The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-05-03
THE POSTAL CONGRESS.
Gathering Of Mail Experts from All
Parts Of the World.
SIXTY NATIONS REPRESENTED.
Every Organized Government Except
China, Korea and Orange Free State
Is Included In the Universal Postal
Union-Sessions to Be Secret.

Livery orkHnlLeu pONefnIneHt EXCEPT
China, Korea and Orange Free State
Is Included In the Universal Postal
Union-Sessions to Be secret.
Washington, May 3.-The postal op-
erations of the world will pass in re-
view before one of the most dstin-
guished bodies that ever met in this
country when the universal postal con-
gress convenes in this city next We'd
nesday. 1t Is the first time that the
Universal Postal union, now compris-
ing and controlling, so far as the mails
are concerned, every organized govern
ment save three-China, Korea and
the Orange Free State--has had its
delegates assemble in America, and
the deliberations of it's fifth sextennial
convention will be marked by perhaps
more pronounced formalty than has
attended any convention Of either ma
tional or International scope that has
gathered in this country for long
period.
Sixty odd countries and provinces
will be represented by about 120 dele
gates, each country having but sim
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 postoffice will be in operation on
the spot until the meetings close The
delegate who will form the congress
are men of the highest rank in postal
,ta 81
several nations are among them. while
leading diplomats have been sent by
some of the countries.
AT previous gatherings the congress
has been extended unusual courtesies by
the nations whose guests they We're,
and, while this government Is hamper
ed by lack of satisfactory funds, the
postofIice department will do everything
possible to make this country an agree
able host. 1t Is among the probabili-
ties. based on precedent, that the dele
gates will be entertained by both the
president and postmaster general, and
the district commissioners will, in case
an appropriation they desire is grant
ed, give an official reception and a
water trip probably to Old Point Com
fort and Richmond. The delegates, be-
fore the close of the congress, also will
be taken on a journey in the west, re-
turning by way of New York
The gathering will be In Washington
from a month to six weeks, but the
congress itself will meet not more
than half dozep times. The real
work, save that of ratification of pro-
ceedings when the committees report
which belongs to the full congress-
devolves upon the four committees, at
least one of which will be in session
practically every day except Saturday
and Sunday. One committee will have
charge of the general treaty, which Is
adopted at every congress, and also
will settle accounts between indivd-
ual countries. With the latter this
country has nothing to do.
The congress viii be opened We'd
nesday morning by Postmaster Cen
eral Gary, who will deliver his salutory
in English, while the assemblage reads
the French translation. This will oc-
cupy d little over five minutes, being
a formal welcome. Then the senior
delegate, not now selected, will respond
siding officer will follow General
George S. Batchellor, ex-minister to
Portugal and chairman of the United
States delegation, will probably be the
honored one. The business of the con-
gress will be conducted in French, and
behind barred doors.
Many measures will be brought for
ward for consideration. The new
treaty or general convention and sew
eral minor ones, signed by only two or
three of the countries, will be discussed
and adopted in substitution of old ones
in order to cover new conditions. Per-
haps the most important proposition
will involve what is known as the in
termediate transit system. This pro-
vides for compensation by the send
ing country to all countries over whose
domains its mails are transported. 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 king
dom, will object to cutting off this
revenue. This practically defeats the
scheme, as one well founded dissent
kills a proposition.
This country and few others, how
ever have declared In favor of the free
transportation. The ultimate action, it
is said. probably will be the acceptance
Of the average weight statistics of the
last six years as a basis of all inter-