washing
ton unquestonably has ground for serious COM
wlrdng OF the malls to England are not recip-
rOcated. II has its mail contracts with the
American Line but it does not hesitate TO DIS
patch the bulk Of the semi-weekly mail by me
German steamers whenever there Is a certainty
Of saving a day In the delivery at Southamp-
ton: and no opportunity is missed Tor sehdlhs
letters by any fast steamer Inc WashlIe.on
Department. with good reason, can take the
ground in negotiations with the postal autnori-
ties here that the English mails should be dehv-
cred in America as promptly as the American
mails are delivered in England. ana tnat, II
existing contracts stand in the way or dispatch
these should be altered in the interest OF reel
procity and fair play whenever they expire. mo
alterations requisite are ID requirements ior
horse power and speed which will exclude tho
carriage Of mails between Queenstown and New
York by such ships as the Aurania, the SerVla,
the Adriatc and the Britannia; and % nperty
and discretion on the part Of the postai authori-
ties in sending malls at all times by the fastest
ships without reference to contracts.
What Is evident a a glance is that the mains
from England to America can always be carried
by fast ships If proper arrangements are maze.
The American liners are availaDie now ZOE .no
SATURDAYS mails whenever neither the cam
pania nor the Lucania is running. The North
German service can be made equally trust
worthy when the Majestic and Teutonic are
not sailing from Queenstown The new inner
Kaiser wilhelm has the record voyage or
DAYS % hours 30 minutes. between Southamp-
ton and New-York and the spree .he lia roa:
the Saale the Lain and the Irave are iase
ships The Hamburg American Line also mas
fast service. With suitable arrangements ZOE
quick mail trains TO southampton Oh thc,o
Wednesdays and Saturdays when SLOW GU.
harder or White Star liner is scheduled 10 san
from Liverpool, 1t will be entirely pracucapie 70
avoid the delays and inconvenience caused 10y
tho shinment OF mails on such ships as tne
Aurania the Servla, the Adriatc ana me Bill
fannie. The matt service would be more eN-
pensive under these systematic arrangehiehn.;s,
but tho increased outlay would be inoonsideraple
IN com ,arison with the advantage or rapid ana
trustworthy communications between the TWO
countries. IT,. 80, M, oo,nnIairing
of the discrimination in favor of the British
flag involved in the Government contracts Win
the Cunard and White Star lines. Engianu
never has neglected the interests OF us mer-
cbant marine and in this respect offers an ex-
ononie which the United States. Germany,
France and other maritime nations may prohta-
hv study and follow. The British Admiralty
now pays an annual SuDVentlon OF *-'''o- "
the Cunard Line for the privilege Of reseryins
the Campania and the Lucania, and slo3to 10
the White Star Line for the Teutonc and Ma
icstic-an amount which VIII be increased Wnen
the Oceanic Is in service, another year Inc
same lines as | am Informed on excellent au-
thoritv. receive for mail carriage double the rate
ner hound paid to competing steamers. When the
expense involved in running these expensive
steamers during the winter when the passenger
traffic IS light is considered. these discrimina-
tions and payments are neither unfair nor ex-
cessive Each company is justified, in view OK
the high cost of these voyages in coal consufnp-
lion and e1lpment Of the engine department..
i'm demanding from the British Government q
mail subsidy similar TO that paid 10 the Amerl-
can Line. T., 49,. 49,.
mercantile communities on each sile or the At
lantic are entitled at all times, winter and sum-
ner TO the same facilities for rapid commune
cation which the richest and most luxurious
travellers enjoy under the most favorabis con-
ditions for an ocean passage, ana tue TWO
Governments ought to pay literally for the SER
vice This they can afford to do, for they have
In foreign postage large source OF revenue,
and are maintaining at low cost auxiliary
navies which will be Indispensable In any sud-
den emergency. They ought not only to en-
courage shipping interests under the National
flag and especially the enterprise OF companies
building oO-knot ships but they ought also to
cooperate with each other in dispatchlng mails
by the fastest ships Because the British Gov
eminent is neglecting to act in accordance with
the common principle Of equitable reciprocity
and fair play. the American postal authorities.
who perform their own duty ntellgenty, are
Justified in entering an emphatic protest.
l. N. r.