The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-21
POSTAL SERVICE IN CUBA.
Change From the Anticipated spanish
Methods to the American system.

Washington. Feb Is. The report Of
the commission sent by the Post ONCE
Department to investigate the condition
and needs Of the postal service in Cuba
has been transmitted % the Postmaster
General. Tie commission found the SER
vice demoralized, neglected by officials
and clerks alike. The indifference among
employees the Anticipated methods of SER
vice and abuses under the free-delivery
system made the service under the span
ish regi me inefficient and Objectionable.
Three hundred and five Postmssters re-
ceiyed salaries ranging from $50 to 81, bc0
year, and the remaining IS were paid
by fees. Where there was delivery by car
riers they were permitted TO charge 8
centavos for each letter delivered, and the
proceeds went into general fund, from
which the carriers received SEQ to $40 per
month. Ths head carrier in Havana re-
Gel we'd $50 per month and his assistant
$50. here was no money order system.
The postal service was transferred to
American authority on Jan. |, and tie
rostmasters and carriers were Informed
that they would be continued in office ON
TAXI ng the provisional oath, but many Of
them resigned ratherthan relinquish their
Spanish pension. The collection Of fees
forideliveri & letters in Havana was abel
ished and experienced Americans were
placed 10 charge of the various depart
ments. Postage stamps were placed on
sale on Jan. and met with large sales at
once, the decrease from five to three cen Is
f1x ,pfa nd synu rasnlltp mo- in "a dagt 90
increase in the quantity of mail matter.
The building occupied by the Havana
Post Office is one of the oldest in the
city, Is near the centre of the infected dis
trict, and iii adapted for use as modern
Post Office Various buildings n the city
were examined by the commission and
the Quartet del Fuerza, formerly officers
quarters, situated on the water front.
near the Governor Generals palace, was
selected Extensive repairs have been
commenced, which with new fixtures
throughout, will afford the people OF the
city an object lesson on thu American
postal service as conducted in fret class
office
soon after the Americans took charge Of
the Havana Office the first list OF uude-
livered letters ever published there was
printed In the city pagers. The list con-
tanned 8, 200 names, the accumulation CT
years under the Spanish administration.
When letters had 5not reached their ad-
dresses, II from foreign sources, they were
simply returned, and II from ether parts
of the island they were. after twn or three
months. burned without opening. In
overhauling the mass of accumulation Of
matter In the Havana Office letter was
found addressed to Mr. Machen, tne
chairman Of the commission which had
been there two weeks A sheet tirou safe
in the office was found full of regist sred
4 . oh had haaD YefpFnaH n lad
for from foreign addresses. These all bore
the cards of the senders, Havana mer-
chants; but they had accumulated for
several years, and no attempt had been
made TO return them. The hrst day the
Americans got at the safe they delivered
40l of these letters. One package con-
tanned 10000 pest tas (about s. 000) md
was so marked on the outside Of the en-
velope, another was market 9,coO pesetss
yet they had been thrown Into this safe
and had lain there for year.
Another interesting institution the COM
mission found was the Spanish method Of
liking box rentals. Rents were charged
the rem tiers and ranged from $50 TO 400 y
year. They found that one man had paid
SIS for six months rental AS result
only about half the boxes We're rented.
The commission Immediately established
uniform rates of IS and $l2 year, and
all the boxes are now rented.
The average annual postal receipts in
the island under Spanish administration
were estimated at S56S. 900 and the cost of
the service at $685. 440. The receipts
under the service recently established will
probably reach $780, 00 and the expenses
$3.50. 900.
The commission makes the following
recommendations: Introduction Of United
States rates of postage; estrictions of
franking privileges; uration of
money order system. tnuance OF
military stations; liking compensa-
tinn Of postmasters upon 7 cn~c9i-
lation and sales; PERFORM
postal ani teleRraphic ssryics
master at small Offices; ADOPT.
tenn O railway mail service In .o.-.p art-
ment cars; placing of star route service
under contract: increase of salary Of
directofSto 90. 600: sending of experienced