The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-01-16

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government. 1t embodies
the annual report Of the department of
posts for Cuba for the fiscal year end
ed June 80, 1899: or. in other words.
the first six months of American rule
in the island; and unlike the average
department report 1t Is replete with
novelty.
1t is perhaps known that when. upon
apr ointment by Postmaster General
Smith. j.. G. Rathbone was sent -
cuba to organize a postal service on
American lines. the Spaniards had pre-
pared the way for him by destroying
every record which could possibly aid
in the performance of Mr.. Rathbone's
task. There was not a list at head
quarters of the postmasters through
out the island.nor postage stamp nor
a cent of money. The American Off
cials directed by Mr.. Rathbone had no;
only to take hold of a strange task in
strange land. inhabited Dy people
speaking strange tongue. but they
had to originate their work from the
foundations up. Let us see how they
succeeded
Director General Rathbone assumed
control Jan. 1, 1899. Before the last
of February he had secured informa-
ton concerning 1913 of the 2S5 post
offices reported to be on the island,
and had put those 1879 offices in good
running order. in most instances in
charge of native postmaster This
may be good place to say that al
though the reputation of the Cubans
for honesty does not stand high, the
chief of the detective bureau in con-
nection with the postal service, who
had charge of the morals Of the native
postal employees. reports that while 492
Cubans We're at the close of the fiscal
year employed in postal work. only one
case of undoubted theft had devel-
opcd during the six months and with
in forty-eight hours the culprit in this
case was discovered. arrested and re-
manded for trial. In January six bu-
reaus were organized. including fin
ance. chief clerk, postal accounts, APP
pointments. transportation and trans
lation. the latter of especial import
ance, since to many of the Americans
employed Spanish was yet an un-
known tongue. To these were subse-
quently added bureaus relating to pos
tai money orders, special agents, regis
tration, dead letters and disburse-
ments. A legal department is in pro-
cess of organization.
One of the early questions to be con-
sidered was that of transportation of
the mails. In the absence of a com.
plete railway system the department 1t
had to negotiate largely with the
steamship lines skirting the coast.
There are seven of these lines. Four
of them, after consultation with Mr..
Rathbone, agreed to carry the mails
free until June 80 next. Three made
slight charges. aggregating 5000 per
annum. Under Spanish rule the cost
of steamship transportation of insular
mails had been about Sal ,000 a year.
The cost of the thirty railway routes
at present in use with total mileage
of 1,046 is s19l4 year. Thrty-fve
star routes. with 1O5 mileage, a fea-
ture new under American rule. cos.
S15,5G4 year.
One of the most radical changes ef-
fected in any one branch on the island
took place in the railway mail service.
Says Mr.. Rathbone: I'VE found the
postal clerks without well defined
methods of work. without much idea
of the real character of the service
expected of them working the mail or
two seats turned together; without
uniform tn distinguish them, and in
many cases subordnating legitimate
work to that of carrying parcels and
even letters which were handed them
directly, for the delivery of which,
both parcels and letters, they received
fee; and often these fees if infor-
nation is correct, amounted TO more
than the salary. All this is changed.
Methods. are In vogue now which add
greatly to the safety of the mails.
Clerks are thoroughly instructed in
their work and in nearly every in
stance take an intelligent interest in
il. Their work Is done in reasonably
r%el arranged compartments in second
class cars; a uniform has been pre-
scribed which will add to the appear
ance of the clerks, and also, think
will tend to make them take pride in
the position. The practice of allow
Ing the'clerks TO carry parcels and let
ters and personally deliver them to
the addressee, has been stopped"
4. On June 80, 1899, there were 239 Of
e'fces in operation. distributed among
the six provinces. as follows: Ha-
vana, 60: Matanzas. As; Pinar del Rio.
80: Puerto Principe, I: Santa Clara,
ga: Santiago, 80. At these 239 offices
there were, on June 80, 535 employees
including postmasters and acting post
masters. or these, 80 We're, Americans
>-and 4I6 We're Cubans. At the close Of
the. fscal year. free delivery had been
Established at % offices, and SO carriers
Tere employed in the delivery of the
nail.
. Tbs money order system was a Van.
~~t,e innovation which quickly estab-
ylished Itself, When Mr., Rathbone took
hofd. he, found 20. military postal sta
tions' n1asre' nIohey orders wess, sold to