The morning call., 1894-12-30

International postal system. It was left
for final action TO the Washington Postal
Congress, which body meets at our
national capital in 1897. but the matter Is
even now attracting much atten tion In the
more important countries concerned.
Captain n. NJ. Brooks. Superintendent
of the United States Foreign Mail Service,
is reported as saying that the matter will
form one Of the INST interesting subjects
to be discussed at the coming Postal Con-
gress. and that some action is certain TO be
taken. The delegates composing the con-
gress have full authority to act for their
respective Governments, and if the matter
is brought to satisfactory termination
'reaties will be signed. which will continue
in force for five years.
Quite recently the American Consul at
Client made public the fact tina, Germany
had placed proposition before other
Postal Union countries for ths adoption
of an International postage stamp. There
is every likelihood that some of the Euro
pean countries will adopt such stamp,
and strong hopes are entertained that the
United States will also enter into such an
agreement.
One Of the principal reasons urged for
this innovation is the convenience result
ing in communication between merchants
in different countries. Firms in one coun-
try have frequent occasion TO write to
those 10 other countries for certain In for
nation, and are obliged to depend upon
the generosity OF comparative strangers
not only for the information desired but
| for payment of postage on the reply, un-
| less the former provided themselves with
the current postage stamps of the country
to which the letter was addressed. mat
ter of considerable difficulty at best and
most frequently an impossibility.
| Another great advantage is cited in con-
nectiOn with Consuls, who receive MANY
letters of inquiry from the residents of the
country they represent, but which never
include return postage, owing to the in
convenience of procuring the necessary
stamps.
1t is also announced that the German
Minister of Posts has designed a suitable
stamp and formulated plan for its adop-
ton. 1t is expected that the proposed
stamp will ntion On its face all coun-
ries in which it will be current, also its
value in the currency of each such coun-
try, though the details of the design are
still maintained a secret. If this idea is
carried out the stamp. it is believed, will
be considerably larger than those now
generally in use. especially if any addi-
tonal inscriptions are to be made and ap-
pear in legible form.
Among the frmest believers In and
strongest advoca ties of an intern alton |
stamp is Postmaster General Bissell. who
hopes to see 1t adopted in this country.
An International stamp will also be a
great convenience to those desiring to re-
nit small amounts to foreign countries.
Correspondents will thus be furnished an
easily available and inexpensive means of
exchange.
Should this departure go into operation
1t may be the stepping-stone to a system
Of International coinage.
Many stamp collectors view the idea
askance. as they fear il viii result In tax
ing away the charm Of collecting by
eventually conining the varieties of
stamps to a very limited number, as the
fascin alton of stamp lecting, as in all
other kinds OF collecting. lies not so much
In actual possession as in the pursui, of
Pihe objects sought for. These undoubted ly
lose sight for the moment of the immen SO
field that already exists for the philatelists
IN the MANY thousands of different stamps
issued since the one-pennY black of Great
Britain became their precursor. And,
again. while there is scarcely a docbt that
| we shall shortly have an international
stamp there is little probability that all
countries will adopt it.