The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-05-15
SECOND COMMISSION MEETS
Consideration Of the Subject of Reg
istration by Postal Delegates.
Secrecy Observed by the Members of
the COngress-SociaI Entertain
ments Arranged.

1t was the second commission OF the
Universal Postal Congress that met at
Corcoran Art Gallery building today. No
information as TO the proceedings escaped
the lips of the American delegates and the
tongues of the American funct;onary at
taches were mute.
Tie second commission has jurisdiction
over registration, parcels post and identi-
ficato1 books. SO far as can be learned, the
United states has no contention 10 make in
regard To these matters, and the delegates
of the United States did not take part in
the discussion, which had to d0 merely with
matters of detail AS there was no con-
flict of interests, the delegates were po-
lite and parliamentary, and no threats were
passed. 1t was stated that even the dele
gates from Great Britain were mild man
nered and reasonable and made no pirat-
ical demands on the delegates from otner
countries.
At O'Clock this evening the congress
will be eentertained at a garden fete by Mrs.
Brice. The delegates will wear their deco
rations and some OF them will appear in
uniform. Mrs Erice has announced that
she intends the affair to be very swell,
and SO far as discovered at the hour Of
going 10 press she has not sent invita-
tions to the reporters who are wrestling
with the Universal Postal Congress. Presi-
dent Ratcheller is expected to attend aud
will be called upon to make few bows.
There are many officials in the PostDffice
Department who deprecatc the secrecy
maintained about the operations Of the
Universal Postal Congress-
4 very high official said to a report er for
The Times today: The secrecy is dan
gerous, DEP JorabIc, and dnreasonable. There
is but one argument which can be adduced
in favor OF a secret session OF the Senate,
that appears TO have semblance of valid
ity. This is, that the discussion of pend
ing treaty should he kept from foreign Da-
tious, especially from that foreign govern
ment which is the other party to the
treaty. But even this argument cannot lie
used in support of the secrecy which is
maintained about the workings OF the
postal congress. The representatives of
the various foreign governments are there,
and those governments are duly appriSed
OF all the business transacted and the
general proceedings Of the Congress. The
only result of secrecy in such Case s to
withhold the information from the people
of the United States, whose constitutional
right IT is to know just what their agents
are doing
"This system OF secrecy in a republican
form of government is the cloak which may
always be employed 70 conceal the in
competency, ignorance or infamy of the
peoples agents. This congess affords a
fertile field for deals between the repre-
sentatives of the several governments, and
the people. who pay their agents 10 attend
TO American interests in that Congress,
have q right TO judge whether or not their
agents are acting incoinpetently, ignorantly
or UNANIMOUSLY.
Great Britain is one OF the strongest
factors IN this congress- The use of
money is one of her most effective and
most used instruments in diplomacy 1t
is worth many thousands Of dollars to
Great Britain not to have transit tariffs
or ocean charges reduced. The question
is, is Great Britain too moral to cconl-
plish her designs by seeking to bribe
delegation or two to vote on Der side of
the proposition, or, If that delegation be
against her, not to vote at all?
The interest Of the United States is
antagonistic in this congress to the in
terests Of Great Britain, and infOrma tion
has leaked out through unofficial chan
ncls that on the transit tariff or ocean
charges propositions, the United States
will not vote against Great Britain.
The people. through the medium of the
press have a right to know just what its
r. in o,-;rae nd 10
ing"
Not line OF official information about
the work OF the congress has been given
out sinCeit convened and the American dele
gates have refused to state w hat stand they
have taken on the questions under con-
sideTation in this congress.