Daily camera., 1897-06-11
MAILS OF THE WORLD.
Convention of the International
Postal Union.
Big Men from Every Country to At
tend the Meeting Which Is Held
Every Six Years-HOw For
eiRn Mails Are Handled.


world were to be fixed at the meeting
of the International Postal Union, held
in Washington this month.
These conventions, which are held but
once in six years, are of great impor-
tance, and are attended by the leading
postal authorities Of every nation. AT
the last convention, held in Vienna six
years ago, the 100 delegates included the
postmasterS general of 13 different
countries. 1t is regarded, therefore, as
high compliment that the conference
is to be held in this country, and in
flattering invitation from japan, whose
delegation appealed strongly for the
honor. of entertaining the congress at
Yokohama, and even offered to have
a steamer meet the delegates from all
the western nations at San Francisco
and convey them from that point, free
of charge to their destination, as guests
of the government.
1t is the union which has made it pos
sble for a letter to be sent to almost
any part of the world for five cents.
Before that time it might cost anywhere
from ten cents to a dollar. In those
days the postage on letter was de-
termined by adding the postage in the
countries through which it would pass,
together with the ''sea postage" which
was more or less according to the route
travelled by the ship. Those who wished
TO conduct international correspond
ence had to consult charts or go to the
post office and figure out the amount.
This haphazard arrangement is in
marked contrast with the ease with
which the transmission of foreign mails
is effected to-day. And the change has
been brought about within the memory
of the present generation.
There are SO governments now in the
union, the Orange Free State, China and
Corea being the only governments of
Importance which remain outside, and
they will apply for admission at the
present conference.
The United States brought about the
reform, and the first international con-
ference was held at Paris in 1868, but
this was merely deliberative, and did
not do away with the necessity of spe-
cial treaties. Another convention was
held at Berne in September, 1874, and
after some opposition by France and
England postal union was formed on
October ON a basis of universal five
cent postage, which went into effect in
July, 1875. Other nations, not members
at first, joined in rapid succession, and
i'll 1878 another congress at Berne ar
ranged definite treaties, embracing the
principal countries of the world. A
permanent organization is maintained
at Berne, which acts as clearing house
for the international business, under
the direction of Ernest Holm, who will
act as secretary of the cyesent congress.
Many important matters are to be
discussed, the most important of which
will be the payment by one country for
the transportation and delivery OF its
mails across another. At present all
mail matter sent by one country to an
other is scrupulously paid for to its
destination, the compensation being
figured on q basis of statistics taken
once in three years, covering period
of four weeks. Every country and the
countries to which the letters are adj
dressed weigh all mail received, in order
to verify the returns.
The plan favored by the United States
is for each country to transmit the
mails of all other countries free of
charge and keep the money it receives.
The United States contends that this
would be fair to all parties concerned,
and will make fight for the reform
at the present session of the union.
The conference will be in session for
at least six weeks.-Chicago Time+HeT-
aid