The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-06-23

in their custody, except where such dam
age is caused by acts of Providence or by
a public enemy This clause is a change
IN existing law, and is deemed necessary
for the proper care Of the mails. The
Postmaster General is also authorized TO
pay out Of the appropriation for the trans
portatiOn Of foreign mails One-half the
expenses Of clerks OF steamships en-
gagged in the transportation Of foreign
mails. and for the transfer OF foreign
mails at New York and san Francisco.
and at such other points as he may deem
necessary Under existing Law the Post
master General Is authorized to eNpend
certain limited amounts for service Of
this character, except that the transfer
service is restricted 70 New York aud
san Francisco. The proposed section
leaves the amount OF the expenditure for
these purposes to the discretion Of The
Postmaster General. and also authorizes
him to arrange for transfer service Of for
eign mails at any points he may deem
necessary. in addition 10 New York ana
san Francisco. These changes in existing
law are said 20 be essential in order TO
meet any necessity that may arise for
increase OF service Of the character re-
ferred to.
Section 3a6 authorizes the Postmaster
General to appoint railway postal clerks.
the effect that the Postmaster General may
detail railway postal clerks for duty in any
Of the headquarters or offices Of the Rail-
way Mail Service No separate provision
is made for the clerical force in the Offices
Of the general Superintendent Of the Rail
way Mail Service or any of the other Of
fees OF the various superintendent. chief
clerks. or transfer Offices located in vari-
Gus parts Of the country: and IL has always
aH7T
clerks for this duty. Inasmuch as there
has been some question as 70 the authority
Of the Postmaster General 10 take this ac-
ton, the p-oviso referred TO is proposed
The Postmaster General is authorized TO
fine or suspend railway postal clerks for
dereliction Of duty or misconduct
Registered mail matter is considered to
large extent in the proposed code Sec
ton 1S5 relates to the esJa blishment OF the
registry system. and authorizes the pay
meut of limited indemnities for losses II
certain registered matter. The IntersS-
tiOnal Postal Union Convention provides
for a uniform system OF limited indemnity
between the several countries composing
the Union. A protocol relieves this Gov
eminent from obligation under this article
until authority is obtained from Congress
to adhere thereto Inasmuch as a system
Of domestic indemnity has been establish
ed, similar 10 that in force in other cOun-
tries. il seems proper that the United
States should accept the provisions Of the
convention relative to reciprocal indemni-
ty, and clause is proposed to the existing
law Cor this purpose. Under the terms Of
the convention a fixed indemnity Of so
francs is to be paid to the Government Of
origin which will settle with the sender
for each piece Of lost registered matter
without regard to it's value. permanent
appropriation clause is added to this sec
ton Indemnities for lost registered mat
ter are fixed by law, and an annual ap-
preparation of such amount as may be
needed to pay such claims viii greatly IA
cilitate the business Of the department.