New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-28
gates had no power save to make recommendations
to their governments.

GOING 1T ALONE.
The Tinted States therefore set about doing some
reforming on its own account between 1901 anu
$50 # secured reductions in the postal rates to
half a hundred other countries. Inc sweeping
nature OF these changes Is shown by the foiio"'he
figures: The rate 10 Germany was lowered from
% cents TO T. to Great Britain, from ~ 10 o. anu
TO Canada from 10 cents TO 9.
The advisability of second international con-
rress was debated but the various projects for
such a meeting came to naught until 1874. when, on
September Is. at Berne. representatives. Vi "u
merous governments again came togetner 10 SEE
what they could do TO make international CORE
spondence cheaper simpler and more satisiac'oi''
The General Postal Union was here organized. the
name being changed to Universal Postal Union
In 1873.
MANY rules were adopted Most important was
tho agreement that there should be a uniform
letter postage OF % centimes for 10 grammes' vi
cents a half ounce. and charge OF cehti"eS u
| cent for each GO grammes or ounces Oh PRIME"
matter samples of merchandise. etc. All require
ments OF compulsory prepayment OF Pos'"se VII
,attars wcre abolished although the United states
clinrs TO this rule in its domestic service 'o-
vision was also made for the registration" Va man
matter Minor changes were MADE al s"oseq"'",
congresses which were held at LISBON !" l'N' ".
At Vienna in 1891 The aim is TO have snch general
gatherings each nve years ou' INV ~
always been longer
The Postal Union has steadily grown uh'i' ITO"
I, takes in nearly all the nations and colonies on
Garth While the international money order sys-
tenn is not mentioned in the articles ana reguia-
tions OF the union. yet the growth OF this cheap
and convenient method Of sending remittances was
largely due 10 II.
STATISTICS ON A BIG SCALE.
Tho exnenses OF the bureau a, Berne are horne
nv governments IN the union. This bureau Is
composed OF a number OF high officials OF the
Swiss Postal Administration. who are charged
with the duty OF collecting. collating pubhshing
and distributing Information OF every KIND whch
concerns the nterna ,ona POSTAL service OF giving
at the request of the parties concerned an opinion
upon questions in dispute; OF making known propo-
sitions emanating from any postal administration
for modifying the regulations OF the union; OF
giving notice OF the changes adopted ana III gen
eral OF undertaking such researches as may De IN
trusted to them In the interest OF the union inc
bureau thus acts as clearing mousse lot INC P'''''
business OF the world.
1.-The General Statistics OF the Universal Postal
Union for 1893" reached Postmaster Dayton NOT
long ago II takes considerably more than year
TO collect. compile and publish the hgures' 'o''
interesting may be culled from these hasSeS u
figures For instance. the total receipts OF all
nos,al administrations In the union were $35ot3'sl
against s327 $50 OF receipts leaving surplus oil
s27 249 The greatest surplus was that OF Great
Britain over sl35cOco: the greatest denct tha'
OF the United States. over SVDVn
As for money orders. there were issued IN the
United States 1909 .35. OF the total value or ool-
OH 7sl francs uhe volume gives all monetary
va,ues in francs): in Great Britain esS.25s to the
amount of lss III OBS francs; in Germany. 3D.
oos 500 TO the amount OF 2s467iis francs and In
France % 74O.46o to the amount OF ''',S'oZU In
the United States there were 695s6 postofices ana
Il 42s letter-boxes: Great Britain. 2oo6 postofces
and 259s9 letter-b boxes; Germany. 3'0l posiofhce'
and e514s letter-boxes and France. 77i6 postofces
and 60 33j lei.er-boxes. In the United States there
was one postofice to each s5 inhabitants; in Great
Britain one to l92j in Germany. one TO l4'a ana IN
France one to 4s72 In the United States 3f.9ls2h
postage stamps were sold. In Germany. 2o'."o13
and in France 80 ji3.sos. The total number OF
inland letters. papers. parcels. etc. was; tni'ed
States. 3O43 1885, Great Britain. 2.7~o."o; Ger
many 1904 794. AGO. and France l14.ss6Se5.
The United States had the greatest number o'
nostal EMPLOYEES ls5 29 TO whom It paid 22l. 1852 63
francs Great Britain had 1871. with total sal
aries Of ls 2s5 $50 francs Germany, 1878 receiving
2Cc os7 474 francs and France 6.l2 receiving a.
1882 The telegraph service is included In the
case OF all these countries except the United States
QUEER DUTIES OF FOREIGN POSTOFFTCES.
Some OF the foreign countries saddle duties on
their postoffices which seem queer 20 Americans
Thus Germany. France Switzerland. Belgium.
Italy and Holland undertake the collection OF bills
and drafts. In Germany Russia Austria Denmark,
Norway Sweden. Switzerland Belgium and Hun
periodicals at the nearest postofiice number OF
the European countries have passenger service
connected with the postofice. Germany postsI
administration carried $1,000 passengers IN lsss
The union finds Il necessary 10 forbid Inc send
ing OF coined money gold silver bullion. precious
stones and ewelry by man 10 c@nnr,"s wnirn 40 40
their domestic mail. Each country may make
rules Of It's IN hs Grsa obanco WIN nedne
cigars and cigarettes nor glass or amy srra a s sso
tobacco
rejects plants. roots. trees bulbs ana me ne.
pofical pubcations. With certain minor excep-
lions and with sweden; sticks out against IS. past.
dead set against lottery tickets.
The will R 9Sf0F TO s h
Me Sr be- by S1
here a letter might have TO be transported several
thousand miles before IT reached the ocean: In
| short. Hennker Heaton. Of England. strongly
advocates this reduction bit he has not made
| ment 10 his way OF thinking
PROGRAMME OF THE CONGRESS.
Assistant Postmaster James Gayler who is on.
OF the most experienced well as one OF the
ablest postal officials in the country. had this 10
say the reporter about the next postal con
gress:
ct ,s OF course difficult 10 predict what modi-
fcation OF existing regulations concerning inter
| national mails will be suggested discussed or
adopted at the next Postal Congress. The va
rious delegates are instructed in such matters by
the postal administrations OF the countries they
! represent ard submit their propositions in accord
ance with those instructions. II Is not unlikely.
| however that the propositions submitted by Will
lam Potter one Of the delegates from the United
States to the congress at Vienna for the adop
ton Of an International postage stamp, valid for
the prepayment OF postage from any country OF
| the union to any other. will be renewed though
from the tone Of the discussion held at that time
the prospects for it's adoption at least doubtful
| DR. and Privy Councillor Won stephan, the I'M
| perial German Postmaster General. while admitting
! the desirabty Of the objects TO be secured by
| holt eye1 nc "a 10
! and said: * proposition OF this kind resembles
the plan of imposing edince In the preparation
Of gravitation but soothed the feelings OF the pro-