The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1898-11-30
OUR MAIL SERVICE.
Postmaster-Generai Smiths Hepor'-
How the Service Followed Our
Arms and Our Flag.

Arms and Our Flag.
washington, Nov @.-The most interest
ing review Of the postal service for some
wears. owing to It's operations In military
and naval fields, Is the report OF Postmas-
ter-General Charles Emory smith. Asioe
from the discussion OF the regular orsncbes
OF the department, II tells OF the work &C.
connpiished and policies adopted In our ter
rItorial acquisitions. The postmaster-sen-
eral says: -,
THE war entailed the necessity OIL n'li-
tary postal service, and prompt measures
were required for handling the mails OF en-
army Of a quarter OF million men: LaIge
post offices were suddenly created the
camps Of concentration. the exlgehc'es VI
constant changes and movements were
met and the military and naval forces 90
active service in the West Indies ana Phii-
ippines had prompt and constant postaI
communication with home. These military
post offices were clothed with all poStsI
powers. Some OF the larger camps IN
creased the volume of postal business 10
that OF cities of high rank. Quick and ir-
tellIgent management was demahded sac
trained clerks detailed from available
points Railway mall cars were stationed
at convenient points on side tracks as posi-
Offices. To provide bonded ofhciaIs aho
postal supplies these offlces were constr
camps a temporary rural free delivery serV-
Ice was operated. A special appropriation
of $4,000 by congress for military poslal
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 serV-
ice also advanced with them. When san"a-
go urrendcred United States Postal Agent
Eben Brewer took possession OF the posi-
office OF that city. which was made the mill
tary post office He removed the spanish
director and ten of its large force OF clerks,
retaining some as interpreters. and gave
the Office a far better footing with much
smaller force Now there are four deiiv-
cries In the business portion OF Santiago
city and regular mail communication has
been established with Havana and inter-
mediate seaports ard with Jamaica and
other West Indian Islands Service also
has been extended into Santiago provinces.
The postal service accompanied our
arms ard our flag to Porto Rico. From
Ponce 1t was extended s rapidly as diner
ent places passed into our possession, unf'I
now there are IL military postal stations
there. having postal connections with mary
smaller places. They are under the direc-
ton OF a superintendent detailed from he
railway mail service, who acts in conjIrc-
ton with the military commander with
force OF six railway mail clerks three pos a J
agents and thirty-two clerks, including four
Spanish translators In the Philippines
two military postal stations have been es-
tabllshed, at Manila ard Cavite. supervised
by a veteran division superintendent de-
tailed from San Francisco and conducted
by force of railway mail and pos ofece
clerks ard agents, assisted by details from
the army OF occupation.
THE acquisition Of Hawaii has not thus
far beer 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, Ike
the Incorporation of other features OF its
local administration. have awaited the
port of the congressional committee ard
the legislation which will follow. There
was the more reason for observing this ohii-
CATION. as Hawaii already has a good mail
service which Is more than self-sustain
ing"
Regarding the effective work of auxiliary
cruisers and merchant marine In the war
the postmaster-general says: THE great
value Of the aid contributed during the
war by steamships employed In our Nail
service ard converted under the act Of
March 3. 1884, into auxiliary cruisers is un!-
versally recognized. Our recent experie q
has illustrated and emphasized the mpcr-
lance of this resource and has demon
strated that one OF the most effective ard
economical bulwarks OF naval power Is n 6
possession Of swift mail steamers capable
OF immediate conversion into armed cruls-
ors. In the further development Of our
naval force this factor cannot fail to re-
ceive consideration, and 1t supple ans ats
and strengthens the reasons for govern
mental action which are found In the wis
dom of promoting the upbuiding of mer-
chant marine. The advancement of our
commerce requires that We shall have car
rying facilities. A commercial marine is
not only vital to commercial expansion but
Il provides the best source for the expen-
sion of the naval force which becomes nac-
essary in time of war, From every poin,
of view it Is thus legitimate object Of gov
ernmental concern, ard the adoption of
practical and reasonable measures within
our power for the promotion of this object
seems to be dictated by every considera-
ton Of public interest"
Postmaster-General Smith 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 49,
0l2.GlS. against S33.Sl5,479 in 1880 and the
gross expenditure s9SC33,523, against $685.
542,eo4; 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 near-
ly threefold. The general increase OF OK
penditures for the past year has been little
more than the preceding one. despite he
fact that nearly $,C00,0C0 earned in mail
transportation by the aided Pacific rau-
road companies was paid this year direct
ly out Of the department appropriations.
There was an increase in postal recelpls
Of nearly S6.500000 over the aggregate Of
1887, which Is cited as a proof the country
IS again prosperous.
The estimate of revenues and expa,d
lures for the fiscal year ending June 20
1900. follows: Total estimated reyerue
slO0,95S,112; estimated expenditures. SIJ5,
l2i, 900; deficiency for 1890, estimated, "a.
265. SSS, But for the gross abuse of second
class matter privileges the deficit would
have disappeared long ago. and Its pre- sent
and promised decrease is in the face of This
abuse.
The most marked advance in volume Of
money order business in the history of the
system was this past year. the increase pc
ing 100000 in number and $l6,QCOOVO in
money carried. There were 2S, 1853 4l2 money
orders issued; face value, $20i 500, Syl Leg
islatio is asked for a the next session Of
congress to correct the evils growing out
of the practice OF bidding Tor star roule
service There were l5,GV0,l20 pieces of mail
matter registered al the post offices dur:uG
the year, and the aggregate of $99S. 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 circula rs
sent out suggest some assurance of the per-
manence of the service. revision and re-
arrangement of the service established
prior to 1897 is contemplated.
Created a Furry.
Kansas City, Mo-, Nov. 26.-The fail
ure of Grant C. Gillett, the cattle man
Of WOodbine, Kan, was not generally