The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-12-03

edcieat Presence of American Author.
ttJ-NO Change Made in Hawaii.
Washington, Nov. 26.-The most in
terestIng review of the postal service
o some years, owing to its Oper-
atoms in military and naval fields, is
the report ri Postmaster-Genera c. +.
Smith Aside from the discussion of
the regular branches of the depart
1nent, it tells of the work accom-
plished and policies adopted in ouI
territorial acquisitions. The post.
master general says:
Pr"nrPt Measures were Required.
The war eEtailed the necessity of q
military postal service, and prompt
measures were required for handling
the mails of an army of a quarter OF a
sEiil5on of men. Large post offices
were suddenly created at the camps OF
concentration, the eXigencies of con.
slant changes and movements were
met, and the military and naval forces
on active service in the West Indies
and Philippines had prompt postal
communication with home. These
military post Offices were clothed with
all postal powers.
Some Of the large camps increased
the volume of postal business to that
OF cities of high rank. Quick and in
t~ell5gcnt management was demanded,
and trained clerks were detailed from
available points. Railway mail cats
were stationed at convenient points
tn side tracks as post Offices. To pro-
vide bonded officials and postal sup
plies the offices were constituted
branches of some city Office. At some
camps n temporary rural free delivery
service VAS operated.
Continuing the report SAYS:
The Postal Service Advanced with the
Army Into Cuba.
when our troops advanced into
Cuba tine postal service also advanced
with them. When Santiago sUrrcr
sgeraxI United States Postal Agcn'
Ebpn Brewer took possession of the
post Office of that city, which was
made the military post Office. He re
UovesI the Spanish director and ter
of ats large force of clerks, retaining
some as interpreters. and gave the of
ficr u far better footing with a much
smaller force. Now there are four de-
I~iYrrics in the business portion of San
lingo city, and regular mail commune
Cation has been established with Ha-
VanI and intermediate sea ports and
with 5amaica and other West Indies
islands. Service also has been eX-
tended into Santiago province.
Also Followed the Flag Into Porto Rico.
The postal service accompanied our
arms and our flag to Porto Rico.
Prom Ponce it was extended as
rapidly as different places passed into
our possession. until now there are IL
military postal stations there, having
postal communication with many
smaller places. They are under the di-
rrction of Il superintendent detailed
from the railway service, who acts in
conjunction with the military COM
manicr, with a force Of six railway
mail clerks, three postal agents and
~ clerks, including four Spanish
tranSlatOrS.
The Service Established at Manila and
Cavite.
In the Philippines two military
postal stations have been established
at Manila, and Cavite. supervised by a
veteran division superintendent de-
tailed from san Francisco, and con-
Quoted by 4 force of railway mail and
post office clerks and agents, assisted
by details frCm the amy of occu1a-
ton"
An Essential Element of the Beneficial
Presence of American Authority.
Postmaster-GeneraI Emory Smith
says:
When Porto Rico and portions Of
Cuba and the Philippines passed into
the military possession of the United
States measures for the continuance
and restoration of general mail facili-
tins seemed to be an essential element
of the beneficient presence of Ameri-
.can authority. BY order of the presi,
dent the establishment of the postal
.seryicc followed the extension of mill
tary o~ccuDation. In harmony with
the general policy adopted for the ad-
miniStrati0n of the civil institutions
III the regions which thus came under
our control. the local system and
provisions were retained as far as
practicable and adapted to our meth
DDS
General and Military Postal Service ASST
ciated.
The general postal service was as
ISOLATED with the military postal serv-
ice and operated by the same machin'
cry. No new 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 employees as were needed or Gould
he made available. In h smaller
places the cid postmasters are contln,
p,ed or other local officers are found
% Caange Has Been Made in the Hawaiian
Postal System.
'"The acquisition of Hawaii has no'
thus far oeen followed by any change
in our postal relations with that coun'
try The absorption of its postal sys
- into ~, own and the exercise OF