The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-16
POSTAL RATES REDUCED.
The latin America. win their Fight Against
EnRland.


WASHINGTON, Juno l5.-The adjournment Of
the Universal Postal Congress, which has been in
session In Washington FOR the last two months,
marks a step In the progress of the world. For
the first time in the history of nations they have
all united In tho furtherance Of q plan for tho
advancement Of tho human race. This was &C.
complishod by the admission to the union Of the
countries OF China, Corea, and the Free State of
Orange, which made the circle around the globe
complete.
The formal signing OF the acts OF the congress
took place to-day. The most important work Of
the congress was the reduction Of the rate paid for
mails In transit. In the congresses OF the Postal
Union the votes are taken by States, so that tho
smallest State is as powerful as the largest. 1t
was this fact that secured the reduction in the
rates.
Tho carrying of mail is dono principally by
three or four Of the greater countries Of the
world. The larger part of all the mail Of the
world which crosses the seas is carried in Eng
lish ships. England makes tho contracts with
the shipowners, but tho rate allowed by the
Postal Union to England and the other coun-
tries interested in tho carrying Of maritime
mails is far In excess OF tho cost of trRnsporta-
ton. 30 that England has made considerable
money out Of tho postal business. So have
France, Italy, and other countries Of Europe
through which mail destined for countries fur.
Their toward the interior must pass. They con-
tract with the railroads at a lower rate than
they receive from tho Postal Union, and thus
secure a profit.
For many years, almost. in fact. since the or
ganization OF the union certain OF the European
countries, which do not carry much mail have
attempted to secure a reduction OF the rates.
But opposed to them they round England and
France and tho movements always resulted in a
failure.
Soon after the arrival in Washington of the
Latin-American delegates to this congress. a
caucus was convened at the instigati3n OF Nj;
Venezuela proposed that the Latin Americans.
numbering twenty-five, or over onc-third of all
the votes In the congress. should stand together
for tho reduction. This plan was accepted and
the combination OF the delegates was effected.
The reduction Of the rates WAS long and ear.
committee of the Latin-American delegates
was present to advise those representing their
ition with the European delegates wishing such
reductions. England and the other countries
t Tn'G pre es ? rates rhs P stroGGs ISS opposod d' aHy redu &c
ton. Belgium suggested a reduction OF Is per
cent; Germany wanted even more. The com
mittee finally decided to report in favor or the
plan suggested by Belgium, OF a reduction of
per cent. for tho first two years. 10 per cent. for
the next two years, and Is per cent. for the
N The ~ matter %nS sGms up Sppa before %i.S the hss 9 ,So Rr;,, q
loiIt wan SiN ~ u hNhhNS eAe - 'te
and other countries. The debate brought on,
several speeches OF great strength and earnest
ness. 1t grew so spirited that evidences OF hard
feeling were displayed. Then NJ. Hayclaar OF
Holland suggested a compromise; This met
with the favor of Herr Fritsch of Germany and
| NJ. Assault OF France.
At this j]uncture Gen. Ybarra arose. and in q
brief speech suggested. that the report Of the
committee advocating the reduction be adopted
unanimously. This suggestion gave the dele
gates who had opposed the plan an opportunity
to escape the humiliation of a defeat at the
hands Of a combination made up principally, o.
the smaller nations, and they accepted 1t. The
vote was taken. and resulted in forty-eight vote,
in favor OF the reduction and three in the mega
tive. one delegate abstaining from voting
Viscount Santo Tyrso of Portugal and two dele
gaees from the British colonies stood by theil
position TO the last.
This action of the congress will save to somt
of the countries u sum of money running wei
up into the millions. and this money will be los
by the countries now making, a profit from thu
carrying of the mails. Still, the rate to be paic
is much more than the cost Of transportation
thus leaving room for a profit. The action o
this congress opens the way for the reduction
by. other congresses OF the rates in transit to
point where they shall be only equal to the cos
OF transportation.