The Hawaiian gazette., 1897-05-25
POSTAL CONGRESS
Fifth MEETING Nov in Session
at Washington.
EVERY COUNTRY REPRESENTED
Deliberations Are All in
French.
The First International Convention
Was Proposed by an
American.
at Washington.
EVERY COUNTRY REPRESENTED

The Postal Union Convention, which
meets every six years. opened its SEES
sion fu washington on the 9TH of May
iu the assembly han of the Corcorar
Art building This is The fifth conven-
aou that has been held. the first hay
ing convened in Beme, Switzerland
ID 1874 They are held every six years
and i is expected that every country
embraced in The Postal Union shall be
represented by a special delegate OF
lr q proxy. who may De a represen-
talre of the country resident where
the convention is held. Hawaii sent
none but it is understood that Mr.
q zriuEs was commissioned to repre-
sent ibis Republic. ar the convention
now 7n session az Washington The
Postal Union now includes every Gov
eminent Gu the world. China and Co
rHa having this year Joined. and sent
DELEGATES TO Washington.
The principal objects of the conven-
ll0l 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
0sifi0r Is TO allow foreign letters Of
more than half ounce to be carried for
3 cents. Another Is TO reduce the tran
sit charges Tor carving mails across
foreign territories. as for instance. the
European and Australian mails across
America. I'm this matter. the United
States and France are largely interest
a. lla revenue of France from this
source being very large. The extension
ll Pre- parcels post system. now very
generally established throughout Eu-
zH VIII also come mp for discussion.
with q view OF bringing the United
States into The same Another matter
IS .rr extension of the money order
beyond its present limits. and
-C render it more uniform and perhaps
cheaper than TT now SIS Other matters
w no doubt, he brought un for dis
gu~-ia0 during tho session. The bust
ness 0[ rha convention Is done entirely
~ French and no reporters or sDecra-
r0rs ara permitted To be present. How
ever reporters OF the press We're mott
fled that fun reports would be furnish
cd r0 Them of such portions of the pro
cer mss as it might be proper TO make
public and ar such hours as would
s-ft The newspapers.
Long before the hour of opening the
convention C0rcoHan Hall was filled
with delegates. SAYS the Washington
S-a-. who made a striking and pictur-
recue EoUD. The majority OF the gen
tleurn were attire5 i'm fun dress. with
white gloves but number of them
wore military uniforms. wearing side
arms The urCfusion OF decorations
worn hv the delegates was as notable
as tho iasianias were brilliant and
7-=7r-.r' TeweIed stars. gem-incrust-
al Circlg-s and a large variety of other
cuh'eus significant of the honors con
ferre5 uucn their wearevs by pOten-
ra-es and governments were displayed
some Cf the delegates wore as many
as q dozen decorations OF this charac-
tgr hanging pendant from brilliant rib
hons around their neclJs. pinned TO
COar Iauels or hosOms or held 10y broad.
bright SCarfs that encivcled their bod
ies. The Danish and Italian ropresen-
garVes were attired I'm military uni-
form. heavily embroidered with gold.
and thc Russians wore velvet cloalzs
win many silver buttons. while gold
en- spurs hung at the heels Of their
Tatent leather riding boots. The Jap
anese w0re she military uniform Of that
empire. and the Corean and Chinese
REPRESENTATIVES were attircd In Che
court dress OF the nations they rep
resented.
The conversation among the dele
safes huz-ej in q dozen different Lam
ruaces The little groups OF delegates
fr1m the same country talking together
in their native tongues. hut quickly
using French when addressing their
remarks 10 others Everything posi-
bile had been arranged for the conven-
ftrce on she visitors, Lists OF the dele
gates with their city addresses as fan
is C1uf5 be ascertained. were distrib-
uro5. aud on the tables were copies of
the plan OF the Grand Sale des Sc
ances" as the main han where the
CoDcrosS is held is called. The posi-
zion of each desk was denoted and the
names OF the delegates who occupy
them printed across the face.
shortly after IL O'Clock n line was
formed and the delegates proceeded
10 the Erand sale. The scene here was
a memorable one. Had the handsom,
desks been removed the gathering
woUl5 have given one the impression
of en- sSsemblage for a social function
OF the most distinguished character
The exquisite decorations and furnish
ings Of the apartments, the crimson
hanEinEs Of the walls. with the bril-
liant cOlors of the coats of arms anl
the flags of the nations represented il
the congress arranged above them
the green foliage plants that wer
massed in the corners. and the CLEAN
sng and scintillating jewels of the dec
orau0ns. and the flashing gold of th
uniforms. made a picture whose beaut
could be but family conveyed by de
scriptiOn in words.
Postmaster General Gary called tn
audience to order, and welcomed then
10 the capital of the American Repub
lie. in an address too lengthy to be re