The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-16
CLOSE OF POSTAL CONGRESS.
DELEGATES WIND UP THEIR WORK
AND STARTS FOR HOME.

Next Congress to he Held ut Rome,
Italy, in 10O2-Final Session De-
voted 10 the Signing OF the Gener-
al Treaty and Detailed Articles OF
Agrecment-TnrIT on InternatIon-
al Mail Matter Reduced Material
ly-SRmpIes of Merchandise Admit
ted-CrentiOn of "A Universal POST
age Stamp Defeated.
Washington, June l5.-The Universal
Postal Congress, the fifth convention of
the kind in the world, adjourned to-day,
after closed session. lasting several
hours. The next of the congresses, the
sixth sextennial one, will be held at Rome,
Italy, in February, 1903.
The final session to-day was devoted to
the formal signing of the general treaty,
and of the detailed articles Of agreements.
Every delegate signed these two sets of
papers, subject to the formal ratification
of his government and owing to the excess
sive amount of labor involved, signatures
60 other sets of documents were waived
under general authority for their exeou-
tion. The originals of all these documents
will be placed In the archives of the state
department for preservation and certified
copies will be forwarded to all the gov
ernments comprising the universal pos
tai union.
The deliberations of the final meeting
were accompanied with much Formally
Gen. George s. Batcheller, president of
the congress. called the body to order
shortly before II o'clock, and after a few
interchanges Of remarks and appropriate
speeches, the documents were signed
At 2 o'clock dinner was served in the
banquet hall, where the delegates met
Postmaster General Gary, Assistant Post
master Generals Heath, Shallenberger
and Merritt
Another session was called at o'clock,
when farewell addresses were made.
Prior to the general session a meeting
was held under the direction of NJ. de Les
sert, the Swiss delegate, and the dean of
the corps according to age, at which
speeches of recognition of the services of
the officials were made and valuable to-
kens of good win presented them by the
COHBEGASs II was ldlt lllAo dAANAAOph WhNA
the final adieus were said and the WASH
ington postal congress was declared ad-
journed to meet at Rome.
Following is an official resume OF the
results of the work of the congress:
l. The principal treaty which excludes
the entry of Korea into the postal union;
the declaration Of the Orange Free State
(Which failed to send a delegate to
Washington that 1t hoped soon to enter
the union; and the declaration of the Chi
nese empire (Which was represented In the
congress) that IL will observe the regula-
tions of the union as soon as the organiza-
tion of its service permits.
2. The conditions on which the countries
of the union will recprocally aid the inter-
mediary transit rates have been facilitat-
ed, and the tariff diminished quite mate
rally on a graduated scale Tor the ensu-
ing six years.
3. Uniform colors have been projected
for postage stamps.
A. Postal cards unpaid are subject to a
double tax; that Is, cents In place OF the
former tax, which was cents, the same
as for unpaid letters.
s. Circulars produced on a machine
(type- wrtten) In quantities OF twenty cir
culars, all Of the same character, are ad-
mitted TO the international malls at the
same rates as printed circulars.
6 Samples OF merchandise are admit
ted UP to $50 grammes.
Z. objects Of natural history, animals,
dried plants or preserved geological spec
linens are admitted as samples.
8. The question Of the creation OF a
universal postage stamp was brought up
and the proposition defeated on account
Of the difficulties which would occur in
putting into practice that important In
novatlon, especially because Of the di-
versity of currency standards.
Q. Special arrangements concerning
packages of declared values. postal or
ders, books Of Identity and subscriptions
to journals have been thoroughly revised
This country is not actually concerned in
these agreements, they mostly affecting
the states of the continent OF Europe
The new treaty will become operative
Jan. /, 1899
Most OF the delegates left the city for
their homes tonight, having booked pas
sage on the ocean liners for this and next
week. The British delegates expect to
reach home In time to participate IN the
queens jubilee.