The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-26
HANDLING The NAILS
ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE POSTAL,
SERVICE MADE BY PosTMAs-
TER GENERAL
MILITARY NEEDS SUPPLIED

Camps That Assumed the Impor-
lance of Cities of the First Glass
How the Mails Were Handled
In Cuba, Porto Rico and the Phil
tDpines-No Change Necessary
I'm HawaIi-Grovth of Business.
WASHINGTON, Nov 25.-The most
interesting review Of the postal service
Tor some years, owing to its operations
IN military and naval fields, is the
report Of Postmaster General Charles
Emory Smith. Aside from the discus
sion or the regular branches Of the de-
partment, it tells of the work accom-
plished and policies adopted In our ter
r1tortal acquisitions. The postmaster
general says:
The war entailed the necessity Of mill
tary postal service, and pronp& measures
were required for handling the mails of sn
army Of a quarter of a million Of men. Large
postofhces were suddenly cHated at the
camps OF concentration, the exigencies of
and the military and naval forces On active
service in the West Indies and PHILIPPINES
mad prompt and constant postal communica-
oon with home. These military postofhces
OF the larger camps increased the volume of
postal business TO that of cities of higher
rank. Quick and intelligent MANAGEMENT
was demanded, and trained clerks detailed
from available points Railway mail clerks
were stationed at convenient points on side
tracks as postoflces. To provide bonded Of
ncials and postal supplies these Offices wers
constituted branches of some city Office At
some camps a temporary rural free delivery
service WIS operated. A special appropriation
OF 10000 by congress for military postal
service was inadequate, and, with our cam
paigns on remote soil, already has been ex-
hausted"
Continuing the report says:
When our troops advanced into Cuba the
postal service also advanced with them When
santiago surrendered United States Postal
postofice of that city which was made the
military postoffice. He removed the Spanish
director and ten Of it's large force of clerks
retaining some as Interpreters. and gave the
once lar better as well as a much smaller
force. Now there are four deliveries in the
business portion Of Santiago, and regular
mail communication has been established
win havana and intermediate seaports and
with Jamaica and other West India islands.
Service also has been extended in.o Santiago
province.
IN ACQUIRED TERRITORY.
The postal service accompanied our arms
and our flag to Porto Rico. From Ponce 1t
was extended as rapidly as different places
came Into our possession, until now there are
twelve military postal stations there, hav. ne
postal connection with many smaller place s.
They are under the direction OF a superin-
tendent detailed from the railway mall serv-
Ice who acts In conjunction with the mill
tary commander, with a force of six railway
mail clerks, three postal agents and thirty
two clerks, including four Spanish transta-
tors. In the Philippines two military pcstsl
stations have been established at Manila and
Cavite supervised by a veteran division SUI
per1ntendent detailed from San Francisco.
and conducted by force Of railway mail and
postofice clerks and agents, assisted by de-
tails from the ermy Of occupation.
When Porto Rico and portions of Cuba and
the philippines passed into the military PCS
session OF the United States measures FOR the
continuance and restoration Of general mail
facilities seemed to be an essential element
OF the benehcent presence of American au-
thority. By order Of the president the estab-
hshment OF the postal service followed the
extension Of military occupation In harmony
with the general policy adopted for the adj
mtnistration of the civil Institutions in the
regions which thus came under our control
the local system and provisions were retain
ed as far as practicable and adapted to our
methods.
The general postal service was associat
with the military service and operated by
the same machinery. No new appointments
save in one or two instances, were made
Trained men from our home service were de-
tailed as superinten and agents and
placed in charge of the larger Offices, retain
Ing such Of the old employees as were needed
For could be made available. In the smaller
places the old postmasters are continued or
other local officials are found. There has
already been great improvement over the
old Spanish system, and the work has only
just begun.
far been followed by any change In our pcstal
relations with that country. The absorption
of its postal system into our own and the ex-
ercise Of our control, like the incorporation OF
fQQt nf tie "a Al
have awaited the report OF the congressional
committee and the legislation which will
follow. There was the more reason for OBJ
serving this obligation, as Hawaii already
has good mail service, which is more than
self-sustaining.
GROWTH OF BUSINESS.
Postmaster General Smith calls at
tention to the rapid and amazing
growth Of the postal business in all its
branches. In the last fiscal year the
gross revenue was $s9,012,61s, against
SSS, S16,479 In 1880, and the gross expen-
ditures $98, 033, 523, against $50, SAC S04:
the number of postofffces 73. 900, against
$4,000. Within this period the popula-
ton has increased about 90 per cent.
while postal business has multiplied
nearly threefold. The general increase
of expenditures for the past year has
been little more than the preceding
one, despite the 1act tnat nearly 81 900, =
600 earned in mail transportation by
the aided Pacific railroad companies
was paid this year directly out Of the
department appropriations.
There was an increase in postal re-
ceipts of nearly $500, 600 over the ag-
gregate of 1897. which Is cited as a
proof the country is again prosperous.
The estimate of revenues and expendi-
lures for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1900, follows: Total estimated reve-
nue.. 500, 112; estimated expendi-
lures $105, 224 900; deficiency for 1900,
estimated, 81, 265, 1888. But for the gross
| abuse of second-class matter privi-
leges the deficit would have disap-
peared long ago and it's present and
promised decrease Is In the face OF