The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-05-11


Universal Postal Congress came in conflict
with the representatives OF every other
country represented i'll the congress to-
day.
The subcommittee of the first commits
sion, or the ways and means committee,
met this afternoon, and the matter of q
reduction in marine tariffs for the trans
pOrtation of mails was taken up.
1t is safe to say that the delegates from
every government excepting Great Britain
desires to bring about reduction in the
cost of mail transportation on the seas.
This carrying trade is done mainly in Eng
lish ships, and reduction in the rate would
be in the nature of a stroke at British in
terests This the British delegates will not
permit If they can help it, though 1t is prob
able that they will be compelled to sub
nit The representatives of the United
States are taking hand in this fight.
1t was reported today that settlement
had been effected, and that a reduction
had been accomplished but this was later
denied, it being stated that the British
delegates were still holding out against
the entire committee, and gaining time
wherever possible, that they might com
mnnicate with the home government and
discover just how much of reduction
Great Britain would permit, il any.
Postmaster General Gary will tender
reception to the delegates from 3 TO 10
O'Clock tonight at the old Corccran Art
Gallery building No invitations have been
extended to anybody outside of the dele
gates and attaches of the congress and
the committee Of arrangements. Postmas-
ter General Gary will have with him his
daughters and several friends. but no
outsiders will be admitted.
President Mckinley will give a recep
ton to the delegates one week from next
Wednesday.
The committee of arrangements met to-
day and it was decided to take the dele
gates co Mount Vernon and to give them a
shad-bake at Marshall Hall next Friday
evening.
Low bows, verylow bows, are In order at
the postal congress. Very little handShak-
ing is done, and loud talking is not approved
Of
When two delegates meet, even on the
staircase, they pause to bow. These men
may he members Of the same delegation;
they may have slept together; washed
with the same soap, and doubled UP on the
same towel, still they pause to bow.
Where two Americans would salute each
other by touching the rim OF the hat with
the hand, or would remark: Hello Billy,
how goes it," How now, old 6oy?'' or
kindred sympathetic comments, these
delegates pause to bow. AS a consc1 ieEce
nearly all the delegates wear well-tley yloped
muscles in the hack.
One or two delegates have had close calls
from tumhling backwards down the broad
gray stairway at the gallery, because of the
prufundit yoftheir bows and the back nc ting,
Ietreating movement which they take on
when they bow.
Even the man st the door has become in
oculated with the virus Of the bow and has
invested in another pair OF suspcnders.
The delegates have their clothes made
full wide and plenty, so that they can bow
without ripping.
Smiles are also the fashion at the con-
gresS man who would speak without
smiling would be denounced as very rude.
One delegate may swear at another dele
gate, but he must smile at the same time.
Sometimes to the Western eye, these smiles
may appears trs1e theatrical but still the
delegates smile on.
WI Ting Fang, the Chinese delegate,
would not talk for publication, but it is
understood In the committee rooms that he
opposes the entrance Of China into the
Universal Postal Union. 1t is also under
stood that before the opening of the con-
gress China was disposed TO enter the union.
The Chinese have taken fright at the
adroit politics praCticed in the congress.
Combinations and alliances have been
necessary, in order to carry or defeat
points Governments have been compelled
to approve the obnoxious plans proposed
by the delegates Of other governments,
that their own plans might be realized
The Chinese delegate has said that it is
better that China should conduct her postal
service thar 70 submit its management in
part to other governments, W hich, at every
opportunity, seek to secure some ad-
vantage for themselves.
A party of ladies and children, strangers
in Washington, called at the old Corcoran
Art Gallery building this morning with
a desire to see the decorations OF the hall
of the seances. Though the business Of the
day had not been begun, the request of
the strangers was denied.
The postmaster general or norway an
nounced today that he had been advised by
bis government that money-order treaty
had been concluded between it and the
South Africa republic.
Each day the delegates are furnished with
q printed report of the proceedings of the
preceding day. These reports are never
submitted to the press.
Among the most energetic delegates to
the congress are those from Great Britain,
Germany, Hungary, Holland, Japan and
Brazil Delegates Szaly and Hennyer Of
Hungary, Neumann and Fritsch OF Ger
many, Havelaar and Van der Veen Of Hol-
land Kamatsu, Yukawa and ATai OF
Japan, Xavier of Brazil and For1nan and
walpole of Great Britain, were early in
their seats and at work on books of refer
ence, tables, schedules, etc.