The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-07-19
THE UNIVERSAL POSTAL con-
GRESS.

Washington early IN May last,
closed its session about the 18th OF
June. The first four weeks were
occupied with a full and free dis
cussion of the various topics which
had been planned for their work,
most of which have been adopted,
but not all. As the result of their
deliberations, the following
changes have been made:
1. Corea has been admitted in
to the Union, and consequently
Corean stamps will be in demand,
by stamp collectors, if by no one
else. China and the Free Orange
State of South Africa still remain
out, though both sent notices that
they wished to join as soon as they
can make the necessary arrange
ments.
2. New regulations have been
adopted regarding the heavy
charges for carrying foreign mails
through various countries, notably
the United States, Canada, France,
and other European countries.
The charges for carrying such
mails are to be reduced, and may
eventually be abolished.
3. Uniform colors are to be
used for postage stamps. As we
understand this regulation, all one
cent stamps are to be printed In
the various countries in the same
color. And so with the 3, 3, 4, 5
and other denominations, each
different stamp in different color,
but the same color to be used by
every nation, for the same demo-
mination. This regulation will no
doubt be carried out. But what
a harvest it will make for stamp
collectors, who will require to
double the size and number of
their albums.
4. Unpaid international postal
cards, which have heretofore been
charged ten cents each, will here
after have to pay four cents, or
the double rate only.
5. Typewriter circulars, in
quantities of twenty or more in a
package, will be classed as printed
circulars.
6. The weight limit allowable
for sample packages is increased
from $50 to $50 grams, or about
twelve and a half ounces.
Z. Objects of natural history
ARE hereafter to be classed as sam
pies, and will pay same as No. 6.
8. No universal postage stamp,
adapted to the use of all countries
can at present be adopted, owing
to the complex values of money
In different countries. Probably
a decimal system of currency, will
have to be introduced somewhat
after the metric system of weights
and measures.
After finishing its work, as
above, the Postal Congress was
invited by the American Postoffice
Department, to take an excursion
through the country, which was of
course accepted. a special train
of nine palace cars,-the finest
that the Pennsylvania Railroad
could furnish-and most superb |
coaches they were, probably on
scale never seen in Europe. About
40 guests including many ladies
of the delegates, left Washington
on the 9Th of June. Besides the
princely coaches, were four sleep
ers, with composite, department,
and two dining cars.
No train ever was sent out fitted
more gorgeously for comfort and
pleasure than this for the Postal
Congress. The route was through
Pittsburg, ST. Louis, Chicago,
Cleveland, Niagara Falls, Albany,
Boston, New York and Philadel-
phia. At the latter three cities the
delegates were received and enter
tanned in a princely manner, by
Governors, Mayors, and other