The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-11-26
MILITARY POSTAL SERVICE
Policies Adopted in Territory Acquired
as q Result oil the Var.
WHEREVER THE TROOPS ADVANCED
The Postofice Advanced With Them
Free Deliveries in Vogue in the City
Stations Establish
ed in the Philippines.

Washington November 25.-The report of
Postmaster General Charles Emory Smith
aside from the direction of the regular
branches of the department. tells of the
work accomplished and policies adopted in
our territorial acquisitions. The postmas-
ter-general says:
1.-THE war entailed the necessity of d
military postal service and PROMPT meas
ures We're required for handling the mails
OF an army of a quarter of a million men.
Large postoffices We're suddenly created at
the camps of concentration, the exigencies
Of constant changes ana movements were
met and the military and naval forces OH
active service in the West Indies and Phil
ippines had prompt and constant postal
communication with home. These military
postoffices were clothed with all postal
powers. Some of the larger camps in
creased the volume of postal business to
that of cities of high rank
Continuing, the report says: when our
troops advanced into Cuba, the postal
service advanced with them.
There are now free deliveries in the best
portion of Santiago city, and service has
THE postal service accompanied our flag
into Porto Rico. From Ponce it was ex-
tended as rapidly as those places passed
INTO our possession, and now there are
twelve military postal stations there having
postal connections with smaller aces.
Stations III Philippines
IN the philippines two military postal
stations have been established at Manila
and Cavite.
The report says: when Porto Rico and
portions of Cuba and the Philippines passes
into the military possession of the United
States measures for the continuance or
restoration of general mail facilities seemed
to be an essential element in the beneficent
province of American authority. By order
of the president the establishment of the
postal service followed the extension of the
military occupation.
1.-THE general postal service was asso-
ciated with the military postal service and
appointments, save in one or two instances
were made. Trained men from our home
service were detailed as superintendent
and agents and placed in charge of the
larger offices, retaining such of the old en-
pioySo aS Wcic hScucu VI cOuiu De IndQe
available. In the smaller places the old
postmasters are continued or other local
officers are found. There has already been
a great Improvement over the old Spanish
service and the work has only just begun.
1.-THE acquisition of Hawaii has not thus
far been followed by any change in our
postal regulations with that country. Re-
gardng the effective work of auxiliary
cruisers and merchant marine in the war,
the postmaster general says:
1.-The great value of the aid contributed
during the war by steamships employed in
our mail service and converted under the
act of March 8, 1891, into auxiliary cruisers
is universally recognized. The ST. Louis
and the st. Paul and the New York and
Paris the last two re ristened the Har-
yard and the Yale, AIDE materially to the
naval strength and gave snequaied service.
s'Their superior speed peculiarly fitted
them to act as scouts. and in actual en-
counter they proved their fighting effi-
cheney. Independent of their value as fast
mail steamers the part they played in our
naval operations indicated the broad pol
icy of the law under which they foated
our flag.
swift Mail Steamers
sour recent experience has Illustrated
and emphasized the Importance of this re-
source and has demonstrated that one OF
the most effective and economical bulwarks
of naval power is the possession of swift
mail steamers, capable of immediate con-
version into armed cruisers. In the further
development of our naval force this factor
cannot fail to receive consideration and it
supplements and strengthens the reasons
for governmental action which are founded
on wisdom of promoting the upbuilding of
a merchant marine. The advancement or
our commerce requires that we shall have
carrying facilities. commercial marine Is
not only vital to commercial expansion, but
1t provides the best source for the expan-
sion of the naval force, which becomes nee
essary in time of war. From every point
of view it is thus legitimate object OF
governmental concern and the adoption Of
pra ctical and reasonable measures within
our power for the promotion of this object
seems to be dictated by every consideration
of public interest.
.'The act of 1891 invested the postmaster
general with authority to enter into such
contracts for the carrying of mails on
American steamships as in his judgment
will best subserve and promote the postal
and commercial interests of the United
States. The first fruits of this act were the
powerful steamers which, converted into
armed cruisers rendered such service In
the war with Spain. They were employed
III Carrying the mails across the Atlantic
and competed favorably with the Atlantic
Steamers under any flag But the act fur
Their provided that the mail services on
lines thus created should be equitably dis
tributed among the Atlantic Gulf and Pa
cific coasts.
'But no lines have thus far been estab-
lished under this act on the Pacific, and
the requirement of an equitable distribu-
ton which enjoins nt',, in that direc-
ton is enforced and accumulated by the re-
cent expansion of American interests on
that occasion. Should steps be taken to ex-
tend our flag over American steamships
on the Pacific as 1t has been moderately ex-
tended on the Atlantic. such action will
not only comply with the spirit and pur-
pose of the existing law. but 1t will natur-
ally follow and utilize the opening Of Amer
lean opinion in that quarter"
Amazing Growth
The report calls attention to the rapid and
amazing growth Of the postal business In
all its branches In the last fiscal year the
gross revenue was $ss.O1261S. against $685.
al. 47s In 1880, and the gross expenditure Of
Sos, osa, 62s against He.5A2.so4. The number Of