Evening star., 1897-05-05

Would that the representatives Of the sew
eral governments which constituted the
component parts Of the infant union; the
men whose genius shines through every
written page of your early history. and
whose influence Is everywhere visible In
the ber ef1cent labors Of their successors.
could be present to enjoy the almost full
fruition Of their hopes and aspirations.
Distinsuished Dead.
most of them have crossed the dark river
shcre. Since the congress of Vienna off,
cial notices OF the death Of some of it's
honored members have been sent out by
the international bureau at Berne. such
conspicuous names as Hofstide, director
general of posts and telegraphs Of the
Netherlands; Of Lund, the late director
general Of the posts of Denmark: of Sir
Arthur Lockwood, secretary Of the general
post office at London; Of Eugene Borel. the
accurate, scholarly, accomplished and eff
cient director of the International bureau at
BerEe. and of DR.. Won Stephan, the I'm
pertal director of the posts Of Germany, a
man Of wide learning and wisdom and ex-
ceptioEal mental resources, the acknowl-
edged postal mind Of the world, the Bis
marck of the post.
THUS briefly alluding to the virtues of
your former co-laborers and friends, I am
tempted to quote from the touching tribute
paid by DR.. Won Stephan at the opening
OF the Vienna congress to those of his for
mer associates whose deaths had just been
announced:
Gentlemen said he. at the moment
we are about to inaugurate our labors. per-
NIT me to follow a sacred usage in calling
to mind the names of our feilow-laborers
and friends who since the congress of Lis
bon have by the inscrutable decree of Prov
idence passed beyond the confines of this
life Then, after q brief eulogy of the
honored dead. he closed with the sugges-
ton that on their tombs let us lay the
wreath of remembrance and friendship
so, let US bring today to his grave and
to the graves of those whom he too, would
nave dei1ghted to honor, the fragrance of
1lendship. the remembrances of their
lives crowned by useful deeds. Fortunate
1t Is that In the practical affairs of life
no man or group of men is INDISPENSABLE
70 the accomplishment of great reforms
Men die, but genius survives Useful work
follows the coming and going of the years
The deeds of brave and successful workers
outifye them. Those to whom l have re-
ferred have left a precious legacy of ditfi-
culties overcome: of Instructions removed
from the path of postal progress and re-
forms. and have surveyed and made
straight the highways upon which Won are
to travel in reaching the goal they set up
Tor your ambition. They have made your
work lighter. They conceived, and left YOU
to execute. l doubt not that you will en-
ter upon the task cheered by the pros
poets that your successes will be the con-
summation Of their designs
Questions to BE Discussed.
Some important questions will be
brought to your attention which are not
likely to be decided by unanimous vote;
some powerful governments will propose
notifications Of the treaty of Vienna re-
lating to the reduction OF transient rates.
Others. perhaps, will ask TO have such
rates abolished. The question of reduc-
ing the rates of international postage will
come before you. To the consideration of
II tpxy ito
full attention, confident that your decision
thereon, as well as on the other subjects
Will be wise and profitable for all the coun-
tries concerned
wishing for each of you a pleasant sojourn
among us and safe return to your homes
ct the conclusion of a profitable session,
declare the fifth congress of the Universal
Postal Union opened, and ask you to or
ganize by nominating a president to con-
duct your deliberations.
The Postmaster General was given close
attention even by the delegates who could
not understand the language in which he
spoke, an evidence of their delicate refine
ment and courtesy.
Incidents of the Congress.
A practical lesson in United States postal
customs was learned this morning by one
of the delegates. He came into the branch
post office in the building with roll Of
manuscript and roll of proof sheets
printed from the manuscript. He was
about to mall them in separate Enclosures
when MessrS. Merrill and Parkhurst called
his attention to the fact that If mailed sep
arateiy full letter postage would be needed
on the manuscript, while If the latter was
mailed together with the proofs the third
class postage rate OF one cent for two
ounces would be sufficient. The delegate
was very much pleased at the Information
and made a note of 1t.
A registered package was received today
at the postal congress branch post office
addressed to H. Buxton Forman, one of
the British delegates. 1t bore postage
amounting to f5. shilings and twopence;
one of the stamps was Of the denomination
OF Is. or $2o. The stamp is oblong. about
two inches wide and an inch and q quarter
long. 1t is salmon colored and bears a
medallion portrait of Queen Victoria be-
tween two other medailions containing the
denomination of the stamp Q5). The iarg-
est United States current stamp is s., al
though there is stamp used by publishers
Of thk value of 500.
The delegates are very much pleased with
| the arrangements made to simplify their
receipt and dispatch Of mail.
Mr.. Samuel NJ. Bryan, who was the
| founder of the Japanese postal service and
introduced to the orient modern methods
| In the transmission of mails has placed q
| telephone In the building for the free use
| Of the congress. Mr.. Bryan, who was q
| delegate to the Paris postal congress. Is
renewing many pleasant acquailtances
among the delegates to the present con-
| gress. who were his colleagues at the Paris
| gathering.
Mr.. Henri Guillaume of this city a fluent
| lnguist, is In charge of the main entrance
| His great courtesy is being appreciated by
| delegates and visitors alike.
| Mr.. Robert Hatcher, one of the secre-
| taries of the United States delegation,
| came forward very gracefully to the news
paper reporters this morning and inquired
at what hour the papers they represented
| would like to have news of the proceedings
| CT the congress. He announced that the
| deliberations of the congress would be
| held behind closed doors. but that any
! thing of interest which could be made pub
| lie would be given to the press. Mr.
| Hatcher's thoaghtfulness was naturally
| greatly appreciated. as it was refreshing
| instance of a courtesy which reporters are
| seldom accustomed to receive on occasions
| of gatherings of diplomatic character.
| Previous Postal Congresses.
| The present postal congress is the fifth
| ever held. The four preceding ones were
held respectively. at Berne, Switzerland.
| in 1874: Paris. France, in 1873; Lisbon, Por-
| tugal. III 1885. and at Vienna, Austria, In
| 1901. The Berne congress opened its sit
| tings in the hall of the national senate OF
| Switzerland. the Tagsatzung, September Is
I r.