The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-16
POSTAL CONGRESS ENDS
DELEGATES COMPLETE THEIR
WORK AND START FOR HOME.
Results of Their DeIiberations-AII
Acts Subject to Ratification of
the Various Governments.

WASHINGTON, June 15-The Universal
Postal Congress, the fifth convention of the
kind of the world, finished its labors to-day
after a closed session lasting several hours.
The next of the congresses, the sixth sex
ennial one, will be held at Rome, Italy in
February, 1903. The final session was de-
voted to the formal signing of the general
treaty and of the detailed articles. Every
delegate signed these two sets of papers,
subject to the formal ratification of his
government and, owing to the excessive
amount of labor involved signatures to
other sets of documents were waived under
a general authority for their execution.
The originals of all these documents will
be placed in the archives of the State De-
partment for preservation and certified cop
les will be forwarded to all the govern
ments comprising the Universal Postal
Union. The deliberations of the final meet
ing were accompanied with much formality.
General George S. Batcheller, president of
the Congress, called the body to order
shortly before IL o'clock and, after a. few
interchanges of remarks and appropriate
speeches, the documents were signed. Prior
to the general session meeting was held
under the direction of M. DESSERT, the
Swiss delegate and the dean of the corps
ognition of the service Of the officials were
made and valuable tokens of good will pre-
scented them by the Congress. 1t was late
TINS afternoon when the final adieus were
SAID and the Washington Postal Congress
was declared adjourned, to meet at Rome
Following is an Official resume of the re-
suits OF the work of the Congress-
l. The principal treaty, which excludes the
entry of Corea into the Postal Union; the
declaration of the Orange Free State
(Which failed to send a delegate to Wash
ln2JOn) tn
Union; and the declaration of the Chinese
Empire (Which was represented in the Con-
SreSS) that 1T Will observe the regulations
OF the Union as the organization of it's
service permits.
2 The intermediary transit rates have
been facilitated and the tariff diminished
quite materially on a graduated scale for
the ensuing six years.
3. Uniform colors have been projected for
4. Postal cards unpaid are subject to a
double tax; that is, cents in place of the
former tax, which was 10 cents, the same as
for unpaid letters.
8. Circulars produced on a machine (type-
WRITTEN in quantities of twenty circulars
all of the same character, are admitted 10
the international mails at the same rates
as printed circulars.
6. Samples of merchandise are admitted
up to $50 grammes.
Z. Objects of natural history, animals
dried plants or preserved geological speci-
mems are admitted as samples.
s. The question of the creation of g. uni
versal postage stamp was brought up and
the proposition defeated on account of the
difficulties which would occur in putting
into practice that important innovation es-
pecially because of the diversity of cur
rency standards.
9. Special arrangements concerning pack
ages of declared values postal orders
books of identity and subscriptions to jour-
nails have been thoroughly revised. This
country is actually concerned in these arr
rangements. They mostly affect the states
of the continent of Europe.
The new treaty will become operative
Jan. 1, 1889 Most of the delegates left the
city for their homes tonight, having booked
passage on the ocean liners for this and
next week.