Omaha daily bee., 1897-05-03
MEET TO DISCUSS The NAILS
Universal Postal Union Delegates Convene
Wednesday Next,
OVER SIXTY COUNTRIES REPRESENTED
China, Coren and Orange Free state
the Only Organized Governments
Not Included and They May
lie Admitted Now.

tions Of the world will pass in review before
one Of the most distinguished bodies that
ever met in this country when the Universal
Postal Union congress convenes in this city
next Wednesday. 1t is the first time that
the Universal union, now comprising and con-
trolling, so far as the mails are concerned,
every organized government, save three
China, Corea and the Orange Free State
has had its delegates assemble In America,
and the deliberation OF Its fifth seXtennial
convention will be marked with perhaps
more pronounced formality than has attended
any convention Of either national or inter-
national scope that has gathered in this
country for long period.
Sixty odd countries and provinces will be
represented by about 100 delegates. each
country having but single vote. The ses-
sions will be held in the historic old building
which until recently was the home OF the
Corcoran art gallery. The hall has been
equipped with desks and other conveniences
and a postofflce will be In operation on the
spot until the meetings close. The delegates
who will form the congress are men of the
highest rank in postal service. The post
master generals of several nations are among
them, while leading diplomats have been sent
by some of the countries,
A portion Of the delegates are already
here. Those who remain in New York until
tomorrow afternoon will be brought over in
a special train of four cars, rendered by the
Pennsylvania railroad. Second Assistant
Postmaster General Shaltenberger and Su-
perntendent of Foreign Mails Brooks are
now in New York and will accompany the
party to this city. The train will leave Jer-
sey City soon after / o'clock.
At previous gatherings the congress has
been extended unusual courtesies by the
nations whose guests they were and while
this government is hampered by lack of sat
isfactory funds, the Postofiice department will
do everything possible to make this coun-
try an agreeable host. 1t is among the prob
abilities based on precedent, that the dele
gates will be entertained by both the presi
dent and the postmaster general and the
commissioners WILL in case the appropra-
tion they desire is granted, give an official
reception and water trip, probably to Old
Point Comfort and Richmond.
WILL VISIT THE WEST.
The delegates, before the close of tho con-
gress, will also be taken on journey through
the west returning by way of New York.
The gathering will be in Washington from
a month to six weeks, but the congress itself
will meet not more than a half dozen times.
The real work, save that of ratification pro-
ceedings of the committees reports, which
belongs to the full congress, devolves upon
the four committees, at least one of which
will be in session practically every day ex-
cept Saturday and Sunday. One committee
Will have charge Of the general treaty which
is adopted at every congress, and also will
settle accounts between individual countries.
With this settlement this country has moth
ing to do. A second committee will take up
arrangements for exchange of letters of de-
clared value, the parcels post system, and
the postal books of Identity used by some
countries. A third will consider money
orders bills collectable by post and sub
scriptions through postotiices to newspapers
IN ini ipalc Nyhi tta
the new general delivery into condition for
ratification. .........
The proceedings will be opened Wednes-
day morning by Postmaster General Gary
who will deliver his salutatory in English
while the assemblage reads the French
translation This will occupy a little over
five minutes, being formal welcome. Then
the senior delegate not yet selected will
respond in a few words. The election of a
presiding officer will follow. General George
S. Bachelor, eXminister to Portugal and
chairman of the United States delegation
will probably be the honored one. The
business of the congress will begin at once.
All proceedings will be conducted in French
and behind barred doors. Many measures
will be brought forward for consideration.
The new treaty or general convention and
several minor ones signed by only two or
three of the countries will be discussed
and substituted for old ones in order to
cover new conditions. Perhaps the most
important proposition will involve what is
known the intermediate transit system.
This provides for compensation by the send
ing country to all countries over whose do
mains its mails are transported.
BELGIUM WILL OBJECT.
An agreement to carry the mails of all
the countries in the union mutually free
will be sought, but will probably be voted
down. Such countries as Belgium, which
sends out little mail while over whose lands
much foreign mail is transported at a big
profit to the kingdom, will object to cut
ting off this revenue. This practically de-
feats the scheme as one well founded dis
sent kills a proposition. This country and a
few others however, have declared in favor
of the free transportation. The ultimate ac
ton, 1t is said, will probably be the accept
ance of the average weights, taking sta
t'stics of the last six years as a basis OF
all intermediary transit accounts up to the
assemblage Of the next congress- that is,
up to 1903, when the issue will be revived
The much agitated proposition to adopt
universal postage stamp, not good for
domestic postage but for convenient com
munication between countries, and the uni
versal return stamped envelope proposition
having a similar scope will be brought up,
but the probabilities of adoption are said
to be against both, with the latter having
the best chance of the two.
There will be no upset of postage rates
but an increase of the allowable weight
for letters Is probable, thus making an
ounce or three-quarters of an ounce the
unit instead of the present half ounce, Tor |
which the charge Is now cents. The three
countries still outside, China Corea and the
Orange Free State, are expected to be ad-
mitted before the congress Is closed, though |
the last named has not yet been heard from