The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-21

T. rom .IH6 chicago i1IlGS-f1 Herald
The postoffice department is preparing
to issue special set of stamps for Cuba,
and the designs have been approved by
the Postmaster General. The issue will
consist of l, 2, 8, s and 10-cent stamps.
Director Rathborue of the Cuban mail
service wishes TO have few stamps OF
larger denominations, and the. matter is
held up pending further Information from
him. The designs were prepared at the
bureau of printing and engraving from
pictures furnished by sthe pos tOffee de-
partment.' The 1-cent or 1-centavo stamp
has the word Cuba across the top, with
Il" in each of the lower corners. In
the center is a picture of the statue of
Columbus in the courtyard of the palace
of the captain general In Havana. 1t will
be printed in green. There are two de-
signs for the 2-centaVo stamp The first
has Cuba across the topo with a plantation
scene in the center and 20 centavos' at
the bottom. The other has the plantation
scene in the upper left-haud corner, with
the word Cuba across the center, the fig
ure 2 under meath and centavos at the
bottom. The first gives more prominence
to the plantation. This stamp will be In
red.
The 3-cent stamp has the word Cuba
across the top, and i'm the center is a rep
resentation of the allegorical figure of
Cuba which stands in the plaza Of. Ha-
vana, a woman seated on a throne. 1t is
called la Guiana on either side of
the figure is the figure 8. and at the bot
tom the word centavos. The 5-cent stamp
has the picture of a merchant steamer at
full speed, typifying commerce. On the
side is a wealth, Of palms and tropical TO-
liage, and at the top the word CUBA.
Across the bottom is, IS centavos.H On
the Decent stamp is depicted a farming
scene in Cuba. A. Cuban Is driving two
oxen harnessed to the primitive. plow in
use in the island, with the long upright
stick by which it is guided. The word
Cuba appears at the top, with the figures
40" on either side and "centavos" in a
semicircle above the pictures tst'
The plates will be prepared and the
stamps printed at the bureau of engraving
aud printing. Washington, and their cost
charged against the Cuban revenues. They
will be used on the island until Cuba IS de-
c,ared free when the Cuban government
will be at liberty to continue their use
or not. as it sees fit, The use Of the Stamps
viii be another evidence Of the intention
of the government to free Cuba. 1t is the
first time in the history of the postoffice
department that il has been called upon
10 prepare stamps for another country. At
present two kinds of stamps are used In
Cuba, the regulation United States stamp
ana the same stamp WIN tie WOfO .-0uDd
and the denomination in Spanish imprint
ed across the face IN red, similar TO the
imprinted revenue stamps issued when the
war act went into effect. The department
prepared the imprinted stamps for the Gu
ba mail service, but finally consented 10
permit the use of the regular ordinary
United States stamps accommodate the
soldiers who had taken quantities OF
stamps with them to Cuba. as
In Porto Rico the stamps in use are the
ordinary United States stamps, with the
words Porto Rico, and the value printed
across the face in Spanish. The depart
ment does not contemplate at present
making any issde of stamps for Porto
Rico similar to the Cuban issue. Later
stamps may be prepared for the island,
but they will be the United States sta nlps,
with simply the denonnifla ton In Spanish
and possibly the words Porto Rico on
them. In the Philippines the United States
stamp is used exclusively at present and
without any imprint A series OF stamps
may be prepared for them. No stamps ex-
cept those for Cuba however, win be pre-
pared for the colonies until after theffrat-
ification of the treaty of peace is -ex-
changed.--New York Sun.