The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-13
THE ACCOUNTS BADLY KEPT
Chances for Fraud in the Philip
pine Postal Service.
The system Adequately Organized
Only Reccntiy-Sativcs and Amcri
cans sIndiscriminnteiy Employed
Many Opportunities for Dishonesty

Many OPPORTUNITIES for Dishonesty
Notwithstanding the attitude of Sec
retary Root and the Postmaster Gener-
al regarding the Philippine postal ser
vice. it is believed that the report sub
mitted by Inspector Lawshe, when
taken with other communications on
the same lines received in the past six
months, gives rise to the gravest appre-
hension. The truth OF the matter seems
TO be that Mr.. Lawshe's statement
may indicate everything wrong or moth
ing wrong. while information previous
ly in the possession of the Postoffice De-
partment makes the latter almost an
impossible state of affairs. 1t is ad-
mitted that the accounts of the Philip
pine service have been badly kept; that
in their present state it is possible they
may conceal serious peculations; that
great carelessress has been discovered
in those places where it may prove
most costly.
The service there has never been ade-
quately organized Enlisted men in the
army have been drawn upon to serve
as postal clerks. in spite of a very pro-
found ignorance of the postal service.
to put the case in its mildest light.
Packets of mail containing valuable
parcels-remittances. gifts. drafts. and
similar enclosures-were shipped from
the main office at Manila, then from the
nearest army post to the next nearest,
and so on, each office having access TO
IA IN nffi
further along the mail route.
OF late this remarkable state of af-
fairs has been somewhat improved;
each office has been given an individual
seal and supplied with blanks for in
voicing each mail bag. very much as
express messengers certify to the pack
ages received by them and demand re-
ceipts for the same packages before
transferring the goods invoiced to the
messenger of the next division. But the
Philippine postal service was organized
in August, 1898. and this tardy system
of seals and invoices is only just being
established.
Such lack of precaution. combined |
with the confusion invariably attendant |
on the establishment of a new service |
and the uncertainty of transporting |
mail through war districts, afforded the |
clerks in the Manila office and the main |
distributing sub-offices practically a
free hand If thefts have not been |
committed by some of these men it was
not fer lack of opportunity. Spanish en-
ployes were called into service to help /
with the handling of letters addressed
in Spanish, and Spanish employees under
an American Government have been
known to keep an eye out for the main
chance.
When the American service was fair
ly begun, the Director of Posts, F. W.
Vaille, reported to the Postmaster Cen
eral against the appointment of Amer
leans TO the Philippine postal service. |
They would cost more than natives, he
said. and give the Government an un-
called for character as "carpet-bag-
ging'' Institution. Il am heartily glad"
he said. that my instructions look to
the retention of former employees. and
the employment of natives whenever
possible, as that is the only course we
can pursue If we would administer af-
principles. let alone the question OF
paving the way for future selfgovern-
ment by these peoples"
The consequence has been that one or
two hundred Americans are the only
persons with sufficient knowledge Of
the Philippine service to investigate
their own accounts. March : last Mr.
appears 10 enjoy the full
Of the postoffice officials
was permitted to resign the director
ship and a salary Of $4,000 and certain
fees to accept a position in the Ameri-
can service az about $500.
Whatever discrepancies Inspector
I.awshe may discover, the employees Of
the Philippine service may be expected
TO cover up under the general plea of
hurried bookkeeping or confused ac-
The employment Of clerks Of 1
many nationalities and the detail Of
soldiers To serve without salary, il is
should sufficiently confuse the
service so that any ingenious American |
can shift responsibility for any act
Meanwhile the Hawaiian postal ad-
is providing its share of
difficulties for the Postoifice Depart
ment TO solve. Governor Dole and his
have been making use of
the Government frank with a freedom
hitherto unequaled in the United
States. Reports on the subject have
been made by the inspectors and audi
tors, and remonstrances sent the Ha-
yaiian officials. but without avail Just
now the Postonice Department is en-
gagged in an earnest attempt to convince
The Governor and his associates that
The use Of a frank for private corre-
;pondence is an unlawful act
The Postmaster General yesterday
gave out for publication certain ex-
tracts from the report Of Major 5. c. !
Mills, acting inspector general of the {
United States Army, Division of the
made after an examina- {
ion of the postal accounts in the Phil !
ppines. They are designed to Indicate
hat on the day the report was signed.
August g. 1900. the accounts of the Phil
ppine postal administration were in ex-
.ellent condition. In the course Of the
eport Major Mills says:
AN error OF II cents Is noted on the Z
Expense account This arose through =
rrors in reducing Mexican to American i
-aluations. The salary account shows r
10 cases Of unwarranted salary. and the I
Expense account shows careful atten- $
ion 10 governmental interests The Di-
ector Of Posts may well be proud Of ! !
he showing Of his department" :
ID