New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-06
posTAL. CONGRESS OPENED
REPRESENTATIVES, OF FIFTY-FIvE Ma
TIONS PRESENT.

-ur DELEGATES WELCOMED By POSTMASTER
GENERAL oARY-GENERA1. BATcHEi~
LxR ELECTED PRESIDENT
uo.b,nrton. May b-The Universal Postal
CONGRESS- met to-day in the great hall OF the ola
Cor,oran Art Gallery. Fifty-fve countries
eo,,,rising most of those in the Postal Onioh'
.,ors renresented. Corea, China and the orange
rrce state which are now outside the ohioii'
nod delegates present. 1t Is expected tha' 'i'c
LESSONS Of the Congress will last ABOUT SIX
,raots Most Of the work will be transacted py
committees which will submit the result Oh 'he''
,ahors TO the Congress about once Week i"e
present postal agreement VIII DE reNiseu anu
renewed. Several important ques'onS "o "
u. considered. among them proPosi'iol ~
.-o,suit the ofncial mail Of the countries "h'c"
ara members OF the Union free OF charse' 'i'c
.ub,ect OF increasing the unit OF weight W oe
-.oa under n Ave-cent stamp from half an
- IN three-ouarters of an ounce. and
,ronosit,on for a universal stamp
rso hall presented a brilliant appearance when
General George s. Batcheiler, the senior oeie
80 ~ the United States. called the congress
q. ,rder at IL o'clock. Tho delegates wore oress
.,,,s or full court costume their breasts oe-
..,,r,sa with glittering insignia and enameieo
or,ors The Oriental delegates were picturesque
q, their flowing silken robes. Tho Corean wore
x,s noxl,ke headgear, and the TURK MS req ie]'
r,Ao decorations OF the hall were lavish Inc
,,ou. were rich with gorgeous tapestries anu
,.,.b coats OF arms The prevailing coiors
e" 80. o,a crimson The sessions OF the
Co,cre.s we're held behind closed doors.
posTMAsTER-GENERAL GARY's ADDRESS
pos.mas,er-General Gary delivered the ad-
s-ess OF welcome. He said:
c.,r.r,en. 7 tender you a hearty greeting IN the
,o,s Of the United States Of America ana wei-
,or,e YOU TO the capital Of this great ana sfo"is
Nation Whatever conduces 70 inc sp'e'. u "
.,,,conce the encoura cement Of the arts OF peace
-. .rucb,cnment of the people Of all countries,
40 extension Of commerce and the consequent
cAnantInS OF fraternal ties between the nations
meets with the communication or the Peopie III
whose behalf I extend this welcome
vo, como as the messengers OF peace ana eooo-
will as the visible embodiment or interna'iona
tt, as thu advocates OF international COM
,a-cn as the bearers of friendly messages between
widely separated yet cioseiy uii'eu
and salute you as the representatives u au
vanced and advancing civilization. before you
ao,ar, ror YOUR respective homes we hope 10 prlng
-, ,r,o c1oeer communication with our people
.ronr whom, YOU will find the former citizens ana
subjects Of all the nations OF the earth ana 'nel
Sasca,dants Scarcely a delegate IS here to-day
who NAV not receive a cordial ano hospitaoie
welcome from natives Of his own country. and
ann. ~ YOU may ind your own country'neh aihio'l
&c numerous as you left at nome
W. aesre also that you may bear away with you
. mora complete knowledge of our domain. "hich
extends across a continent three thous"hu H'-'
embracing almost every variety Oh ciii'ao
country of boundless resources. OF minnie n.y.
=, var,ed manufacturing interests and containing
q nrosnerous and happy population OF over seventy
nh3ac,lesson of the marvellous growth OF the
founded mainly during inc ias' ~
NY which support postai system .o'p'
more than 700 offices and 2o.o" empIoves' SUP
plying mails for and dispatchihs 'hei' o'o 49,
10 ~ railroad. 1900 miles Of steamboat service
~ =, o,b.r minor routes OF service. aggregating
a.. u ovor Ar 900 miles Of post routes and hanuihs
T., ,hs year 1896 total OF 5693 SIS pieces Oh mai
matter Thus place even the sinaii anu -,
,note communities in direct commuhicA'io" "I
one another by means OF postal iacii'es' -.
oarr,ino hack 10 your homes the knowledge tha'
~, .n.sa millions OF people anxious to estao-
iIsh the closest social and business relations with
zach OF the countries you represent you VIII '0"
ysv some idea of the value OF the maintenance
end nerfectlon OF the system you nave met u
promote. Alta ~. efth Con-
,ha International Postal Union. should be
- a., .,a Tinted States and at the capitaI OF
.,,- Se.,on for IL was here that the suggestion
coating this body originated. Postmaster-Oeheia d.
Rlair on August 4. 1852. In communicate au
dressed 10 Mr. Seward. then secretary "a '''
rronosed IAN international conference Oh pos'"
delegates TO recommend measures looking u 'I0
revision. simplAcation and uniformity OF lnterha
.tonaI ,ostal ARRANGEMENTS" and the Department
of State submitted the proposition to the Govern
rnents Of Great Britain. France Prussia sweden
The Netherlands. Belgium. Italy and Ecuador d"
yorable responses were received from all the gov
.Aa Md
day Of the following May inc hrsI ihleihA''oi4"
conference assembled
THE BEGINNING OF THE UNION
49,. -. .b,s idna Of an international conference
grew the large idea OF permanent Universal
postal Union and the first Congress OF this Union
me, in the hail Of the National Senate Of Switzer-
,and IN September, 1874. The treaty creating THIS
Union went into effect on July /. 1870 IN cohgratu-
,a,,no our Governmen. and our people upon being
,bn host OF thic probably the body most repre-
sentative Of all the civilized nations OF the earth
,ba, has ever assembled. can therefore express
our profound pride that the idea creating 'h's
Union originated with US
TIL. Universal Postal Union is young IN years
hut phenomenal in successes and achievements ~
60 tho outerowth of separate trsales between OH
ferent national organizations. each compact olile,-
inc IN some essential respect from all others only
tventy-three years ago. in the city or Berhe' az
the foot of the Alps. the delegates from d Ie"
Administrations met and laid deep ana sohu tie
foundations of this Union. The founders Of the In
,.t,ution are fast passing away Only rev re-
main on this side Of the boundaries OF time VINO
have persona reco,lectons OF its inauguration and
sooo there will be left only the scattered and IN
complete records OF the different Administrations
~ tell the story Of Of the grandest projects
OF the century was conceived and born
We are rapidly approaching the realization OF the
dream which was outlined in the colossal enterprise
for there is reason to believe that when this Con-
eress adiourns the in its daily circuit through
The heavens Will not rise upon civilized people
nor set unon AN organized government which is not
inchded In the w.se and benefcent Jurisdiction OF
the Universal Postal Union.
MEETING UNDER HAPPY AUSPICES.
Thus you meet under happy auspices Repre-
sertatlves from countries not in the Union. notably
those from China and Corea. are present and ready
20 Cot, vour brotherhood participate In your deb-