The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-12-03

Postmaster-GenernI smiths Report
How the Service Followed Our
Arms and Our Flag.

Washington, Nov. 2g--The most interest
ing review OF tho postal service for some
years, owing TO It's operations In military
and naval fields. is the report OF Posimas-
ter-General Charles Emory smith, Aside
from the discussion OF the regular branches
OF the department. 81 tells Of the work &C.
complished and policies adopted In our ter
ritoral acquisitions. The postmaster-sen-
efsi Rays:
'rhe war entailed the necessity OF mill
tary postal service, and prompt measures
were required for handling the mails or IN
army OF a quarter OF a million men. large
post Offices were suddenly created It tho
camps OF concentration. the ex!gencies or
constant changes and movements were
met and the military and naval forces on
active service IN the West Indies and Phil
ipplnes had prompt and constant postal
communication with home. These military
post Offices were clothed with all postal
powers. Some OF the larger camps IN
creased the volume OF postal business 10
that OF cities OF high rank. Quick and ir-
teliigent management was demanded aud
trained clerks detailed from available
points. Railway mall cars were stationed
az convenient points on side tracks as post
offices. To provide bonded officials and
postal supplies these Offices were consu-
tuted branches OF some city Office. AZ some
camps a temporary rural free delivery serv-
ice was operated. A special appropriation
OF $4,000 by congress for military postal
service was inadequate, and with our cam
palgns on remote soil already has been ex-
hausted"
Continuing. the report says: when our
troops advanced into Cuba the postal serv-
lcealso advanced with them when Santa
go surrendered United States Postal Agent
Ebcn Brewer took possession OF the post
office OF that city, which was made the milf
tary post office lie removed the Spanish
director and ten OF It's large force Of clerks.
retaining some as interpreters, and gave
the office a far better footing with a much
smaller force. Now there are four doiiv-
cries In the business portion OF Santiago
city and regular mail communication has
been established with Havana and inter-
mediate seaports and with Jamaica and
other West Indian islands. Service also
has been extended into Santiago province.
THE postal service accompanied our
arms and our Nag TO Porto Rico. From
Ponce Il was extended as rapidly as differ
ent places passed into our possession, until
now there are ~ military postal stations
there, having postal connections with many
smaller places They are under tho direc-
tlon OF q superintendent detailed from he
railway mail service. who acts ia 7onJunc-
ton with the military commander with
force OF six railway mail clerks, three pos al
agents and thlrty-two clerks including four
Spanish translators. In the Philippines
two military postal stations have been es-
tabllshed, al Manila and Cavitc, supervised
by veteran division superintendent de-
tailed from San Francisco and conducted
by force OF railway mail and post Office
clerks and agents, assisted by details from
the army OF occupation.
THE acquisition OF Hawaii has not thus
far been followed by any change IN our
postal relations with that country The
absorption OF It's postal system into our
own and the exercise OF our control. like
tho Incorporation OF other features OF It's
local administration, have awaited the
"a tho eIOn al mi Il
the legislation which VIII follow There
was the more reason for observing this phil
cation. as Hawaii already has good mail
service which Is more than self-sustain-
ing"
Regarding the effective work OF auxiliary
cruisers and merchant marine IN the war.
the acknowledgement says: THE great
value OF the aid contributed during the
war by steamships employed in our mall
service and converted under the act OF
March 3. 1891, into au- Hilary cruisers Is unl-
vcrsally recognized. Our recent experience
has illustrated and emphasized the impcr-
lance OF this resource and has demon
strated that one OF tho most effective and
economical bulwarks OF naval power Is the
possession OF swift mall steamers capable
OF immediate conversion into armed cruis-
ers In the further development OF our
naval force this factor cannot fall 10 re-
ceive consideration, and Il supplements
and strengthens the reasons for govern
dom OF promoting the upbullding OF a mer-
chant marine. The advancement OF our
commerce requires that we shall have car
Tying facilities. commercial marine Is
not only vital 20 commercial expansion, but
Il provides the best source for the eNprn-
sion OF the naval force which becomes NEG
essary IN time OF war From every point
OF view Il Is thus Legitimate object OF gov
ernmental concern, and the adoption OF
practical and reasonable measures within
~. -. -
seems TO be dictated by every considera-
ton OF public interest"
Postmaster-General Smith calls attention
10 the rapid and amazing growth OF The
postal business In all its branches In the
last fiscal year the gross revenue was $50
0i2.6lS. against $33.3i5.i79 In 1880. and the
gross expenditure SIS, 1888, against $685.
ti2.s O4: the number OF post offices 1900.
against 1900. Within this period the pop
ulation has Increased about 90 per cent,
while postal business has multiplied neer-
ly threefold. The general Increase OF 6x-
pendtures for the past year has been little
more than the preceding one, despite he
fact that nearly sl,OO0.0O0 earned In mail
transportation by the aided Pacific rail-
road companies was paid this year direct
ly out OF the department appropriations.
There was an increase In postal receipts
CT nearly S6.500000 over the aggregate Of
1881. which Is cited as proof the country
Is again prosperous.
The estimate OF revenues ana eXpagd-
itures for the fiscal year ending June 70,
1900 follows: Total estimated revenue,
500, 1865, ll2. estimated expenditures SI05,-
~ 600, deficiency for 1900. estimated ST.
265.sSs But for the gross abuse OF second
class matter privileges the deficit would
have disappeared long ago, and its present
and promised decrease Is IN the face OF this
abuse.
The most marked advance I'm volume OF
money order business IN the history or the
system was this past year, the increase De-
Ing H0UO.OO0 In number and yl6OO0,OvO In
money carried. There were .7O3.4i2 money
oruers Issued; face value, SXU4, 6S3.S yl. Log-
lslation - asked for at the next session OF
congress TO correct the evils growing out
OF the practice OF bidding Tor star route
service. There were l5,OU0,z1O pieces OF mail
matter registered at the post Offices during
the year, and the aggregate Of SsyS, lyJ In
fees collected, was an increase OF over
seven per cent over the previous years
business.
Discussing rural free delivery. the post
master-general says replies TO circulars
sent out suggest some assurance OF the per-