the fact that the head of one division received $2000 a year, while the head of another, equally important, received only $600. Then there was the matter of renovating the building, cleaning the sewer that ran under the building directly under the collector's office, and that

occasionally drove him from his work. This, with the daily routine of signing permits, reports, listening to complaints and suggestions, settling disputes as to valuations, supervising the business of other ports, planning for bonded warehouses, drilling the force of clerks, occasionally descending upon the vistas to see if their appraisement had been honest, locking up the cash and transferring it to the officer designated by the authorities-all these and a score of other things kept Colonel Bliss and Mr. Donaldson busy.

So far as the new tariff was concerned, its operation had had little effect upon prices at the time of my visit. Large stocks had been imported under the old corrupt system, just before the Spaniards left. The competitive spirit as it is known in the United States does not obtain in business in Cuba to a great extent. Importations from Spain had not lessened materially, nor had those from this country increased to a marked extent. The people of Cuba are used to Spanish goods put up in Spanish ways, and it will take a long time for them to get used to new preparations. In time lower prices are bound to come and American goods will gradually displace certain importations from Spain, purchased simply because they are Spanish preparations. The official in Washington most directly concerned with the preparation of the Cuban tariff declared to me that there was no thought of exploiting the protection system. The plan was to secure about $15,000,000 in revenue, and to reduce the Spanish rates fully 60 per cent. In actual operation the reduction ranged from 30 to 60 per cent.

One great lesson to be learned from American administration of customs in Cuba is that of integrity in business affairs and the value of honesty in public office. This administration also furnished an object-lesson in the sacredness of public trusts. The Spanish officials simply could not understand why Colonel Bliss kept a force of men on duty until after eight o'clock one night to rectify a discrepancy of six cents. That was some

more American foolishness.

Another great lesson-and perhaps the most important-related to the civil service reform side of the Amer

ican management. It would simply have been impossible to conduct business had the old idea of loot in public place by spoils politicians been put in force in Havana. Doubtless many Cubans, who had their eyes on the Custom-house as a field for loot, as it existed under the Spanish régime, were disappointed at the new state of affairs. It was well for this country that it had this necessary reform in actual existence when it went into what might be called the colonial experiment. Mr. Donaldson pointed out to me that England had to learn the value of such a system after she began her colonial work, and at fearful cost.

When the American military occupation of Cuba ends, probably some attention will be called to the faithful service of civilians during the trials of this reconstruction period. More than one civilian from the States died heroically in the public service in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines, as Mr. Donaldson pointed out. in a speech at a dinner in Havana, and there was no pension, no salute at the grave; and for those who continued to face danger there was no advancement in rank and no increased pay from time to time. Truly there was a

civilian side to the military occupation of the island of Cuba.

Meanwhile Havana rubbed her eyes and marvelled at the sight of honesty in the Custom-house. That was really the only complaint to be made against the new management and against the hard worked, patient, straightforward army officer that supervised it.

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CHAPTER VII

CUBA'S NEW POSTAL SERVICE

HE condition of the postal system of a country is

always an indication of the standing of that coun

It

try, not only in commerce, but in civilization. The most highly advanced countries have the most complete postal systems. The method of handling the mails might be called the barometer of progress in any country. Up to the time of the American occupation of Cuba there was a very low barometer in this respect, and it told its own story of the meaning of Spanish rule. Like the other branches of government service, the Cuban mail service was honeycombed with corruption. seemed to retrogade, rather than to advance. American occupation changed all that, and it was done in less than sixty days. Within that time the foundation was laid for a postal system such as never could have been evolved under Spanish rule, and such as might not have been established by the Cubans themselves within perhaps a century. The new system was thoroughly modern, and Cuba will always feel the great benefit of American progress in this most important phase of modern life. The man who was sent to Cuba to establish this postal system was Estes G. Rathbone, formerly Fourth Assist

ant Postmaster - General under the administration of Benjamin Harrison. His home is in Hamilton, Ohio, where he has been known as a successful banker and man of affairs. He had served the Federal govern

ment repeatedly, having been a special agent of the

Treasury Department from 1874 to 1882. For two years after that he was the chief of the special examiner's department of the Pension Bureau, having under him a force of five hundred and thirty-one men. In 1889 he became chief of the post-office inspectors, and two years later was made Fourth Assistant Postmaster - General,