Omaha daily bee., 1906-03-11
OFF FOR POSTAL CONGRESS-
Edward ROsewater Starts for Rome This
Afternoon.
IMPORTANT SESSION OF BODY EXPECTED
Representative of sixty-TvO Nations
of the world win Consider
Questions Affecting
the Malls.


Rock Island for Rome, where he goes as
delegate from the United States to the
international Postal congress. which meets
at Rome In April. At Cleveland Mrs. N. p.
Fell and daughter will join Mr.. Rosewaters
PARTY.
The international Postal union was or
ganized originally about forty years ago
by few of the leading nations of the
world, its first congress being held at
Berne. Switzerland. Berne still remains
the headquarters and clearing house for
the Postal union, where all balances are
settled and records are kept. At the pres
ent time sixty-two nations are by treaty
connected with the union, Afghanistan be-
ing the only country not member. The
congress meets every seven years, five hav-
ing been held, at Berne. Lisbon, Paris,
Vienna and Washington. The last was held
in 1897, beginning early In May and con-
tinuing until the middle of June. The next
congress was called to meet in Rome, In
1904 but, owing to the disturbance incident
to the Boer war and the war between
Japan and Russia the session was deferred
until the present year. Each nation party
to the treaty Is entitled to one vote in the
congress, which is thoroughly democratic
In Its organization.
All proposed changes in international
postal regulations or arrangements are
formulated at Berne, and sent out at least
six months prior to the meeting of the
congress. This is to give the postal author
flies Of the different countries ample no
tice Of what is to be brought before the
congress for consideration. When all mat
tiers have been disposed of by debate and
vote, the congress formulates a new
treaty, which is signed by the delegates
as plenipotentlaries of the country from
which they are accredited, and it becomes
effective as the international postal ar
rangement until new treaty is formulated
by another congress.
In the last congress- which met at Wash
ington, the representatives of the United
States were General Batchelder, Edward
Rosewater, Captain N. NJ. Brooks, General
Tyner and General Hazen. The United
States being the host OF the congress, had
hve representatives. In congress at Rome
Mr.. Rosewater and Captain Brooks,
who is chief of the bureau of foreign
malls Of the Postofice department, will be
the delegates from the United States They
Will sail from New York early next week.
Questions for Present Congress.
This congress of postal experts will con-
slider all those questions involving foreign
mails and their transportation and postal
appliances For instance, one of the prin-
cpal questions to be considered is that
OF the rate for foreign postage, which at
present is cents for each one-half ounce,
first-class. 1t is the general opinion that
this rate is too high for the weight al
lowed. 1t is probable that the congress at
Rome will decree one of two things-that
the rate of foreign postage be decreased to
cents, or possibly cents for each half
ounce OF first-class mail, or that the weight
OF hrst-class mail permitted for cents
shall be doubled, making the rate cents
per ounce, to correspond with the domestic
rate Of one ounce for 2 cents.
The question of transportation of malls
Will also en6ross the attention of the con-
gress. Under the existing ARRANGEMENT the
country from which mail is dispatched pays
TO each other country handling this mail
certain amount of money. not a certain
percentage Of the cash received for the
stamps used as is generally supposed. |
Once in from three to five years the out |
going mail of each country is weighed for
twenty eight consecutive days, and this
weight is multiplied by thirteen, the total
being accepted as the basis for a contract
covering usually five years. Thus England
weighs all mail from the United States
Europe for twenty-eight days, this amount |
being supposed to indicate the normal |
amount OF mail ordinarily sent by the |
United States to the European points II
later the amount should double England
would receive no more money, and il would |
receive the full amount II the volume OF |
mail should decline.
Universal Postage STAMPS,
Perhaps the most important matter that
Will be discussed by the congress is that of
universal postage stamp OF the unit de-
termined upon. At present a person writ
ing TO another person in Europe cannot
prepay postage on the reply desired. A
Decent stamp of the United States would
Dc OF no postal value to a correspondent in
Farls' and the person writing from the
United States cannot obtain a French
stamp to enclose his Paris correspondent
what Is needed is postage stamp of the
Faiue OK the prevailing rate for foreign
postage, which can be used anywhere and
from any country to any other country.
IL would appear at first blush that n
would DO simple matter to provide such a
stamp and It would. but for the difference
IA money standards. For example, the
Sefman stamp which corresponds In value
70 our scent stamp and which carries a
- A-e~AA AAouA germany IOHllD |
United States, is Of the denomination of %
pfennig. There are 100 pfennig in a mari
ana mark is worth "a cents limited
States money. Therefore the 20 pfennig
stamp is actually worth but as cents limited
States money 1t win be seen that n
universal stamp should be adopted a per-
son with $3.50 United States money eouid
buy sheet Of 100 stamps in Germany and
bring them to the United States ana sell
them for S. making a profit Of 4 Der cent
II the value were TO be adjusted 10 meet
this dinieulty other complications wouId
Immediately arise, because OF the difference
between the monetary standards OF France
England Italy and other countries.
Stamp collectors believe that the plan IN
vogue In Holland would solve the nroh-
lem The Dutch government has recently
adopted the scheme OF keeping on sale An
the postofhces OF the principal towns a SUM-
piy OF stamps corresponding to the value
or cents OF the principal countries OF the
world. which are sold at a very slight al
vance on the face value. II is pointed out
that the United States could carry in stool,
stamps from England. Germany. France
Italy Austria. Scandinavia, etc, which
should be sold at face value. After the
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