The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-06-27
A REMARKABLE GATHERING.
Work Of the Universal Postal Congress
in Washington.
pOSTMASTERS GENERAL GALORE.
The French IauEuagc Used in the sess
sions-Ihe United states Has Twice as
Many P~ostonioes ms Any Other
to~untry-The Nominations.

WASHINGTON, ID. G., June 25.-Within
three weeks there have been hfteen post
masters general ia W ashlngton. Ihey
were from Hungary. Belgium. Bulgaria.
Chile. Denmark, Egypt, Cape Colony.
Austria. India. Mexico. Norway, Holland
the Transtadl and Swcdcn. THESE gentle
men were delegates 10 the universal pos
tai congress lately Ina session here. siAty-
two nations were represented IN TINS con-
Vonuon by li delegates ana attaches
The object was 20 improve postal facii-
titles throughout the world. This Is done
b. the action OF tho convention aItcrward
ratified by the different governments
represented.
The United states was the first 70 sns-
Feat such a convention. The suggestion
was made by Postmaster General Mont
Somery Blair in 1868. The hrst cohNen-
lion. however was not held until 1874.
only six nations were represented. and
they met iu Lernc. The second was held
in Paris in 1875. the third in Lisbon IN
ISIS. the fourth in Vienna in 1891. and
the nth in Washington at the present
day. The sixth Will be held in Eome
in 1904
The convention met in the old Corcoran
Ant Gallery. The highly polished mahog-
any desks were arranged IN a semi-circle,
something Ike the desks In the United
States Scnate chamber. The frieze of the
room was composed Of the coats-of-arms
Of tho various nations represented. with
flags scst0oncd above them. The walls
were drapcd with heavy velour of a ma
room color. 50 as 10 cOniine tho sound
within the chamber and make II easy
f0r each delegate 20 be heard. All The
sessions were secret. Ike the executive
sessions Of the Senate. The delegates
were practically negotiating a treaty.
ana treaties are always negotiated IN
secrecy.
The presiding officer and president OF
the congress was Gen. George S. Batch
ellcr. an American. and the two socreta-
ries Of the convention were Col. Charles
Chaiile-Long and Robert StOckwcll Hatcn-
sr. both America IS. Col Long was well
known I'm Egypt long ago. and Mr..
Hatcher has been the reading clerk Of
The Housa ~ Representatives.
TIE FRENCH USED.
All the proceedings, documents and
data Of the convention were IN French.
Even the Germans sanctioned the use
~ the French language. 1t is the court
language Of the world. and Prussia took
the lead IN making Il so under the reign
~ Frederick the Great. Lately Russia
e~ndeavored 70 supplant the French lam
puage In oriental courts. but failed. The
work Of the convention was filtered
through three committees. They met AZ
specified times and presented their re-
ports for consideration. The members
never resolve themselves IN committee
~ the whole before adjournment. The
chairman Of each committee called II
10 order with q bell. after the French
method. There was some difficulty in
selecting these bells at the beginning OF
the session The United States govern
ment paid for the bells. All sorts OF
bells were offered: Old-fashioned dinner
bells. COW bells. sleigh bells, spring bells
and many others. The chairman OF the
committees selected exquisite little tink-
3ers. Something more elaborate was chOs-
On for the presiding officer. General
Batcheller. however. never used the bell
in opening or closing sessions. or I'm pre-.
serving order. To use the words Of one
or the delegates. Tile brought the con-
Nention 70 order with a club" This may
mean that no used a zane in the place
~ a gavel or bell.
Two Of the desks In the hall were
drapcd in black. one was in memory OF
she postmaster general at Berlin. VINO
died from an accident after his selection
b. the Emperor. The other was draped
SIN memory OF the delegate from Hawaii,
who died a few weeks ago.
The prominent men I'm the discussion
were tho delegates from Great Britain.
France. Germany. and italy. All were
perfectly conversant with the subject.
and are fluent speakers. Bruno Fritscn.
iepresentirg the German empire. organ
3zcd the military postal servise Of Prus-
fia, during the war with France IN
1Stl-l-. This work was wonderful. Let
tiers reached the German soldiers. whetn-
- on picket or even I'm the line OF battle
with the regularity and precision Of a
city delivery. Another remarkable dele
gate was Hochi. who has been speaker
of the lower house in Japan for three
terms. His rulings were made with such
Nigor and originality as 20 lead his friends
10 call him the Tom Reed Of Japan"
Gen. Tvncr. an cx-Postmaster General
of the United states. was also a delegate.
Capt. y. NJ. Brooks. for thirty years the
superintendent of the foreign mails In
the Post Office Department here al Wash
fngton. also represented tho United States.
lie was a delegate 20 Vienna. and his
long experience made him a valued mem
fCr.
OTHER DELEGATES.
Another delegate Of distinction was
snenccr WalpOle. representing Great Brit |
IAN. one of the delegates asked him
whether IL was his father or his grand
fathcr. who wrote the History Of En-
gland lie smiled and replied. Neither:
J nm tho man.
Another delegate was the Hon. Emidio
'hiaradia % member Of the Italian house
~ representatives. lie IS 70 20 10 the
senate this fan. He wears five little gold
medals strung together. They represent
the only compensation received from the
government hv "a member of the Italian