Show The Pontal Subsidy Bill WASHINGTON March 2The postal subsidy sub-sidy bill received final action in Congress and now goes to the President for signature signa-ture The provisions of the bill in substance sub-stance are as follows The postmastergeneral is authorized to contract after due advertisement with tha lowest responsible bidders for terms ofnot less than five nor more than ten yearswitlt American citizens for carrying mails on American steamships between the ports of the United States and such foreign ports excluding Canada as in his judgment will best promote the postal and commercial commer-cial interests of the United States The mail service is to bo distributed equitably among Atlantic Mexican gulf and Pacific ports tho vessels to be American built ships owned and officered by American citizens and the crew to bo composed of American citizens in tho following proportions propor-tions During the first two contract year onefourth next three onethird and tha remaining time at least onehalf The vessels are to be constructed after the latest and most approved types divided into four classes as follows First class Iron or steel 20knot vessels ves-sels of not less than SCOO tons American English mails are to be carried by this class entirely Second class Iron or steel 16knot vessels ves-sels of not less than 5000 tons Third class Iron or steel 14knot vessels ves-sels of not less than 2500 tons etc Fourth class Iron steel or wooden 12 knot vessels of not less than 1500 tons Vessels of the first second ana third classes are to be constructed with particular particu-lar reference to prompt and economical conversion con-version into auxiliary naval cruisers oa plans approved by tim secretary of the navy strong enough to carry sixinch rifles and of the highest known maritine rating Compensation is to bo paid for mail service ser-vice as follows Firstclass 4 per mile Secondclass 52 per mile by the shortest practicable route for each outward voyage Thirdclass 51 per mile Fourthclass twothirds of a dollar per mile for the number of miles required by the postofflce department to be traveled on each outward voyage Provision is made for reduction on ao count of oinmitted voyages or delays for the transportation of a mail messenger on each vessel for carrying apprentices or cadets of American birth one for each 1000 tons for the use of the vessels by time United States as transports or cruisers upon payment to the owners of their actual value at the time of taking and for assignment assign-ment to duty of vessels under furlough pay of naval officers who may volunteer for service The appropriation of Sl250000 made by the Senate today in the postoffice appropriation appro-priation bill for the transportation of foreign for-eign mails by the adoption of the Frye amendment increases the appropriation made in the bill as it passed the House by 1500000 the increase being duo to the passage pas-sage of the postal subsidy law and the amount fixed in the bill as it came from the House being necessary under existing law to pay for the transportation of the foreign mail of the United States |