The herald., 1897-05-06
Represented at the Postal
Congress
THE DELEGATES WELCOMED
AND THE WORK OF THE SESSION
OUTLINED
Attention Called to New Country
Which Handles Annually Five
Billion Pieces Of Mail

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON May 5.-The Univer-
cal Postal Congress met today in the
great hall of the art gallery. Just fifty
five countries were represented. Korea
China and Orange Free State, which are
outside the pale of the Union, had dele
gates present. Postmaster-Genera Gary
delivered the address Of welcome. 1t is
expected the work Of the congress will
extend over about six weeks. The
present postal agreement will be revised
and renewed. Several important
questions will be considered, among
them a proposition to transmit the off,
cial mail of countries members of the
Union free of charge, the question of
increasing the unit of weight to be car
ried under scent stamp from half an
ounce to three-fourths Of an ounce, and
also proposition for universal stamp.
The hall presented a brilliant appear
ance when General Bachelor, the pre-
mier delegate of the United States, call
! ed the congress to order at II o'clock.
The delegates were attired in dress suits
or full court costume, their breasts be-
spangled with glittering ensigns and
enameled orders. The Oriental dele
gates were very picturesque in their
silken robes. The Korean wore his box
like head-gear and the Turk his red fez.
The decorations of the hall were lavish.
The walls were rich with gorgeous tap
estries and shone with coats of arms.
The prevailing colors were gold and
crimson.
The sessions of the congress were held
behind closed doors. Postmaster-Gen-
eral Gary, Assistant Postmaster-G Gen
eral Heath, Gen. Bachelor and Capt.
Brooks did the honors. Postmaster
General Gary, in the address of welcome.
said: I'VE want to afford you an object
lesson Of the marvellous growth Of COM
munities founded mainly during the
past century which will support postal
system comprising more than 10000 Of
fees and 200,0 900 employees, supplying
mails for and dispatching them over 170,-
900 miles Of railroad, 1900 miles Of
steamboat service and by other minoi
routes Of service. aggregating in all over
100000 miles of post routes and in the
year 1896 hadling total Of 5,693, 719, ,6fs
pieces Of mail matter.
ut is quite appropriate that this, the
fifth congress Of the International Postal
union, should be held in the United
States and at the capital Of our nation,
for 1t was here that the suggestion Gre
ating this body originated.
"Postmaster-General Blair, on August
4th, 1862, in communication addressed
to Mr.. Seward, then secretary of the
United States, proposed an international
conference of postal delegates to recon-
mend measures looking to the revision,
simplification and uniformity of inter-
national postal arrangements. And the
department of state submitted the prop
osition to the governments of Great Brit
ain, France, Prussia. Sweden, the Meth
erlands. Belgium, Italy and Ecuador.
Favorable responses were received from
all the governments named, and at
Paris, on the second Monday of the fol-
lowing May. the first international con-
ference assembled.
"Out Of this idea Of an international
conference grew the larger idea of a
permanent universal postal union and
the first congress of this union met in the
hall Of the national senate of Switzer-
land, in September, 1874. The treaty
creating this union went into effect on
the 1st Of July, 1875.
1.-The universal postal union is young
in years, but phenomenal in successes
and achievements 1t is the outgrowth
Of separate treaties between different
national organizations, compact in e.
sential respect from others.
ssrTha Porpdarc In ;<,,tio,, a ~ 60
passing away, only few remain on this
side of the boundaries Of time, who iia We
personal recollections of it's Inaugural
tion and soon there will be left only the
scattered and incomplete records of the
different administrations to tell the
story of how one Of the grandest projects
of the century was conceived and born.
"Some important questions will be
brought to your attention which are not
likely to be decided by unanimous votes
If some powerful governments will pro-
pose notifications of the treaty of vien-
ma relating to the reduction Of transient
rates. Others, perhaps, will ask to have
such rates abolished. The question Of re-
ducing the rates of international post
age will come before you. To the con-
sidea tiono OF these grave propositions ]
invite your careful attention, confident
that your decision thereon, swell as the
other subjects will be wise and profitable
for all the countries concerned.
again welcoming you to this capital
wishing for each Of you a pleasant So
journ among us and safe return to your
homes at the conclusion of profitable
session. I declare the fifth congress OF
the universal postal union opened, anc
ask you to organize by nominating q
president to conduct your deliberations. u
Mr.. Camille de Lessert. director for
Lausanne, Switzerland, the dean Of the
union, followed the postmaster general
with brief address. He proposed
General G. 8. Batcheller, the oldest OF
the United States delegates, as president
Of the congress and he was unanimously
chosen.
General Batcheller made fitting re-
sponse In French.
Mr. Fritch. director Of the department
Of posts for Germany, delivered an eu-
llcgy ON Or. Won Stephan. and Mr. Neu-
bauer supplemented his colleagues re-
marks with some words Of profound re-
u. Hohsn director i TIE postal