Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-26
FOR BETTER SERVICE
Objects of the Recent International
Postal Congress.
MANY DELEGATES OF DISTINCTION
Gathered From the Four Quarters
of the Globe.
HOW THE WORK WAS DONE
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
Within three weeks there have been fif-
teen posrmasters general in Washington.
They were from Hungary Belgium, Bull
garia, Chile. Denmark. Egypt, Cape Colony.
Austria, India, Mexico, Norway, Holland,
the Transvaal and Sweden. These gentle
| men were delegates to the universal postal
congress lately in session here. SiXty-two
| nations were represented in this convention
by 1O4 delegates and attaches. The object
was to improve postal facilities throughout
the world. This is done by the action of
the convention, afterward ratified by the
different governments represented.
The United States was the first to sug-
gest such convention. The suggestion
was made by Postmaster General Mont
gomery Blair in 1863. The first convention,
however, was not held until 1874. Only six
nations were represented, and they met in
Berne. The second was held in Paris in
1878, the third in Lisbon in 1885; the fourth
in Vienna in 1891, and the fifth in Wash
tngton at the present day. The sixth will
be held in Rome in 1904
The convention met in the old Corcoran
Art Gallery. The highly polished mahCg-
any desks We're arranged in semi-circle,
something like the desks in the United
States Senate chamber The frieze of the
room was composed OF the coats Oh arms
of the various nations represented, with
flags festooned above them. The walls were
draped with heavy velour of a maroon
| color, so as to confine the sound within the
gate to be heard. All the sessions were
secret, like the executive sessions of the
Senate The delegates were practically
negotiating treaty. and treaties are al
ways negotiated in secrecy.
The presiding officer and president of the
congress was Gen. George S. Batcheller, an
American, and the two secretaries of the
convention were Col. Charles Chaiile-Long
| and Robert Stockwell Hatcher, both Amer
leans. Col Long was well known in Egypt
long ago, and Mr.. Hatcher has been the
reading clerk of the House of Representa-
tiNes.
All in French.
All the proceedings. documents and data
Of the convention were in French. Even
the Germans sanctioned the use of the
French language. 1t is the court language
of the world, and Prussia took the lead in
| making it so under the reign of Frederick
the Great. Lately Russia endeavored to
supplant the French language in oriental
courts, but failed. The work of the con-
vention was filtered through three commit
tees. They met at specified times and pre-
sented their reports for consideration. The
members never resolved themselves into
committee of the whole, although 1T was
thought that action would be taken in
IL
! ment. The chairman Of each committee
called 1t TO order with a bell, after the
French method. There was some difficulty
in selecting these bells at the beginning of
the session. The United States government
paid for the bells. All sorts of bells were
offered: Old-fashioned dinner bells,
bells, sleigh bells. spring bells and many
others. The chairmen of the committees
selected exquisite little tinklers Some
thing more elaborate was chosen for the
presiding officer. General Batcheller. how
ever, never used the bell in opening or
closing sessions. or in preserving order.
To use the words of one of the delegates,
He brought the convention to order with
a club" This may mean that he used a
cane in the place of gavei or bell.
Two Of the desks In the hall were draped
in black One was in memory OF the post
master general at Berlin. who died from an
accident after his selection by the emperor.
delegate from Hawaii. who died few
weeks ago.
Distinguished Delegates.
the delegates from Great Britain. France.
Germany and Italy. All were perfectly
ccnversant with the subject and are fluent
speakers. Bruno Fritsch, representing the
German empire. organized the military pos
tai service of Prussia during the war with
France in 1S71-72. This work was wonder
full. Letters reached the German soldiers,
whether on picket, even in the lire Of
battle, with the regularity and precision of
city delivery. Another remarkable dele
gate was Hochi, who has been speaker Of
the lower house in Japan for three terms.
His rulings were made with such vigor and
originality as to lead his friends to call
him the tom Reed of Japan" Gen.
Tyner, an ex-Postmaster General OF the
United States, was also delegate. Capt.
N. NJ. Brooks, for thirty years the super
i,Mendent of the foreign mails in the Post
finn have. III
represented the United States. He was a
delegate to Vienna, and his long experience
made him valued member.
Another delegate of distinction was
Spencer Walpole, representing Great Bri-
tain. One of the American delegates asked
him whether it was his father or his grand
father who wrote the History of Eng
land" He smiled and replied. Neither;
/ am the man."
Another delegate was the Hon. Emidio
Cbiaradia, member of the Italian house
Of representatives. He Is to go to the
senate this fall. He wears five little gold
medals strung together. They represent
the only compensation received from the
government by member Of the Italian
parliament. One of these medals is given
to each member at the end of each term of
service. Among the associates of Slgnor
Chiaradia was a brother Of the Count Braz-
"a, the great Italian explorer. He has an
American wife. The delegate from Trans
vaal was an honored relative of Dom Paul,
its president. While on an excursion with
other delegates to Fortress Monroe the
other day he asked his associates to drink
to the health of his son. This was done.
At that very hour his son lay dead in Pre-
tcria. The sad Information was received a
short time afterward.
Treaty to lie Ratified.
The treaty which these delegates have
been engaged in securing will not go into
effect until January l. 1899. Prior to this it
will be ratified by the various govern
ments. China, Corea and the Orange Free
States are the only nations that have no
vote in the convention. Their delegates
were there by courtesy only, as their coun-
tries are not members of the postal unior.
At the next convention, however, these
countries will be thoroughly represented.
The delegate from Persia brought an au-
tograph letter from the new shah to Pres
ident Mckinley. announcing his accession
to the throne. The shah, remembering
that the convention was to be held in
Washington. requested him to represent
Persia, and gave him the proper creden-
tials. He spoke French like a Partisan.
The United States occupies prominent
position in this postal brotherhood. 1t has
10000 post offices, twice many as any