The times., 1898-08-12
STILL ANOTHER PROBLEM
A Postal System Must Be Estab-
liShed on The Islands.
THE PROBABLE 20 TMAsTERS
Ii is Not Relieved That Any Pro-
Spanish VIII BE RecoGnized-The
Cubnns May Demand All the Offices
There-The Department Evolving
Plan

The Administration has before it some
problems of administration in connection
with the new American colonies and Gu
ba which are giving hardly less concern
than the peace negotiations. One of the
problems which will have to be met, as
soon as peace is declared, will be the es-
tablishment of a postal service for Porto
Rico and Cuba.
In Porto Rico ii is quite probable that
the present postal system in vogue in the
island viii be continued until an inspector
of the Postoffice Department can get over
the ground and see just what is needed
to bring the system up to the American
standard of efficiency.
The Postmaster General has decided to
send Nathan Smith to the island as soon
as hostilides cease to make an investiga-
department. Mr.. Smith, however, has
been taken very sick. and some one else
will have to be selected for the duty
No difficulties which time and patient
zeal cannot overcome are expected by the
department in solving the postal problem
in Porto Rico. There will be many de-
tails TO work out. and this will take time
but in six months or so the department
expects to have the postal system on the
island as good as in any of the States.
At the outset the present postmasters
will be continued in office except where
there is too much objection on the part
of the native population. All the pro-
Spanish postmasters will very likely have
to go.
The advisabiiity of stationing a chief
inspector of the Postoffice Department in
Porto Rico permanently to introduce the
American methods in the handling of the
mails is now being considered. Supt.
Beavers, of the salary and allowance di-
vision of the Postoffice Department. has
been charged by the Postmaster General
with the duty of working out plans for
the postal service in Porto Rico. and is
now engaged on the details. His work
has not taken such shape as yet that he
is ready to make any statement as TO the
policy which he will advocate.
l. is the postal problem in Cuba that
is giving the Administration the most
worry. This is not a question Of depart
mental detail. 1t is question Of the
Administrations policy with regard 20
Cuba when the peace between the United
States and Spain is declared When the
SDaI4Sn SONGILiiiclN SAlItl4L 1Nflt anu
the Spanish forces evacuate the island,
the whole Spanish administra ion in CUBA
falls to the ground and a new one viii
have 10 be set uD.
One of the first necessities Of he new
order of things Will BE- the establishment
of a postal service. To continue the
Spanish postmasters in Office is hardly to
be thought of Their opportunities for
mischief would be too good. The oues-
tion. therefore. presents itself: If not
the Spanish. who? VIII the Administ-a-
the extent of allowing II 10 make the
postmasters? This, also, is an extreme
irnprcbabili,y.
If the American Government sees ft
10 appoint the postmasters, and especially
If Americans should be appointed, IL
would be taken as a declaration of our
intention as to the government of the ISL
and. and would probably be resented by
the native population.
The President and the Cabinet have con-
sidered this question. and are much puz-
zled as 10 which course TO pursue All
sorts of plans have been suggested. One
is that Americans be appointed as post
masters. with the understanding that
they are only to last until the Diebiscite.
which Will de-ermine what sort nf gov
ernment the people of Cuba want.
Another IS that representative Crbans
be selected for postmasters in all the
principal towns, and American clerks he
sent to Cuba to initiate them III he work
ings of the postal system. The decision is
not one which can be postponed until aft
er peace is declared, but at the present
time me Administrator is all at sea IN
the subject. Notwithstanding the fact that
it has been matter of grave considnrl-
ton ever since the prospects of peace
arose.
There has been some friction between
the Postoffice Department and the War
Department over the establishment of
postoffices in connection with the militia
ry camps /: is said at the Postoffice
Department that the department has been
much hampered in the work by lacH Uf
information from the War Department.
Frequently the first suggestion that it has
had that a postoffice was needed at
military camp was when the complaints
of mail failing TO reach them came from
patrons of the postal system.