§ MR. BAXTERasked the Postmaster General, with reference to the complaints of the mercantile community as to the outgoing American Mails, If it is a fact that equal "regularity" and greater "efficiency," that is greater speed, have been attained by the system adopted by the Government of the United States, of sending the Mails by all fast steamers than by our arrangement of sending them by the steamers of the White Star, In-man, and Cunard lines alone; if the Inman Company are at present employing chartered steamers of inferior power; if he is aware that the "Catalonia" and 1410 "Pavonia" and other steamers of the Cunard line, as a rule, make passages several days longer than such vessels as the "Alaska" and the "Arizona," which have not the honour of carrying Her Majesty's Mails; if the American plan has resulted in the Mails being delivered in England never later than ten days after leaving New York, while frequently the outward Mails take fourteen or fifteen days in the passage; and, if these statements be correct, what is there to prevent our Government following the good example of the United States?
§ MR. FAWCETTSir, I fear I could not give a full answer to the Quesions of my right hon. Friend without troubling the House with many details. I shall, however, be very glad to make an inquiry into the subject, with the object of ascertaining whether it would be possible to effect any improvement in the Mail Service between England and America by employing other lines of steamers in addition to those by which the mails are now sent.