The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-30

the following letter to the Postmaster
General,
the Postmaster general Washington, u. e.:
DEAN SIH: At the last session Of congress sug
gcSted 10 a Senator and to Gen, bingham ny idea
tlat. should Il meet the views OF CuugrrS,,
reduction " the postage ~ the army
and navy now serving IN the Philippine island,
Mi d. great deal 10 make our people stationed
there better satisfied. Having served for three
years on the Coma station. No one shows better
than myself the longing TOT news from home.
and no one can appreciate more than myself the
terrible pO>tuu That our n.vh arr often put IN
through the heat, the RAINY season and the unccr
tanty Of HE, So - SPEAK, IN the outlying stations
In the Philippine Islands am sure that If the
families Of the soldiers we're enabled 10 Send papCrS
without charge that It would not only make our
force there more cunteHtrd but from moral point
of Niuw save them from drlnS and other tempta.
| ,ions. Indeed, from ny hnuNlcdgc Of their con
dillon. gained from officers who have returned.
ia, live, Of our soldiers IA many OF these place,
bcromc 50 desperate from want ~ reading matter
~ to lead ,hcu To- drink the Vile alcohol Of the coun
Try produced from the destination al bamboo,
from reports b. individuals and IN newspapers
d. not hesitate ~ say that wn,n the rnlNtmcnts
end for the WalnrtN ~ tNc fNlplhnt troops tAr
Government win npd Itself IN a sriouN condition
10 obtain men h. r,tuNt. \ large bounty. IN my
| t. consider second re ll>tm.nt, and fully be
lev" tua, II the present congress should pass a
law giving the night To send phprtN ANA letters at
nominal pu,c to our troops u VII have better
| effect than almost anything H." Government can
do at the present time 10 make these people sat-
Ned.
| When | was stationed In the East Indies the
papers were passed from officers I. men and read
until they were worn into small plrC and I haN e
been toad nv Officers wives who have returned and
who took interest IN the men IN the hospitals that
| their lunFIng was for papers from home. No one
| who has not been - far from homr ard situated In
| Surh a ,L.atr as our officers and men are can un
| dcrStand taS longing for news and | assure YOU
that II Suu Will consider tiN matter IN the inter
| est ut our troops bClcNc that there IL prupu-
Sitiun In the message tHHt you are about t. make
t. congress that VIII commence To have a. good
an crcrt Ms the proposition ask you To- cun>idrt
To show Suu wat my interest has been IN III, nat
| ter, knowing the need OF something To- Keen the
men = minds away from template n. | have f'r the
| past ""ar been sending daily ia cis To- the hos
ptalS and different stations, and assure you al al!
rspcnSr that Was Quit large IN the total sun but In
Ing 81 | irt that was giving HoIc plraSut, t.
| the sick tran | could y. SSblv do IN the nitcd
| states. sincerely trust that you viii tatt the
,upH rVnty g. discuss t!IS matter with any army
or navy pc ,plc who have served in the Iu.np
pine stands, A. believe that " TIE facts are put
ief r. congress the true Cond tlyn ~ STAIRS In
thu Philippines that there Is nothing that the GOV
| eminent could do ut the present time tu promote
more Satisfaction than u permit the soldiers to
receive tIc.r y for nothing and their letters
Tor nominal price Yours re>pcc,iGllv,
tlARkE MERCHANT,
Late Lieutenant Commander [. 5. \.
PHri.tnHIPHiA, Nov. 20