Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-12-01
Postmaster General Smith
Reviews the Work of
His Department.
MILITARY POSTAL SERVICE.
There Now Four Deliveries In Santiago
Tho Rapid and Amazing Growth of
the Postal Business Described
Receipts and Expenditures
Legislation Recomm ended.

Washington. Nov. 25-Thc most inter-
testing review of the postal service for
some years. owing TO its operations in
military and naval fields is the report of
POSTMASTER General Charles Emory Smith.
Aside from the discussion of the regular
branches of the department it tells nj tho
work accomplished and POLICIES adopted
in our territorial acquisitions. The post
master general says:
THE war cntdilcd the necessity of "A
military postal service and prompt inca s.
ures were required for handling the mails
of an army of quarter million of men.
Large post Offices were suddenly created
at the camps of concentration the cXigen-
cies OF constant changes and movements
were met and the military and naval
forces on active service in the West In
dies and Philippines have had prompt and
constant postal communication with
home. These military postofilces We're
clothed with all postal powers. Some of
the larger camps increased the volume of
postal business to that of cities of high
rank. QuiSk and intelligent management
was demanded and trained clerks detailed
from available points"
| Continuing, the report says:
when our troops advanced into Cuba,
the postal service advanced with them.
When Santiago surrendered United States
/ Postal Agent Eben Brewer took posses
sion of the postofiice of that city which
was made the military postotiice. lie re-
moved the Spanish director and ten of its
large force of clerks. retaining some as
Interpreters and gave the office far bet
ter footing with a much smaller force
Now there are four deliveries in the bust
ness portion of Santiago city and regular
mail communication has been established
with Havana and intermediate seaports
and with Jamaica and other West Indian
Islands Service also has been extended
into Santiago province.
In the Philippines two military posta
stations have been established. at Manila
and Cavite, supervised by a veteran divi
sion superintendent. detailed from Sar
Francisco and conducted by force o.
railway mail and postoflice clerks an,
agents assisted by details of the army o,
occupation.
| The postmaster general calls attention
to the rapid and amazing growth of tn,
postal business in all its branches. In III,
last fiscal year the gross revenue wa
$S0l2.GlS. against $50 a? in 1880, and tn,
gross expenditures S3S.Sc3.5 SO against $50,
542,S0i; the number of postofiiccs. 30 oel
against 1900. Within " years the pop
ulation has increased about - per cent
while postal business has multiplied near
L. three fold. The general increase of ex
penditures for the past year has been lit
tie more than the preceding one. despit
the fact that nearly million dollars earn
ed in mail transportation by the aided Pa
cifc railroads was paid this year direct,
out of the department appropriation
There was an increase in postal receipts
of nearly SIX and one half million dollar
over the aggregate of 1897. which is cit e,
as proof that the country Is again pros
porous. The estimate of revenues and .N
ponditures for the fiscal year ending Jun
30 1870. follows:
Total estimated revenue slOno5 llo; es
timated expenditures. sl65. 22i 90; deiicicn
cy for 1890. estimated. 81, Is. SNS. But ~
the gross abuse of second class matte
privileges thu deficit should have disap
peared long ago and its present and prom
ised decrease is in the face OF tNis abus.
The most marked advance in the vol
ume OF money order business in the his
tory of the system was this past year. tn
increase being ZOO GO in number SIG 90
oC1 In money carried. There were .S,75S II
money orders issued face value So4593,
Ssl.
Legislation is asked for at the next ses
sion OF Congress. to correct the evils grow
, ing out of the existing system of specula
tive bidding for star route service.
Among recommendations for leEiSlatlo
are those to make depredations Of rail
way postal clerks OF the continuous OF
! fence: to provide a sever-r penalty 10
! employees embezzl,ng or destroying news
! paper mail; seVerer statutes GOVERN
green goods and obscene matter.