New-York tribune., 1922-07-26
lwnersApprove
Direct Mail Paw
Cor L. S. Vessels
recommendation of Post
master General Work ON
Subsidy Bill Wins Indorse-
menf of Local Officials
3.6OO.O 900 Paid for %
lew System Based on Pound
Rather Than Contract for
Year: American ShipsLead

Steamship owners yesterday gave
tIl support to the recommendation OF
ostmaster General Work that govern
ient funds for the carrying of foreign
rails shoald be paid directly to the
hip lines rather than into the sub
ldy fund, as provided in the bill now
ending before Congress. Winthrop
J. Marvin, vice president of the Amer
san Steamship Owners Association, II
roadway, pointed out that the att-
hde of the Postofice Department was
line with the opinions expressed
reviously by the owners.
"This was the course advocated by
be American merchant marine joint
pmnittee and urged by H. II. Ray
tnes, and Frank c. Munson, pres dent
the Munson Steamship Lines, in
heir addresses recently at the joint
earrings before the Congressional
ommittees in Washington" Mr.. Mar
in said. "These mail payments are
pnsiderable in amount. 1t has neen
he attitude OF the ship owners asso-
iation that present arrangements ;lith
be Postoffice Department, which are
iorking we'll for the government and
he shipping companies, should not te
fanged. In many cases the mail ray
senps now being received ale greater
amount than the proposed basic
sbsidics. Both mail pay and subsi-
fes, IN the judgment of practical mer
Y the American merchant marine, will
e necessary to give American mail
hld passenger steamers q fair chance
g-aiast the mail ships of foreign gov
,rnmcnts. most of which have been
tene, cusly subsidized for many years.
Mail Service Improving
Ocean mail service under the Amer
ran flag is rapidly improving in speed
pd frequency. The amendment to the
ghipping bill urged by the Postmaster
General can readily be made, nnd it
sIl not weaken the shipping measure,
Ict will strengthen it."
The attitude Of Dr. Work, expressed
r. letter TO Chairman Greene, of the
souse merchant marine committee,
vas that the proposed method Of pay
nent would tend completely to disso-
fate the carriage of mails and mail
lervice from direct proportional rela-
ionship TO the payment for such serv-
ce' IN his view the provision Of the
ines tc carry mail free, would remove
bin ircertiv,e for careful attention.
The Postofiice Department announced
bat in the fiscal year 1922 American
lhips we're paid $4,000 900 for carrying
ihe mails, against 81 100000 on foreign
hips. In the year previous American
Eessels received $2,799 coo compared
With $2,683 900 by foreign steamers.
To Paw on Pound Basis
II was also announced that in the
tuture the Postoffice Department would
bay the ship lines on the pound basis
father than under yearly contracts.
The contracts with the American Line
ind tho Red y Line, drafted under the
nail act of 1891 have expired and that
With the Ward Line ends on October
b. 1922. The mails on the first two
lines arc already on the pound basis.
she rates are so cents pound on
American and 35 cents pound on for
tign ships.
In an effort to favor American
steamers tho Postoffice Department
viii hold its frst-class mail twenty
four hours to catch ship under the
United States flag and will hold parcel
post matter forty eight hours for the
tame purpose.
The only exception to the pound
method of payment is the new agree
mcnt with the Oceanic Steamship Com
pany running from San Francisco to
Australia and Samoa, with which a
yearly contract has been made This
was done because of the desire of The
War Department to maintain contact
through American ships with Samoa.