The record-union., 1898-11-26
Prompt Measures Adopted for Handling the
Malls Of the Army.
W7uprever Our Troops Advanced
and New Territory Was Acquir-
ed the Postal Service Advanced
With Them-Interesting Review
Of the Subject Presented in
Postmaster General Smiths Re-
port.

report of Postmaster General Charles
Emory Smith. Aside from the discus
sion of the regular branches of the de-
partment it tells of the work accom-
plished and policies adopted in our ter
ritorial acquisitions. The Postmaster
General says:
'"The war entailed the necessity of a
military postal service, and prompt
measures were required for handling
the mails of an army of quarter Of
a. million of men. Large postoffices
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 and con-
stant postal communication at home.
These military postoffices were clothed
with all the postal laws. Some of the
larger camps increased the volume Of
postal business to that Of offices of
high rank. Quick and intelligent man
agement was demanded, and trained
clerks We're detailed from available
points,
Continuing, the report says: .When
our troops advanced into Cuba the
postal service also advanced with them.
When Santiago surrendered United
States Postal Agent Eben Brewer took
possession of the postoffice He 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 deliveries
in the business portion of Santiago
City and regular mail communication
has been established with Havana and
intermediate seaports, and with Jamai-
ca and other West Indian islands Serv-
ice has been extended into Santiago
province.
''The postal service accompanied our
arms and our flag to Porto Rico. From
Ponce it was extended as rapidly as
different places passed into our pos
session, until now there are twelve mill
itary postal stations there, having pos
tai connections with many smaller
Places
Referring to the methods of extending
the postal service in the acquired terri
tory, the report says:
The general postal service was as
sociated with the military postal sery-
ice and operated by the same machin-
cry. No new appointments, save in one
or two instances, We're made. Trained
men from our home service were de-
tailed as superintendents and agents.
placed in charge of the larger offices.
retaining such of the old employees as
were needed or could be made available
In the smaller places the old Post
masters are continued or other local
officers are found. There has already
been great improvement over the old
Spanish service, and the work has onlv
just begun.
The acquisition of Hawaii has not
thus far been followed by any change
in our postal relations with that conn
try. The absorption of its postal svs-
tenn into our own and the exercise of
our control, like the incorporation of
other features of it's local administers
ton, nave awaited the report of tha
Congressional Commission and tha leo
lslatior which will follow. There was
the more reason for observing this oh
legation, as Hawaii already has pood
mall service, which is more than sole
sustaining
me report refers at length to the
service rendered during the late war hv
the auxiliary cruisers and mercha Mt
marine, and says:
The Act OF 1891 invested tba POST
master General with authority to antor
into such contracts for the carving
OF mails on American steamships as
in his Judgment will best subserva an,1
promote the postal and commercial in
terests of the United States. Tn an-
cordance with this provision. lines have
been established to ports in tha cu,f
Of Mexico, and steamers recently
launched for this service and inst now
undergoing inspection by a naval Off
Ger, will be available as cruisers should
they be needed in future emergency.
But no hnes have thus far been estab-
ished under this Act on the Pacific.
and the requirement of an equitable
distribution, which enjoys attention in
that direction, is forced and accentu-
ated by the recent expansion of Ameri-
can interests on that ocean. Should
steps be taken to extend our flag over
American steamships on the Pacific. as
I it has been moderately extended on tha
Atlantic, such action will not only com
ply with the spirit and purpose of the
existing law, but it will naturally fol-
low, and utilize the opening of Ameri-
can opportunity in that quarter
The estimates of revenues and ex-
penditures for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1900, are as follows: Total es-
timated revenue, $780, .95S. 10: esti-
mated expenditures, S105, 224. 900; def
cheney for 1900, estimated at 81, ,264, 1888.
But for the gross abuse Of second class
matter privileges the deficit would have
disappeared long ago, and it's present
and promised decrease Is in the face Of
this abuse.
Discussing rural free delivery, the
Postmaster General says replies to cir
cuiars sent out suggest some assur-
ance Of the permanence of the service.
A revision and Encouragement of the
service established prior to 1897 is con-
| ltemplated.
The most marked advance in volume
LOT money order business in the history