The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-05-22
POSTAL CONGRESS
Sixth Meeting Now in Session
at washington.
EVERY COUNTRY REPRESENTED
Deliberations Are All in
French.
The First international Convention
Proposed By An Am
erican.

The Postal Union Convention, which
meets every six years, opened its ses-
sion in Washington on the 18th of May,
in the assembly hall of the Corcoran
Art building. This is the fifth conven-
ton that has been held, the first hav-
ing convened in Berne, Switzerland,
in 1874. They are held every six years,
and it is expected that every country
represented by a special delegate or
by a proxy, who may be a represen-
tative OF the country resident where
the convention is held. Hawaii sent
Hastings was commissioned to repre-
sent this Republic, at the convention
now in session at Washington. The
Postal Union now includes every Gov
rea having this year Joined, and sent
delegates to Washington
The principal objects of the conven-
ton are to discuss any proposed
changes in rates of postage on letters,
papers, parcels, ETC., and to make such
changes in the service as experience
has shown to be necessary. One prop
osition is to allow foreign letters Of
more than half ounce to be carried for
5 cents. Another is to reduce the tran
sit charges for carrying mails across
foreign territories, as for instance, the
European and Australian mails across
America. In this matter. the United
States and France are largely interest
ed. the revenue of France from this
source being very large. The extension
of the parcels post system. now very
generally established throughout Eu-
rope, will also come up for discussion,
with a view of bringing the United
States into the same. Another matter
is the extension of the money order
system beyond its present limits, and
to render it more uniform and perhaps
cheaper than it now is. Other matters
will. no doubt. be brought up for dis
cussion during the session. The bust
ness of the convention is done entirely
in French, and no reporters or specta-
tors are permitted to be present. How
ever, reporters of the press were mott
fed that full reports would be furnish
ed to them, of such portions of the pro-
ceedings as it might be proper to make
public, and at such hours as would
suit the newspapers.
Long before the hour of opening the
convention Corcoran Hall was filed
with delegates, says the Washington
Star, who made a striking and pictur-
esque group. The majority of the gen
tlemen were attired in full dress, with
white gloves, but a number of them
wore military uniforms. wearing side
arms. The profusion of decorations
worn by the delegates was as notable
as the insignias were brilliant and
beautiful. Jeweled stars. gem-incrust-
ed circlets and a large variety of other
emblems significant of the honOrs con-
ferred upon their wearers by poten-
tates and governments were displayed.
Some of the delegates wore as many
as a dozen decorations of this charac-
ter hanging pendant from brilliant rib
bOns around their necks. pinned 70
coat lapels or bOsOms or held by broad,
bright scarfs that encircled their bod
les. The Danish and Italian represen-
tatives were attired in military uni
form. heavily embroidered with gold.
and the Russians wore velvet cloaks
with many silver buttons, while gold
en- spurs hung at the heels of their
patent leather riding boots. The Jap
anese wore the military uniform of that
empire. and the Corean and Chinese
representatives, were attired in the
court dress of the nations they rep
resented.
The conversation among the dele
gates buZzed in a dozen different Ian
from the same country talking together
in their native tongues. but quickly
using French when addressing their