The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-11
Appointment of a Chief Supervisor OF
Mails, Assistants, inspectors and
Clerks Recommended.
TRIP TO THE WEST INDIES
SAID TO BE UNDER CONSIDERATION
BY PRESIDENT M'KINLEY.
He May Visit Porto Rico and, Cuba if
Public business VIII Permit His
Absence from Washington.

Special to the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Dec 1O.-Hon. E. q.
Rathbone, of Hamilton, o., will go to Cuba
and organize the postal system Of the island
on American lines. He will have sole charge
of this important work, and will have an
able corps Of assistants He will have the
title of director of the Cuban postal service
for the United States. The postal service
in Cuba is primitive and unsatisfactory Mr.
Rathbone will Americanize it thoroughly, as
though the island were to- remain forever
under the protection of our flag Mr. Rath-
Done was fourth assistant postmaster gems
eral under President Harrison. He is very
we'll known in indianapolis and through
out southern Indiana. Mr. Rathbone
will leave for Havana in a few days Al
commission of four experts, representing
the office of each of the four assistant post
masters general, will leave for Tampa at
once and sail for Havana probably Wednes-
day. A number Of postal employees will also
be dispatched, probably on the same
steamer. General Superintendent A. w
Machen, of the free delivery system, will
be one of the commissioners.
The commission appointed to investigate
the postal service in Porto Rico has mads
its report to Postmaster General Emory
Smith. The mail and telegraph services are
operated under the same officials, the two
services having been consolidated in 1886 to
reduce expenses. Vacancies and the higher
salaried places were filled by promotions
based ON experience and efficiency In all
there were ninety lone postoffices in opera
tion under the Spanish government prior to
the occupation of the island by the Ameri-
can forces. The salaries of postmasters
ranged from SO to 81, 700 per annum, which
latter amount was paid to the postmaster
at San Juan, Ponce and Mayaguez. At the
larger offices clerks were employed at from
$50 TO $1,5O0 annual salaries The report
gives detailed statement showing total
postal receipts Of $4,000, Of which $50, ,O61 was
from the island. $415l from Cuba and $2O,77I
from Spain; and $14.01S from international
sources The total expenditures were: SAL
aries of postmasters (who perform both
telegraphic and postal duties), SAG $3.50; OF
clerks, $61.96O and rent, $3.50. Mail matter
under the Spanish system was divided into
eight classes, including ordinary letters,
packages not over four Kilograms in weight
and insured letters. There was nothing corr
responding to the free delivery service, but
in the principal offices messengers were en-
ployed to deliver kilograms and letters, Al
special charge being made for delivery OF
the latter. The total revenues of both tele-
graphic and postal services for last year
were $ls7,0SS and the expenses $2S6, 500, leaY~
ing a deficit of $S9,537
The commission recommends the appoints
ment of a chief supervisor with a suitabIe
number Of assistants, inspectors and clerks.
The supervisor is to have $500 per annum
and allowance, his functions to correspond
to an assistant postmaster general here.
Major ]. w. Cronkite. of the New York
custom house, has been designated by Sec
retary Gage, of the Treasury Department.
to act chief customs officer at Cienfue~
gos. Major Cronkite has been in the Gus.
toms service about thirty years. His duties
will be similar to those now being dis
charged by Acting Collector Walter A.
Donaldson, at Santiago.
General Greely, of the signal corps, iw
preparing for a practical experience in the
government operation of the telegraph, and
to this end Colonel Dunwoody, one of the
most experienced and scientific officers in
this branch of the service, has been ordered
to Cuba to take charge of the extensive net-
work of telegraph lines on the island. He
will leave next Wednesday and will make
his headquarters at Havana. There are,
about 2,000 miles of telegraph connecting!
the various main points of the island, ALI
owned by Spain and TO be left behind when
evacuation is completed.