The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-05-04
UNIVERSAL POSTAGE.

Tomorrow the Universal Postage
Congress will convene in Washington.
This congress will contain accredited
representatives from every civilized
power on the globe, and the whole
world is therefore interested in its pro-
ceedings and outcome. International
postal service now reaches many
countries, but the goal sought is uni
versal service. When this congress of
the world adjourns it may be conf
IDENTITY expected that the great step will
have been accomplished. The plan and
policy of universal postal system is
far reaching, not only commercially
but politically. 1t will bring the world
more and more in closer touch.
Thirty-fiv years ago Postmaster Cen
eral Blair, of Mr.. Lincoln'S cabinet,
conceived the idea Of bringing about a
conference of the postal authorities of
America and Europe. Up to that time
the United States had distinct and sep
arate agreements with eight foreign
governments. The result was multi
plicity Of rates, depending upon the
route selected and the country or
countries through which a letter pass
ed. There was the domestic rate, the
sea rate and the rate Of each country
traversed TO be added. These combina-
tons meant untold embarrassment,
great expense in correspondence, and
most complicated system of accounts.
In the Paris conference of 1863 were
representatives of the United States.
Great Britain. France, Italy, Austria.
Prussia, Denmark, the Netherlands,
Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Portugal,
Costa Rico and the Sandwich Islands.
AS result Of this meeting postal con-
ventions were brought about among a
number of these countries, and the
work of enlarging the field of opera
tons was pushed vigorously. Within
ten years the maximum foreign letter
rate charged in the United States was
"a cents. as against S1.O2 in 1863. Sim
liar results. accompanied by reduc-
ton Of the number of rates charged in
a single country and consequent sim
plification of the postal system, were
observed elsewhere.
From this encouraging beginning the
plan for n universal postal treaty nat
urally developed. The plan took prac-
teal form at The congress which assem-
hled at Berne in 1874, and at which the
United States was formally recognized
as the pioneer in international postal
reform. In that year a treaty was
signed on behalf of this government,
Great Britain, Germany, Austria Hun
gary, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, Spain
Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway,
the Netherlands, Portugal, Roumania.
Russia. Servia, Sweden, Switzerland, |
Turkey, France and Montenegro This
treaty took effect July /, 1915. and en-
braced within its operations n popula-
ton of not less than 3I5,0o0.O0o. 1t |
provided for regular congresses, arbl-
fIation in case of disagreements over
certain provisions, and the collection |
and dissemination of statistics and gen
eral postal Information.
In 1873 the congress met in Paris, |
with new countries added and an ag-
sregated population of 100000 rep /
resented. The following congresses |
were at Lisbon and Vienna. AT the |
latter 1.3oo.o0oOo0 were represented |
and the whole of the western continent |
had come ill., AT the Washington con-
gress this week there are 10 be added |
to the signatories of the treaty China,
Korea and the Orange Free State. The |
new impetus in the commerce of the /
Orient renders it improbable, too. that /
japan can longer ignore the substantial |
benefits derived from membership in /
this great postal family. and that she
will soon be found knocking for admis-
sion.