New-York tribune., 1907-07-10
END SEA P. CONTRACT.
German Companies Nay Get Nes0
Ones at Higher Rate.
From The Tribune Bureau


Washington, July 9.-Postmaster General
Meyer announced to-day that the North Ger
Lloyd and Hamburg American lines had
informed the German postal administration that
January l. next, they would terminate the
present agreement in regard to the maintenance
Of sea postoflces on their steamers, because the
compensation allowed was not deemed sufficient.
The companies, however, have made an offer of
a rate at which they will continue the service.
and as the German government bears half the
expense and is interested with this government
in continuing the arrangement, Mr.. Meyer has
decided TO send Mr.. McCleary, Second Assistant
Postmaster General TO Germany to make new
contract
At present sea postofFices are maintained on
vessels of the American, White Star, Hamburg
American and North German Lloyd lines.
trips being made between New York and
Germany New York and Southampton and New
York and Liverpool. Recently the Postmaster
General announced that he intended, if possible.
to establish sea postoffces on the steamers of
the Cunard Line. plying between Liverpool
Queenstown and New York, and also on the
steamers Of the French Line.
Such sea postofices," he said to-day. ma
teriaIly aid the New York Postofice in handling
mail brought over by the steamers, and greatly
facilitate its delivery to addresses in that city
and expedite the forwarding of such Of It as
States
"One Of the advantages resulting from the
work done the ships is that the mail intended
for persons residing in New York is promptly
delivered the first carrier trip after its ar
rival at the postof1ce. This is a very important
matter to the business public OF New York, maxi
ing 1t possible. for instance, to reply to corre-
spondence by ships sailing from that port the
next day, its receipt by addresses having peen
advanced in some cases as much as fourteen
In add brought these
ships intended for dispatch 10 other post
offices throughout the United States, is greatly
expedited sometimes as much as twelve hours
The necessity for the extension of the sea
postoffce service so as to embrace the Cunard
Line especially. has been recognized throughout
the service and is borne out by the fact that the
number of sacks conveyed to New York by each
ship on this line in the summer months is about
1475 while from November until the middle
of March it is about 22T5. an increase during
the winter months, as will be seen. OF about 500
sacks a ship This is due TO the withdrawal
from the transatlantic service at that period or
the year of most of the fast ships Of the Ham
burg American and North German Lloyd lines,
which are assigned to the Mediterranean traffic
and consequently are not available for transpoT-
tation Of malls between this country and
Europe
At that time the mails usually brought by the
shius of the Hgmburg-American Line are trans
ferred to those Of the Cunard Line, thus In
oraasi1a- the volume Of mail ship on that line.
All Of this is received unbroken and intact, IN
precisely the same condition as when originally
dispatched from the European offices, because
there arc no postal clerks assigned to the
Cunard Line for the purpose OF opening and
distributing the mail while in transit to this
country. This makes necessary the performance
OF this work by the employees at the New York
Postolce after its receipt there, which naturally
consumes much time and labor. resulting IN de-
lay to the mail.
Mr.. McCleary will sail on the Baltic July il
and Will also hold conferences with the Frenoh
and English postal authorities.