The record-union., 1897-05-06
ton. for it was here that the suggestion

ton, for it was here that the suggestion
creating this body originated.
"Postmaster-G General Blair, on Aug
ust f. 1862. in a communication adj
dressed to Mr. Seward, then Secretary
of State, proposed an international
conference of postal delegates to rec
ommend measures looking to the re-
vision, simplification and uniformity OF
interna tional postal arrangements. Ana
the Department of State submitted the
proposition to the Governments OF
Great Britain France, Prussia, Swe-
den, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy
and Ecuador. Favorable responses
We're received from all the Govern
ments named, and at Paris, on the
second Monday of the following May
the first international conference as
sembled.
'Out of this idea of an international
conference grew the larger idea or
permanent universal postal union, and
the first congress of this union met in
the hall of the National Senate OF
Switzerland in September, 1874. The
treaty creating this union went into eff
feet on the 1st of July, 1870
The Universal Postal Union is young
in years, but phenomenal in successes
and achievements. 1t is the outgroWtn
of separate treaties between different
national organizations, compact in es-
sential respect from others. The found
ers of the institution are fast passing
away Only few remain on this side
of the boundaries of time who nave
personal recOllectionS Of its Inaugural
ton and soon there will be left only
the scattered and incomplete records OF
the different administrations to tell the
story of how one of the grandest pro-
jects of the century was conceived and
born.
Some important questions will be
| brought to your attention which are
not likely to be decided by unanimous
votes, if some powerful Governments
will propose notifications of the treaty
of Vienna relating to the reduction OF
transient rates. Others, perhaps, Will
ask to have such rates abolished. me
question of reducing the rates of inter
national postage viii come before you
| To the consideration of these grave
propositions, l invite your careful at
tention, confident that your decision
| thereon, as we'll as the other subjects
will be wise and profitable for all the
| countries concerned.
| Again welcoming you to this CAPT.
tai wishing for each of you pleasant
sojourn among US and safe return TO
your homes at the conclusion OF prot
liable session, l declare the fifth con-
gress of the Universal Postal Union
opened. and ask you to organize by
nominating a President to conduct your
| delibera TONS"
Mr. Camille De Lessert, Director Lau-
same, Switzerland, the dean of the
union, followed the Postmaster Cen
eral, with a brief address. He proposed
G. S. Bachelor, the Oldest of the Unit
ed States delegates, as President of the
congress, and he was unanimously
| chosen.
General Bachelor made fitting re-
Spouse in French.
| Mr. Fritch, Director of the Depart
ment of Posts for Germany, delivered
an eulogy on Dr. Won Stephan, and Mr..
Neubaur supplemented his colleagues
remarks with some words of profound
regret
Mr. Hohen Director of the Postal
| Union of Berne, was chosen Vice-Pres-
ident of the congress, H. CALI Sub-Df-
rector, A Vending, First Secretary,
and Mr. Krain Second Secretary. On
the part of the United States Colonel
Chaille-Long was chosen First Secre
tary. Robert Stockwell Hatcher Sec
ond Secretary, and w. A. Brown Third
Secretary.
NJ Assault, Administrator of Mails
and Telegraphs of France, on behalf of
the congress, made brief address in
eulogy of the President of the United
States, and of the generous hospitality
extended to the congress by the Amer
lean Government
| An elaborate luncheon was served at