Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-02-10

tie director of posts in Manila for his
approval 1t was suggested that in
i'Ic event thc proofs were satisfactory
:. cable me sy;igc be sent tn this effect,
I'D ,yo,l, would then begin at once Oh
tie printing.
Weeks ran into months and still no
c,;hlc from Manila regarding the die
lIocfs. Finally it was announced
that Commissioner Cameron Forbes
would arrive in Washington in Dcccnl-
Lvr, and take up the matter of the
Philippine stamps. lie came, but it
as deemed advisable 10 postpone ac-
ton regarding the stamps until the ar
IiNal of Governor Luke Wright the
latter part of January. 1t develops
that generally speaking. the designs
for The stamps are entirely satisfac-
tIry; the F'ilipinoS who have been per-
mittcd to see the die proofs were de-
lighted with them, but two objections
have been raised and these objccl tons
iGavc been the subject OF prolonged
discussion
First, and most serious. was the
question for attire for the native run
ncr. 1t is well known that formerly
messenger boy in full uniform, on the
run. bearing in his hand Il poach con-
tanning the letter to be delivered. Later
that was changed to 4 boy on a
bicycle. with his pouch slung across
lis back
AS the bicycle is comparatively un-
Enown in many parts OF the Philip
pines, it was deemed advisable not to in
troducc the wheel on the special de-
livery stamp. Instead, the artist drew
a picturesque representation of Il na-
Tive in undress. dashing across the
plains, IL belching volcano in the dis
;ancc. The Filipino messenger is max
Cd except for a short shirt and cool
il" hat on his head. In his hand he
holds Il letter.
When the officials of the Philippine
Post Office Department saw this design
they balked.' That the artist had faith
fully portrayed the native Filipino
runner in all his glory. WAS freely ad
nitted. but it was feared that TO set
tiiis forth in brilliant uitramarine upon
important mail matter would shock the
scnsibilities of the upper classes there.
On the other hand ii was pointed
ont that to clothc the native in Il uni
form would be to disregard conditions;
:. runner i'll uniform being unknown to
the Filipinoa. 1t has been decided not
I" permit The design to stand as orig
inaily drawn. The officials Of the
lnsular Bureau of the War Department
have discovered that the attire Of the
native on the special delivery stamp
is unusually complete compared with
the costumes of natives depicted on
some of the stamps of Africa.
The second objection was that no.
where upon the new Philippine stamps
did the word Postage" appear. 1T
Was also made clear to the officials
tt'Ht this omission WAS not serious. if
indeed is could be regarded as an omis-
sion. 1t WAS shown that few Of the
stamps Of the British colonies have the
word Postage" on the design. and it
has been decided, practically to have
the stamps printed us they appear Oh
tile dic proofs.
The new Philippine series of stamps
will bc the equal and some stamp cX-
ptlts declare superior to those Of the
IHit"d States, in point of artistic mcr-
il. The denominations arc Spanish
ana expressed i'll that language. The
stamp OF lowest Nnlur. the two ccnta-
vuS. equivalent II one cent. depicts
the portrait of Rial the Filipino mar
tyr who gave his life for his coun-
Try. The four CcntavOS has the face
of Mckinley. practically the same por-
trait as appeared upon the st. Louis
commemorative stamp. Six ccntaVos.
depicts Magellan, killed no one of the
philippine islands in 1871. Eight ccn-
taVOS, shows LcGaSpi, the first Span
i'h governor OF the Philippines. who
founded Manila Ten ccntavos. Gen
ctai LaWtOn. the American general
killed at the head of his troops in 1899
Twelve ccntavos. Abraham Lincoln
Sixteen ccntavos. William T. Samp-
son, the American admiral who COM
mAndcd the fleet at Santiago. The
ru" of the department that no living
American can be portrayed on postage
stamps made it impossible to use the
portrait of Admiral Dewey. Twenty
ccntaVos, George Washington. Twcn-
ty-siX ccntavos. Carricdo, q famous
ana much loved SpanHrd who gave
money to build the first watcrworks
system in Manila. Thirty ccntavos.
B"njalnin Franklin. one peso. coat
of-arms Of the iiiipinos. Oh a shield
The new stamps will be issued so as
( % he. :lI-:1il.l blc 11 1rlv in ba cnr;pr