Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-12-03
P0STOFFICE DEPARTMENT.
Interesting Report Made by Charles
Emory Smith.

Interesting Report Made by Charles
Emory Smith.
Washington, Nov. 2S.-The most in
teresting review OF the postal service
for some years, owing to its operations
i'm military and naval fields, is the re
port of Postmaster General Charles
Emory Smith. Aside from the discus
sion of the regular branches Of the de
partmcnt, il tells Of the work accom-
plished and the policies adopted in our
territorial acquisitions. The war en-
tailed the necessity of a military pos
tai service, and prompt measures were
! required for handling the mails OF an
army of n quarter OF a million men.
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 post
Office Of that city. which was a mere
military postotiice. lie removed the
Spanish director and ten Of its large
force Of clerks, retaining some, and
gave the Office a far better footing
with "a much smaller force.
The postal service accompanied our
arms and our flag 10 Puerto Rico.
There are now twelve military postal
stations there, having postal con
nections with many smaller places. In
the Philippines two military postal
stations have been established at Ma
Mia and Cavitc.
The acquisition of Hawaii has not
thus far been followed by any change
in our postal relations with that coun-
try"
Secretary Smith praises the effective
work Of the auxiliary cruisers and the
merchant marine in the war as fol
lows:
Our recent experience has Illus
trated and emphasized the importance
of this and has demonstrated
that one of the most effective and
economical bulwarks Of naval power is
in the possession Of swift mail steam
ers capable of immediate conversion
into armed cruisers"
Postmaster General Smith calls at
tention TO the rapid and amazing
growth of the postal business in all its
branches. In the last fiscal year the
gross revenue was SIS, 012, GtS. against
S33,31j,i07 i'm 1850, and the gross ex-
p%enditures SOS, 033 ,j23 against $}6,542,-
S0i: the number Of postofirps $4,000
against $4,000. Within this period the
population has increased about 80 per
cent, while the postal business has
multiplied nearly three-fold. There
was an increase in postal receipts of
nearly six and onc-half million dol
lars over the aggregate of 1897, which
is cited as II proof that the country is
again prosperous. The estimate Of
revenues and expenditures for the iis-
cal year ending June 30, 1900, follows:
Total estimated revenue, SiO0,059, t12;
estimated expenditures, S105, @24,O00;
deficiency for 1900, estimated, $I,265,-
1873. But for the gross abuse of second
class matter privileges the deficiency
would have disappeared long ago and
its present and promised decrease is in
the face Of this abuse.
Discussing rural free delivery, the
postmaster general says replies 10 cir
culars sent out suggest some assur-
nncc of the permancncc of the service.
y revision and Encouragement of the
service established prior to 1897 Is con-
.tcmplated.
The most marked advance in
the volume Of money order
business in the history of
the system was this past year, the
increase being II, 1000 900 in number
and Sl6,O0O,00o in money carried. There
were 2S.7j3,4l2 money orders issued;
face value, S204,59 . 1911. Legislation is
asked for nj the next session Of con
gress TO correct the evils growing out
of the practice Of bidding for star
route service. There were 15,GO0,2 2O
pieces Of mail matter registered.
Among recommendations for lcgis-
lation are those to make dcprcdations
Of railway postal clerks II continuous
ofcnse; to provide a severe penalty
for employees embezzling or destroying
newspaper mail, and several statutes
covering green goods and obscene mat.
ter.