The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-05-03
POSTAL OPERATIONS.
Meeting of the Universal Congress nj
Washington Wednesday.


Washington. May 2.-The postal opera
tions OF the world will pass In review be-
fore one of the most distinguished bodies
that ever met in this country when the
universal postal congress convenes In this
city next Wednesday. II is the first time
that the universal postal union. now CON-
prising and controlling so far as the mails
are concerned every organized govern
ment save ihree-China, Corea and the
Orange Free State-has had its delegates
assemble In America and the deliberation
of Its NTH sextennial convention VIII be
marked by perhaps more pronounced for-
mality than has attended any convention
OF either national or International scope
that has gathered In this country for a
long period, Sixty odi countries and prov
inces will be represented by about la0 dele
gates. each country having but "A single
vote The sessions will be held In the his
toric old building which until recently was
the home OF the Corcoran art gallery. The
delegates who will form the congress are
men of the highest rank in the postal SER
vice. The postmasters general OF several
ma tions are among them, while leading
diplomats have been sent by some OF the
countries.
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
satisfactory funds. the postoffice depart
ment will do everything possible to make
this country AN agreeable host. II Is
among the probabilities. based on prece-
dent. that the delegates will be entertain
ed by the president aud the postmaster
general and the district commissioners
will, in case am appropriation they desire
is granted. give AN official reception aud "a
water trip to Old Point Comfort and Rich
mond.
The delegates before the close of the
congress will also be taken on u journey
In the West. returning by way of New
York. The gathering will he in Washing
ton 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 the ratification of the proceedings when
the committees report which belong 20 the
full congress. devolves upon the four COM
mittees, at least one of which will he In
session practically every day except Sat
urday 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 the latter this country
has nothing TO do. A second committee
Will take up arrangements. exchange let
ters OF declared value. parcels. hest sys-
TEN. and the postal books of identity used
by some countries. A third will consider
money orders, bills collectable by post and
subscriptions through postoffices to news
papers and periodicals. while the fourth
will put the new general treaty into deii-
mite shape for ratification.
The congress will be opened "Wednesday y
morning by Postmaster General Gary
who will deliver his salutatory i'm English,
while the assemblage reads the French
translation. Then the senior delegate. not
now selected, will resspond In "a few
words. The election of a presiding officer
will follow General George s. Bachelor.
ex-minister to Portugal and chairman OF
the United States delegation, will proba-
bly, be the honored one.
The business of the congress will begin
at once. all proceedings being conducted In
French and behind barred doors. Many
measures will be brought forward for con-
sideraton. Then the new treaty. or general
convention. and several minor ones. signed
by only two or three OF the countries, Will
be discussed and adopted In substitution
OF old ones In order to cover new condi-
tions.
Perhaps the most important proposition
will involve what II known as the inter-
mediate transit system. Inis provinces Tor
compensation by the sending countries 10
all countries over whose domains Its mails
are transported. An agreement to carry
the mails of all countries in the union mu-
tually free will be sought but probably
voted down. Such countries as Belgium,
which sends out little mail hut over whose
lands much foreign mail is transported at
a big profit TO the country. will object TO
cutting OF this revenue. This practically
defeats the scheme. as one well-founded
dissent Kills proposition. This country
and "A few others. however. have declared
In favor OF free transportation.
The ultimate action. it is said. probably
will be the acceptance OF the average
weights statistics Of the last six years
as "a basis OF all intermediary transit ac-
counts up to the assemblsge OF the next
congress, that Is up to 1900. when the is
sue will be revived.