New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-25
INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT BUREAU.
RESULTS OF THE CONVENTION HELD At BERNIE
REGULATING RAILWAY TRAFFIC..

RESULTS OF THE CONVENTION HELD At BERNIE
CIRCULATING RAILWAY TRAFFIC..
Switzerland seems to have the monopoly Of interna-
Honal congresses which often assemble TO further
some improvements in the postal, railroad or otiSr
machinery used In the material relations OF nations
with each other. Everybody remembers the success
which attended the International Congress at Bcrne,
which created universal postal union. so bepchcent
to the commercial interests Of the world. NO les
than three congresses have discussed In Bernc a.
three different periods-1579 1881 and ls9o-the
articles of an interstate convention for European
freight traffic. Ten OF the first countries In tho
Old World were represented az Bene In 1890 and
signed the articles of the convention. The principal
ones among those articles are the following:
kind Of International obligation binding
all the contracting states is admitted In
regard to railway freight traffic; all railroads do
clared by their respective countries as well conditioned
to fulfil that international service shall receive and
transmit freight exactly they part and p0r.
ton of the one company; single formula Is adopted
for the shipping of freight, which would thus b
transported through its final destination without the
formalties and complications to which 1t is subjected
now.
The conference seems to have overcome the thou
sand and difficulties encountered In putting int
practice that direct consignment etre de voisurs"
On so many lines, having different rates, etc. The
creation Of the International Railroad Bureau with ii
Offices at Berne will greatly facilitate the task ThaS
bureau will receive all communications from the con-
tracing states and from railroad administrations.
which communications will be transmitted through
the central Office to the other States and adminlstra
TONS The States remain free not to indicate such
and such of their members Of the international
Service but whenever such Information shall be 10
ceved and transmitted the accord between all tho
states shall be considered established.
and the international contract as being
formed In the same the withdrawal OF
railroad will be announced by the central office -
soon as It shall have received from Of the con-
tracing States advces that the latter find impossible
convention. This Ingenious arrangement preserves
the prerogatve Of each State and limits besides the
financial risks which might result from the new sys.
tenn The central Office will also facilitate between the
different railroad administrations the financial ar
portaton, and it will also collect all bills the payment
of which has been delayed. thus insurng from that
point Of view the security Of financial relations between
the railroads. newspaper organ Will be published
in French and German. Moreover, an arbitration
tribunal instituted In order to pass judgment at the
request Of the interested parties IN all igations which
might arise between the railroads The expenses OF
the central Office will be furnished by the contracting
States each in proportion to the number OF Kilometres
Of its railroad lines admitted to this international
transportation system This Berne Convention, whose
success is mainly due to the unting efforts OF Messrs
Christ and Sgneux who have labored for years for Its
| accomplishment is certainly one more step taken
toward the settlement through arbitration OF many
European questions, even Of a political cSaracteS