New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-13
WORK ON A POSTAL TREATY
IMPORTANT MATTERS BEFORE THE IN
TERNATioNAL CONGRESS.
A UNIVERSAL arAMP. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE
GOLD STANDARD. AND OTHER QUESTIONS
UNDER prscuss1oN-FRrcTIoN OVER
COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION.


COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION.
WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE Ways and Means Com
mittee Of the International Postal Congress to-day
practically completed tho preliminary consideration
Of the amendments which have been proposed 10
the interna tional treaty In doing this they have
followed the practice common In many legislative
bodies Of passing over Informally the various
amendments which II was known would give rise
to any extended discussion and have acted on such
as the delegates were generally agreed on the
amendments which have received the assent OF the
committee were none Of them OF vital Importance
but treated mainly Of details which IT was appar-
ent were essential and proper and which experience
has demonstrated necessity In the trans
mission Of mail matter. The moro important aues-
tions remaining undisposed OF relate TO the, uni
versal postage stamp. the proposed establishment
Of the gold standard settlement OF all balances
In postal rates and the proposition FOR the rcouc-
ton In the cost OF mails in transit These matters
will begin to receive the attention OF the committee
tomorrow
Something OF a hitch In the preliminary proceed-
ings has been encountered owing TO the discomfort
with the organization OF the committees and 1t was
said to-day tina, the majority reports of the three
committees would be strongly opposed In the Con-
gress The opposition is based on the contention
that the organization of the committees and suocom-
mtees does not represent the general sentiment OF
the Congress. The South American delegates, It IS
said feel that they were not recognized ana !, was
limited to-day that the votes OF the eighteen dele
gates from South ard Central America might be
thrown solldly against the majority committee re-
ports on al vital questions.
In the afternoon the issue of the adoption or a
universal postage stamp raised The question
IL n long-pending one. and has been discussed In
all countries Most Of the delegates took part the
representatives OF Russia and England being con-
sr.cuous in the debate. The opponents Of the meas
uro denounced The scheme as inexpcdient and I'M
necessary and asserted that II was npracticable
on account Of the variation OF currency standard
and values among the nations. No conclusion was
reached The opposition is confident OF defeating
the project
The intermediate transit proposition while agreed
upon BIZ the subcommittee. has still 70 be SUD-
m,ttrd 10 the full committee. which in its turn must
report TO the Congress Owing TO the strenuous
efforts that are being made to keep the proceed
lrgs of the committee secret some confused SEMI
official statements have been made II is known.
however despite the language used by the British
DELEGATES In opposing reduction that the report TO
the ful committee TO be made Immediately proyides
Ic:ceHtage reduction OF the rates lor iiineutatc
transit running over term OF slI years tne rates
being lowered in the second. fourth and sixth years
Though III tho maritime transit debate II was salu
that The reduction made oy that proposlton was
twice as lar,r as on mails ashore, II can De dei-
ri,.iv ea!d That the aggregate reduction for the
ei~ Years. concentrated will he about ID per cent
II lie present -arn. This g radical cnange' ana
may encounter n stormy reception when the Coi1-
gr.ss meets II the committee adopts IL
President Mckinley VIII give q reception 20 tne
delesaies . The Congress rsXt wednesday evening
nom 10 % O'Clock. sr?per n.l be served ana
.ho Marine Bard win he = en;. Only the delegates
ana possibly tn. Cabinet and he diplomatic corps
Will attend