The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-26
DEVELOPMENT OF CONVERGE
AND THE NAVY WOULD BE
AIDED BY FAST VESSELS.
Better Postal Facilities Are Required,
Particularly on the Pacific, ow-
ing to Uncle Sans New
Possessions.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

WASHINGTON. Nov 25. = Post
master General Smith in his report
of the operations of his department
during the last year says:
Our recent experience has illustrated
and emphasized the Importance of the
possession of swift mail steamers capable
of immediate conversion into armed
cruisers In the further development of
our naval force this factor cannot fail to
receive consideration. The advancement
of our commerce requires that we snall
have carrying facilities. A commercial
marineis not only vital to commercial ex-
pansion but IL provides the best source Tor
the expansion of the naval force which
becomes necessary In time OF war FROM
every point of view 1t IS thus legitimate
object of governmental concern, and the
adoption of practical and reasonable
measures within our power for the pro-
motion of this object seems to be d1cta-
ted by every consideration of public IN
terest. The act of 1891 invested the Post
master General with authority TO enter
into such contracts for the carrying or
mails on American steamships as in his
Judgment will best subserve and promote
the postal and commercial interests or the
United States. The first fruits of this act
We're the powerful steamers which, con-
verified into armed cruisers, rendered such
useful service in the war with Spain.
They were employed in carrying the
mails across the Atlantic and compare ia
vorabiy with the Atlantic steamers I'M
der any flag. But the act further pro-
Vi0p0 that the mali service III llItS liluS
created should be equitably distributed
between the Atlantic, Mexican Gulf ana
Pacific ports. In accordance with TINS
provision lines have been established to
ports in the Gulf of Mexico and steamers
recently launched for this service, and
just now undergoing inspection by naval
officer will be available as cruisers should
they be needed in future emergency.
But no lines have thus far been estab-
ilished under this act on the Pacific and
h-he requirement of an equitable dlstrlbu-
III, i,,re = farafi ion a
tim is forced and accumulated by the re-
ceat expansion of American interests on
that ocean. Should steps be taken to ex-
tend our flag over steamships on the "a
cifc as it has been moderately extended
on tae Atlantic, such action will not only
COMFY with the spirit and purpose or the
existiig law, but Ii will naturally follow
and Utilize the opening of American OPP
portunty in that quarter
Postmaster General Smith calls at
tention to the rapid and amazing
growth u the POSTAL business in Ill its
branches. In the last fiscal year the
gross resenue was $89,012,618, against
$685. 315, 479 in 1880, and the gross expen-
diture $9l,033,323, against $36,542, So4 ;
the numbe- of postoffices $4,000, against
43, 600.
Within this period the population has
increased about so per cent, while the
! postal busiress has multiplied nearly
threefold. The estimate of revenues
and expenditures for the nScai year
ending June 81, 1900, follows: Total es-
timated revenue, 500, 958, 112; estimated
expenditures, $105, "a 900; deficiency
for 1900 estimated s4,265,SSS. But for the
gross abuse of second class matter
privileges the deficit would have disap-
peared long ago, and it's present 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 being II, 100000 in number and
SIG, 600, 900 in money carried. There were
2S,753,412 money orders issued; race
value S204 593,S91.
Legislation is asked for at the next
session of Congress to correct the evils
growing out of the practice OF piddlng
for star route service.
Among recommendations for legisla-
ton are those to make depredations or
railway postal clerks a continuous Of
felse: to provide a severe penalty for
employees embezzling or destroying
newspaper mail; severer statutes Gov
ering green goods and obscene. matter;
the Issue of a special stamped envelope
Of superior paper quality for 10 cents
for greater security ard safety Tor at
least curtaiIing the use OF postage
stamps as & p5edium OF exchange aIld
fol- allowing post-nasters OF the hrse
and second classes TO pay LOT tie spec,
ial delivery of letters by salarled postal
officials and to allow carfare 10 special
delivery messengers in the great cities.
L., IN ~,