The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-08-30
NAILS IN The PHILIPPINES
The Annual Report Of the Director
General of Posts.
Expenses Greatly in Excess of Re
cciPts-SoidieTs' Letters Entail n
Loss in Revenue of 100000 "a Year.
Only Twenty-three Regular Onices-

The division Of insUlar affairs Of the
War Department has just made public
the annual report OF G. NJ. Cotterman,
Director General Of Posts in the Philip
pine Islands.
While the gross receipts from the pos
tai service during the last fiscal year
showed an increase over the preceding
year. the expenses were increased TO a
considerably greater extent than the re-
ceipts. This apparent deficiency is eN-
planned by a statement that considerable
amounts had 20 be expended during the
past year for mail transportation
through foreign countries. the debt hav-
ing Tapped over from the preceding year
The number Of regular Dostofhces in
the archipelago was increased from nine
teen 10 twenty-thrce.
During tho past year a great deal OF
additional work In the Manila Office, with
a corresponding increase of clerical
force. has been necessitated by the dis
tribution Of troops in smaller detach-
ments- The extra expense involved has
amounted 10 over s. so per month.
AT the beginning Of the year only ten
offices were authorized TO issue money
orders, and steps were taken TO extend
this privilege to all Offices The money
orders issued 10y the Manila Office for the
preceding fiscal year amounted to Sl1S3,-
6.s-5l, while during the nine months prior
20 April ] the amount was 81 C35. 263lI. and
it was estimated that the same ratio OF
increase also obtained with the other Of
fees.
With reference 10 the rates Of postage
I'm the Philippines Mr.. COttermau states
that as the transportation Of mails viii
be very expensive. 10 would seem exped-
lent TO apply locally the same rates as
prevail in the United States. the only ex-
cepdon 20 which at this time is the rate
Of cent per half ounce on letters passing
between different offices I'm the islands
Regular United States stamps are good
for use in the islands, and at the same
time soldiers can forward their cOmmuui-
cations without prepayment OF postage by
writing the words Soldiers Letter" on
the envelope AR Cotterman states that
some fifteen months ago Nr Naiue then
Director General. found from p 10 80 per
cent OF the letters despatched 10 the
states bore either no stamps or were pre-
paid 10y the United States issue Another
count. covering the week s business was
made in the latter part OF May last At
this time more than 20 per cent OF the mail
dispatched fO the States is either without
stamps OF bears stamps Of United States
issue. With regulations which would give
this department credit for the loss Of
CCipts would have been increased from
$1,000 20 So for the nine months ending
March 81
The question Of iuter-isIand trausporta-
ton OF mails is treated by Mr. C0ttermau
as Of great cOmpieXity. At the date OF
his report no contracts had been entered
into for the transportation Of malls bv
steamer between the several islands but
every steamer leaving port was reguir-
cd q" carry the mail. and that without
cOmpC usatiOu.
The steamship business In the islands
being mostly II a tramp nature. the ser
vice Us very irregular. each company op-
Grating It's steamers according 20 the de
mauds Of its private business. the result
b-lNE tLat ia a given period there may
be- mails from Manila 10 given point
nearly every day for "a week and then for
the next week or ten days, and iu some
cases much longer. there viii be no op-
p"riurity @" forward mails 20 the place
III question Communication between Ma
Mia and lOilu. however. has been some
what regular on the basis OF "a semi
weekly mail The director general com
msulS upon the subject in the following
manner
II Is my recommendation that author
lty be given 10 advertise for bids for
regular service 90 an important points
IN the islands, steamers awarded con
tracts 10 be- Required 10y law 10 run on
a SCI schedule IN addition 90 this IL IS
nay judgment that law should be- mass
cd. requiring every steamer NOT fIu5er
contract 70 carry mails but trausarfip.,
business between the islands rD --lrry
malls free OF charge