The herald., 1897-05-03
ALL THE NATIONS OF EARTH
INTERESTED IN THE WORK BE-
ING DONE
Postage Will Not Be Reduced, But the
Letter Weight Is Likely to
Be Increased

operations of the world will pass in re-
view before one of the most distin-
guished bodies that ever met in this
country when the Universal Postal con-
gress convenee in this city next Wednes-
day. 1t is the first time that the Univer-
sal Postal union, now comprising and
controlling, so far as the mails are con-
save three, China, Korea and the Orange
Free state, has had its delegates as
sembled in America, and the deliberation
of this fifth 4extennial convention will
be marked by perhaps more pronounced
formality than has attended any con-
vention of either national or interna-
tional scope tha: has gathered in this
country for a long period.
Sixty odd countries and provinces will
be represented by about 12O delegates,
each country having bu. single vote
The sessions will be held in the historic
old building which until recently was
the home Of the Corcoran art gallery.
The hall has been equipped with desks
and other conveniences. and postoffice
will be in operation on the spot until the
meeting closes The delegates who will
form the congress are men of the highest
rank in postal service. The postmasters-
general of several nations are among
them. while leading diplomats have been
sent by some of the countries
A portion of the delegates are already
here. Those who remain in New York
tomorrow afternoon will be brought over
in special train Of four cars rendered
by the Pennsylvania railroad.
Second Assistant Postmaster-General
Shallenberger and Superintendent of
Foreign Mails Brooks are now in New
York and will accompany the party to
this city. The train will leave Jersey
City soon after o'clock
At previous gatherings the congress
has been extended unusual courtesies by
the nations whose guests they were, and
while this government is hampered by
lack of available funds, the postoffice
department will do everything possible
TO make this country an agreeable host.
1t is among the probabilities based upon
precedent, that the delegates will be en-
tained by both the president and the
postma aster-general and the district
alton they desire is granted, give an Off
cial reception and a water trip, probably
to Old Point Comfort and Richmond. The
delegates, before the close of the con-
gress also will be taken on journey in
the west, returning by way of New York
The gathering will be in Washington
from a month to six weeks, but the con-
gress itself will meet not more than
half dozen times. The real work. save
that of ratification of proceedings when
the committees report, which belongs to
the full congress, devolves upon the
four committees, at least one of which
will be in session practically every day
except Saturday and Sunday One COM
mittee will have charge of the general
treaty which is adopted at every con-
gress and also will settle accounts be-
tween individual countries. With the
latter this country has nothing to do. A
second committee will take up arrange
ments for exchange of letters of de-
clared value, the parcels post system
ard the postal books of money orders,
wills collectable by post and subscrip-
tions through postoffices, to newspapers
and periodicals, while the fourth will
put the new general treaty into definite
shape for ratification.
The congress will be opened Wednes-
day morning by Postmaster-General
Gary, who delivers his salutatory in
English, while the assemblage reads the
French translation. This will occupy
a little over five minutes, being for
NAL welcome. Then the senior delegate,
not now selected, will respond in few
words. The election of a presiding Off
Ger will follow. George S. Bachelor, ex-
minister to Portugal. and chairman of
the United States delegation probably
will be the honored one. The business
of the congress will begin at once, all
proceedings being conducted in French
and behind closed doors.
Many measures will be brought for
ward for consideration. The new treaty
or general convention and several minor
ones, signed by only two or three of the
countries, will be discussed and adopted
in substitution of old ones in order to
cover new conditions.
Perhaps the most important PROPOSE
ton will involve what Is known as tbs
intermediate transit system. This pro-
vides for compensation by the sending
countries over whose domains its mails
are transported. An agreement to carry
the mails of all the countries in the
union mutually free will be suggested,
lut probably voted down. Such countries
es Belgium, which sends out little mail,
hut over whose lands much foreign mail
is transported at big profit to the king
dom, will object to cutting of this re-
venue.
This practically defeats the echeme, as
one well-founded dissent Kills a propo-
sition. This country and few others
however, have declared in favor of the
free transportation. The ultimate ac-
ton, it 10 said, probably will be the ac-
ceptance of the average weights, statis-
tics of the last six years, as basis OF all
intermediary transit accounts up to the
Assem- blage of the next congress, that is,
up to 1903, when the issue will be re-
viewed.
The much agitated proposition to
ADOPT a universal postage stamp, not
good for domestic postage, but for con-
venient communication between coun-
tries, and the universal return stamped
envelope proposition having similar
scope, also will be brought up, but the
proba bilities of adoption are said to be
against both, with the latteS having the
better chance Of the two. There will be
no upset Of postage rates, but an in
crease of the allowable weight for let.
ters is probable, thus making an ounce
or three-quarters OF an ounce the unit