Evening star., 1897-05-03
IN SESSION A MONTH
Probable Long Stay Of the Postal
Congress Delegates.
COMING BY SPECIAL TRAIN TODAY
Postmaster General Gary to Open
the Convention.
DISCUSSIONS

Many of the delegates to the postal con-
gress are here. Those who remain in New
York will be brought over this afternoon in
a special train of four cars, rendered by
the Pennsylvania railroad. Second Assist
ant 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 l 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
satisfactory funds, the Post Office Depart
ment will do everything possible to make
this country an agreeable host.
The gathering will be in Washington
from month to six weeks. but the con-
gress itself will meet not more than half a
dozen times.
Work of Committees.
The real work, save that of ratifica lion
of proceedings, when the committees re-
port, which belongs to the full congress,
will fall upon the four committees, at least
one of which will be in session prac tically
except Saturday and Sunday. One COM
mittee will have charge of the general
treaty, which Is adopted at every congress,
and will also settle accounts between in
dividual countries. With the latter this
country has nothing to do.
A second committee will take up arrange
ments foc exchange of letters of declared
value, the parcels-post system and the pos
tai books of identity used by some coun-
tries.
third will consider money orders. ldlls
collectable by post and subsc riptions
through post offices, to newspapers and
periodicals, while the fourth will put the
new general treaty into definite shape for
ratification.
Opening of the Congress-.
The Congress will be opened Wednesday
morning by Postmaster General Gary, who
will deliver his salutatory in English while
the assemblage reads the French transla-
tion. This will occupy a little over five
minutes being formal welcome Then the
senior delegate (not now selected) will re-
spond in a few words. The election of d
presiding officer will follow. Gen. George
5. Batcheldor. ex-minister to Portugal. and
chairman of the United States delegation,
probably will be the honored one.
The business of the congress will begin al
once, all proceedings being conducted in
French and behind barred doors.
Many measures will be brought forward
for consideration. The new treaty or gen
signed by only two or three Of the coun-
tries, will be discussed and adopted i'll sub
stitution of old ones in order to cover new
conditions. Perhaps the most important
proposition will involve what Is known as
the intermediate transit system. This pro-
V-des for compensation by the sending
country to all countries over whose do
mains its mails are transported
Free Transportation of Foreign Mail.
An agreement to carry the mails of all
the countries in the union mutually free
will be sought but probably voted down.
Such countries as Belgium, which sends
out little mail, but over whose lands much
foreign mail is transported at big profit
to the kingdom, will object to cutting off
this revenue This practically defeats the
scheme, as one well-founded dissent kills a
proposition. This country and few 9TH
eTs, however have declared in favor of the
free transportation. The ultimate action 1t
is said probably will be the acceptance of
the average weight statistics of the last
six years as a basis of all intermediary
transit accounts up to the assemblage of
the next Congressional is, up to 1909, when
the issue will be revived
Universal Postage Stamp.
The much-agitated proposition to adopt
universal postage stamp not good for do
mestic postage. but for convenient commu-
Eication between countries, and the univer-
sal returned stamped envelope proposition,
having similar scope, also will be brought
up. but the probabilities Of adoption are
said to be against both, with the latter
having the best chance of the two.
There will be no upset of postage rates,
but an increase of the allowable weight for
letters Is probable, thus making an ounce
or three-quarters Of an ounce the unit in
stead of the present half ounce, for which
the charge is now ) cents
The three countries still Ouside-China
Corea and the Orange Free State-are ex-
pected to be admitted before the congress
is closed. though the last named has not
yet been heard from on this subject
Preparations for the Congress.
The old Corcoran Gallery of Art, where
the congress will be held, has been Won
derfully transformed in honor of the dis
tinguisned foreign visitors. Many Of these
gentlemen have been delegates before TO in
ternational postal congresses. 1t is beyond
question that what they will find in Wash
ington will far exceed their former eX-
periences in such connection. They will
find that nothing has been left undone TO
surround them with all the appointments
of comfort, arranged and prepared with
most consumate taste and artistic perfec-
rion. 1t is difficult to describe the art gall
cry as it appears in readiness for Wednes-
day, when the universal postal congress
coEveneS.
For weeks expert decorators have been
engaged in freshening and beautifying the
interior walls, and after them have come
an army of decorators and furnishers, who
have made memorable pictures of every
apartment.
The entrance to the building gives an
impression OF the artistic beauties that
are to be developed on the journey through
The walls are hung with rare specimens of
Turkish, Persian, and East Indian tapes
tries, which are held In place by ancient
helmets, shields. spears and other armor-
ial relics brought from the countries which