The Washington times., 1901-07-28
UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION.
Captain Brooks Tells What 1t Has
Accomplished.
The Treaty Which Went Into Effect
in 1875 Covers n Territory Con-
tanning 3.J,OOO,OOO PeopIe-scOpe
OF the international Organization.

Capt N NJ Brooks. Superintendent o.
Foreign Mails, in discussing the meas
ures which probably may be brought Il
1.-THE attention of the next convention oi
the Universal Postal Union. gave very
interesting description few days ago OF
the early history and formation of this
union, which embraces the postal service
of nearly every civilized nation. Captain
| Brooks said:
| about forty years ago, eight separate
postal conventions were III operation be-
tween the United States and as many
separate foreign Governments. In ac-
Icordance with the provisions of these con-
ventions the postage rates applicable in
the United States to articles destined for
foreign countries were fixed, the accounts
| with the foreign countries were kept and
| adjusted, and all the postage collected
under the articles exchanged between any
two countries was distributed between the
sending and receiving countries in proper
| tions fixed fy the conventions.
The postage rates chargeable in either
| country were, as a rule, determined as
| follows. namely: To the domestic rate of
the country in which an article was mail
ed was added the rate paid for its sea
| conveyance (whence arose the term sea
postage, a term having no significance
whatever in existing conditions). then the
| rate charged (etiher arbitrarily or by
| treaty stipulations by each country
| through which the article passed in tran
sit, and finally the domestic rate of the
country in which the article was deliv-
cred; the sum of these items being the
| rate charged by the country in which the
| article was mailed. The sea postage and
.
articles for the same destination, varied
according to the route traversed and the
nationality of the vessels performing the
sea conveyance: SO that where several
routes were open for the transmission of
the mails for the same country. the rate
to be charged upon a letter for that coun-
try would depend upon the route it was
to follow, and If it were not properly pre-
paid to be forwarded by the first steamer,
it might be held until an opportunity oc-
CURED for its despatch by the route for
which it was prepaid or 1t might be de-
spatched subject to an additional charge
on delivery.
THE inconvenience and annoyance oc-
casioned to persons having correspond
ents in foreign countries by this condition
Of affairs may be easily imagined. But.
in addition, the complicated accounts nee
essary to be kept with the several foreign
countries with whom we had postal
treaty relations and each of which had
to be credited with its portion of the sum
prepaid on each article mot on the ag-
gregate weights of the mails), and the
minute details required to be entered in
the letter bill sent with each mail, are
almost beyond belief; for these accounts
were kept by the rate and according to
the standard weight of the creditor coun-
try. so that the credits were by the Eng
lish ounee, the French gram, and the
German 10TH and the unit of rate was
with some countries one sheet OF paper,
with some quarter of an ounce, with
some a third of ounce. with some a
half ounce. and with some two-thirds of
an ounce As the scope and volume of
the foreign correspondence increased the
rates, conditions, and accounts became
more and more complex, until it became
absolutely necessary to simplify both, as
under the then existing conditions per-
son could not tell without considerable
enquiry how much postage to prepay up
on the letter he wished to reach its for
eign destination as soon as possible; and
the time necessary to carefully scrutinize
each article before closing the mail, and
TO make on the letter bin, with the neces-
sary minute detail, the separate credits
to be given to the various foreign offices
furnishing the sea OF land transportation,
required the mails to be closed an unrea-
sonably long period before the steamer
sailed.
In these circumstances, on the 4th of
August, 1862, Postmaster General Blair
addressed to the Secretary of State the
letter quoted on pages 39-i1 of Postmaster
General Bissefs report for the fiscal year
ended June 80. 1S9k1requesting him to in
Vite conference of the postal authorf-
ties of Europe and America TO meet at
time and place to be selected by them, to
recommend to their Governments the
adoption in international postal relations
of uniform standard of weight, uni
formity of rates and conditions, a uni
form basis for sea and land transit
charges. and. If practicable, uniform reg
istration and money order systems The
invitation was accepted by the Govern
ments addressed. and resulted in a con-
ference which convened in Paris on the
1lth Of May, 1868, and was In session until
the 9Th of June, 1863, and was attended by
the leading postal officials of Austria,
Belgium, Costa Rica, Denmark, SPAIN
the United States. France, Great Britain,
Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Prus-
STA, the Sandwich Islands. Switzerland,
and the Hanseatic cities, this country be-
ing represented by Hon. John A Kas-
son. who had then recently retired from
the position of First Assistant Postmaster
General
During the twenty-nine days of the
sessions of the conference the subjects
were carefully considered and
freely and fully discussed and a number
Of recommendations made were uuani-
mously adopted
The commissioners, however, were not |
empowered to commit their Governments |
to any of the measures. but were unani- |
nous respecting their advisabnity, and |
agreed to recommend that the principles |
laid down be followed for the future, and |
1t least that they should govern in postal |
thereafter negotiated
During the year 1864 correspondence |
was commenced by this department with |
he postal administrations of several of |
he countries represented at the Paris
with view to negotiating
rev postal conventions with those coun-
ries on the basis of the principles enun-
lated by the Paris conference which cor
'espondence resulted In more liberal con-
'entions in accordance with said prnci-
lies with Venezuela, Great Britain Bel
;ium. Switzerland, the Netherlands, the
Iorth German Union, Hongkong, and
taly- All of these conventions. with the
Exception of those of Hongkong and yaA.
zuela were negotiated by the Hon. John
\. Kasson. and the same principles gov
rned in all the other conventions there
fter negotiated their effects being seen
n the simplification of the methods of |
nal1i he. md |