Items of Interest November 21, 1903 Issue

Items of Interest

Advices reaching the War Department from Manila indicate that Governor Taft will have succeeded in settling the claims of the friars for their extensive property holdings in the islands before he sails for the United States on December 23. Negotiations have been in progress at Manila between Governor Taft and Monsignor Guidi, the papal delegate, ever since the Governor's return to the islands from Rome. The negotiations have been delayed because of the desire of the Friars to receive all the money paid by the Government for the realty not needed for church's, charity, or educational purposes. According to the present settlement, $6,000,000 will be paid, part going to the Friars, part to the Vatican.

The annual report of the superintendent of foreign mails shows that 10,994,044 pounds of mail were despatched by sea to foreign countries, of which 7,456,343 pounds was for transatlantic destinations. The money paid on account of the transportation of the mails despatched to and received from foreign countries by sea during the fiscal year aggregated $2,309,027. It is estimated that $6,240,696 was received by this Government as postage on articles exchanged with all foreign countries, of which the postage collected on the articles exchanged with foreign countries other than Canada and Mexico, amounted to $4,991,975. or $2,608,386 more than the net cost of the service.

A measure is in course of preparation for presentation to the President by which a man outside of the civil service may be appointed to take full charge of all supplies needed in the postal service. It is believed that a man with the requisite technical knowledge and business ability would receive a fuller support from the employees if taken from outside their ranks. A salary of more than $2,500 is proposed. The Civil Service Commission it is believed will oppose this course, and urge that the recent experience with such outsiders does not justify too hopeful a view of the proposal.

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