The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-19
eosrAn sEnrror IN opnA.


Methods I'd the American system,
WASHINGTON. Feb. 19.-The report OF the
commission rent by the Post once Depart
ment to investigate the condition and needs
Of the postal service in Cub has been trans
mltted to the postmaster-Genera. The COM
mission found the service demoralized.
neglected by officials and clerks alike. Tho
Indifference among employees. the antluuated
methods OF service and abuses under the free
delivery system made the service under the
Spanish regime inefficient and Objectionable.
Three hundred and nye postmasters received
salaries ranging from $50 to S2;5OO a year, and
there was delivery by carriers they were per-
mitted TO charge 3 centayos Tor each letter
deliivf red and and the wn prs fSS CTepior into po q S SSs5
$40 TO $40 per month The head carrier In
Havana received $50 per month and his as
The postal service was trapSferred to l1meri.,
can authority on Jan. !. and the Postmefters
sional oath. but many of them RESIGNED
PsnsiGn.. '4 TRe co Ffii,iRi2S'' oi tes ssf foF ds SfiPsPllse
letters in Havana was abolished. end OK:
perienced Americans were played In charge OF
met with large sales at once. the decrease
sultlng In a decided Increase In the quantity OF
dIsy. is n P0st tS Nah Ssn Il 9o of t ri the InIoS StSS'di i y fss
andiii adapted foruse as a modern Post onice,
Various buildings In the city were examined
formerly officers quarters. situated on tho
water front, near the Goyernor-G Generals pal
put. win afford the people Of the city an object
lsSssSna on IN s : sr Am n 6e Rostal service as con-
Soon after the Americans took charge o. the
t nqva eTe qf pSh fhS 5TS th tiSs S Was sn prfntsd IN i tSc
city papers. The list containedss 100 nsemes.
The The nSscTmnlat t of wars Under the E, Spn an,
reached their addresses, II from foreign
sources; they were simply returned. and II
two or three months. burned. without opening:
In overhauling the mass Of accumulation OF
i ionnS ad Dc 5nS h to Sia. Shl c the fSe'e s6h Tas
man OF the commission which had been
there the tive o weeks s., !, A A, sheet rSs I iron safe Isit In the Mhf OF,
addresses. These ali bore the cards OF the
had accumpiated for several years. and no
Sttem \ L had been made TO return bn It them E
delivered 400 Of these letters. One pack age
contained i o. y . 90 pes PSsse dHss I al o9 tS SS, on vo,o and
Saot 80 ma was m Gn seS %9 S.6S1 ps Ss tas e yet thsy;
had been thrown into this safe and had lain
there for a year.
fixing box rentals, Rents were charged for
It2 Ra rs SG1Ss sGS Tanssed 70 from 5nS s gBSSct to so 81
a year, They found that one man had
paid $40 for six. months rental. AS O result
commission Immediately established uniform
rates OF So and $12 a year, and all the boxes
are now rented.
The average annual postal receipts in the
island under Spanish administration were es-
timated at S5bS. 900 and the cost of the service
at $52s,440. The receipts under the service
recently established will probably reach $780,
600 n dthe expenses 1903 ,OOa.
mendations: Introduction OF United States
rates of postage; restriction OF ranking priv
continuance Of m military stations; fixing Of the
compensation of postmasters upon basis
OF both postal and Geographic service by the
Postmaster at small offices; adoption OF sys-
tenn Of railway mail service in compartment
tract; increase Of salary OF director to $4,000;
sending of experienced clerks to Cuba.