The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-03
EXCEPTING CHINA, KOREA AND
ORANGE FREE STATE, AND
THESE WILL JOIN. - -
UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION.
CONGRESS OF OFFICIAL DELE
GATES WILL MEET IN WASH
1NGToN wEDNhsDAY.
POSTAL TREATIES TO ARRANGE.
Matters OF Greatest Importance to
Be Settled-Entertainm for
Delegates.

WASHINGTON, May 2.-The postal
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 convenes in this city next
Wednesday. 1t is the first time that
the universal postal union, now COM
prising and controlling, so far as the
mails are concerned, every organized
government save athree-China, Korea
and the Orange Free State--has had it's
delegates assemble in America, and
the deliberation Of it's fifth sextennial
convention will be marked by perhaps
more pronounced formality than has
attended any convention of either ma
tional or International scope that has
gathered in this country for a long
period.
Sixty-odd countries and provinces
will be represented by about 100 dele
gates, each country having but sin
gle 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 equip
ped with desks and other conveniences,
and a postoff1ce will be in operation
on the, spot until the meetings close.
The delegates who will form the con-
gress are men of the highest rank in
postal service The postmasters gen.
eral of several nations are among them,
while leading diplomats have been sent
by some of the countries. :,
A portion of the delegates are al
ready here. Those who remain in New
York tomorrow afternoon will be
brought over in a special train of four
cars, rendered by the Pennsylvania
railroad. .5o.,a-4i
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, .,,a.s a-....
At previous gatherings the congress
has been extended unusual courtesies
by the nation whose guests they were,
and, while this government is ham,
pered by lack of satisfactory funds, the
thing possible to make this country an
agreeable host. 1t is among the prob
abilities, based on precedent, that the
delegates will be entertained by both
the president and the postmaster gen
eral, and the district commissioners
will, in case an appropriation they de-
sire is granted, give an official recep-
ton and water trip, probably to Old
Point Comfort and Richmond. The del
egates before the close ofs the. congress
will also be taken on Journey in the
West, returning by way of New York
The gathering will be in Washington
from month to six weeks, but the
congress itself will meet not more than
haf-dozen times. The real work,
save that of ratification of proceedings
when the committees report-which be-
longs to the full ongress-devolve )
upon the four committees, at least one
of which will be in session practically
every day except Saturday and Sunday.
One committee will nave charge of tbs.
general treaty which is adopted at
every congress, and will also settle ac-
counts between individual countries
With the latter this country has moth
ing to do. A second committee will
take up arrangements for exchange OF
letters Of declared value, the parcels
post system and the postal books Of
Identity used by. some countries. A
third will consider money orders. bills
collectible by post and; subscriptions
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 will deliver his salutatory in
English. while the assem- blage reads
the French translation. This will oc-
cupy little over five minutes, being a
formal welcome. Then the senior dele
gate, not now selected, will respond III
a few words.
The selection of a presiding officer
will follow. Gen. George s. Da. c.2..,.,
ex-minister to Portugal ans1 cha,-7-o
Of the United States delega. ion, PEE
ably will be the honored one TIE
business of tire congress VIII begin at
once, all proceedings being cane. ~ { /
in French and behind barre I 7ocrr
Many measures will be b4ougft TO-
ward for consif eration. t. e new tres y
or general convention and several ri
nor ones, signed by only two or thre.s
Of the countries, will be discussed and
adopted in substitution fee ii cnes, y,
order to cover new conditions. Per
haps the most important proposition
termediate transit system. This pro-
vides for compensation by the sending
country to al countries owe, he Sc D.
mains its malls are transported. An
agreement to carry the mails of all the
countries in the union mutually free
will be sought, but probably woes
down.. Such countries as Belgium,
which sends out little mail but over
whose lands much foreign mail is
transported at a big profit to the king
dom. will object 10 cutting - j. ...ess.-
enue. This practically defeats the
scheme, as one well-founded. dissen:
kills the proposition. This country and
a few others, however, have declared
in favor Of the free transportation. The
ultimate action, it is said, probably will
be the acceptance of the average
as basis of all intermediary transit
accounts up to the assent lage of the
next congress, that is,sup, t@1903, whe.!
the issue will be revived iaja
The much agitatedii proposition to
adopt universal postage. Stamp MOI
good for domestic postage, but for con
venient communication between cOul-
tries, and the universal return stamp ed
envelope proposition, having a SIM al
scope, also will be brought oup, but the
probabilities of adoption are said to b.
against both, with the latter aving the
best chance of the twQd "
There will be no upset Of postage
rates, but an increase of the allowable
weight for letters is probable, thus
making an ounce or headquarters of
an ounce the unit, INSTEAD Of the pres
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