The times., 1901-04-13

Many Opportunities for Dishonesty
Notwithstanding the attitude Of Sec
retary Root and the Postmasl sler 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 every thing wrong or moth
ing wrong. while information previous
Iy in the possession Of the P0stoiiiCe 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 carelesspess 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
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
To fn ,fIp
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 for 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. ".
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 a "carpet-bag-
ging" institution. L 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- !
fairs in these islands on sound business /
principles. let alone the question of /
paving the way for future seIf-govern- |
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. !
Vaille-who appears TO enjoy the full
confidence 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 al about s., 800.
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
many nationalities and the detail OF
soldiers to serve without salary. it is
should sufficiently confuse the
service so that any ingenious American
can shift responsibility for any act.
Meanwhile the Hawaiian postal ad- /
is providing it's share Of
difficulties for the Postoffice Depart
ment 10 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 remOnsrances sent the Ha-
lra i;as, gfFi1faTs g,,5t ,,-5fbgt,f a,-1 Il I,v-t
now the PostoGcc Department is en-
gagged in an earnest attempt TO convince
the Governor and his associates that
The use Of a frank for private cgrre-
spondence is an unlawful act
The Postmaster General yesterday
gave out for publication certain ex-
tracts from the report Of Major s. e.
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 3. 1900. the accounts Of the Phil
ppine postal administration were in ex-
.ellsnt condition. IN the course of the
eport Major Mills says:
An error Of L cents is noted on the
Expense account This arose through
rrors in reducing Mexican TO American
-aluations. The salary account shows
10 cases Of unwaTTanted salary. and the
Expense account shows careful atten-
ion TO governmental interests. The Di-
ector Of Posts may we'll be proud Of
he showing If his doparfrnnuf