The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-06
POSTAL CONGRESS HAS BEGUN
rrRST SESSION OPENS UNDER
PROMISING CONDITIONS.

Con. BatcheIIer Calls 1t to order and
postmaster General Gary Delivers
che Address of WeIcOme-FeeIing
AIlusions to Those Who Have Died
since the Last Congress Made by a
swiss DeIegate-A French Dele
cate Extends FcIicitations TO
resident Mckinley.
washington, May 5.-The universal pos
al congress convened in this city to-day.
cen. Batcheller. the premier delegate of
the United States, called the meeting to
order.
postmaster General Gary then delivered
tbe address of welcome.
camille Delessert, director of posts for
Lausanne. Switzerland, the dean of the
union, followed the Postmaster General
with brief address, in which he referred
faelngly to the distinguished members
Who had died since the congress assem-
he'd six years ago at Vienna. He paid
glowing tribute to DR.. Won stephen, whose
vacant desk was draped in mourning, sur
mounted by a wreath of oak leaves and
immorteles. NJ. Delessert then, on the
part of the congress, proposed Gen. G. S.
Ratcheller the Oldest of the United States
delegates, as president of the congress,
and he was unanimously chosen.
Gen. Batcheller made fitting response
In French.
Mr.. Fritzch director OF the department
of posts for Germany, delivered an euIogy
of DR.. Won Stephen. and Mr.. Notbauer
+o1 III wi
some words of profound regret
Mr.. Holm, director of the postal union
of Berne, was chosen secretary of the con-
eress. Mr.. CALI, sub-dtrector; A. Vending,
FIRST secretary, and Mr.. Krains. second
secretary.
On the part of the United States, Col.
srhaHle-Long was chosen first secretary,
Robert Stockwell Hatcher, second secre-
tary, and W. A. Brown. third secretary.
NJ. Assault, administrator OF mails and
telegraphs of France, on behalf of the con-
gress made brief address in eulogy of
the president of the United States, and of
the generous hospitality extended to the
congress by the American government.
He concluded by offering to the President
the sincere Fluctuations of the congress.
An Ella borate luncheon was served at the
conclusion of the preliminary exercises.
In the afternoon, the three committees,
which will have charge of the detailed
work of the congress, were appointed, after
which the congress adjourned to meet a
the cal. of the president who will assem-
BILE the delegates as soon as one of the
committees is ready to report.
The general committee on ways and
means is composed of the delegates from
twenty-four countries. Mr.. Walpole, one
of the British delegates, was chosen pres
ident of this committees, Mr.. Sevastiarof
of Russia, vice president, and Mr.. Sterin
of Belgium recording secretary.
The committee on registered mails is
composed of the representatives of twenty
three countries, with Mr.. Assault of
France as president, Mr. Chiaradia of
Italy, vice president, and Mr.. f. Germann
of England, secretary.
The committee on money orders, drafts
and newspaper subscriptions is composed
of delegates from tWenty-one countries,
with Mr. Fritzch of Germany, as presi-
dent; Mr.. Neubyer of Austria. as vice
president, and MIR. Delessert OF Switzerland,
as secretary.
All the propositions submitted by the
various countries to the postal union, al
its headquarters in Berne, during the past
six years. will be submitted to these COM
mittees for action and recommendation to
the congress. Among the propositions is
one for an indemnity of so on all lost reg
istered letters, and another for ordering
newspapers of foreign countries by sub
scriptiOn drafts.
A movement is on foot to secure an ad-
ditional appropriation of $4,000 for enter
tainment by the government 1t is prob
able that some of the money will be ex>
pended in giving the delegates an excur-
sion to the Mississippi valley and the
northwest.
The session of the congress will be held
in the hall of the old Corcoran art gal
lery, which has been handsomely decor
h,ed for the occasion.
Fifty-tive countries. comprising most OF
those in the postal union, are represented
and delegates are also present from l<o-
rea, China and the Orange Free State. II
IS expected that the work of the congress
will extend over about six weeks.