New-York tribune., 1896-01-12
PARCELS POST UINDRANCES.
THE CUSTOMS SERVICE Is THE CHIEF.

| PROPOSITIONS FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES FOR
| THE ESTABLISHMENT or THE SYSTEM VIEWS
OF ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GAYLER.
| The fact that Sir Julian Pauncefote. the British
Ambassador. and Viscount Cough. First Secretary
| of the Embassy called on Postmaster-General VIII
son recently and submitted i plan from the Post
master-Ceneral OF Great Britain for the neSotia-
| ton Of q parcels-post convention between the two
countries recalls tho fact that similar propositions
from other countries have been received before. In
the Postoffce repor; Of last year ii was said that
| proposals for the establishment Of a parcels-post
| from Great Britain Germany, France. Belgium
| Norway and New-Zealand had been file in the
department for some years Although the subject
has received consideration. 1t has never been
brought to a final issue
The proposition made by Great Britain refers. of
course the foreign mails but its adoption would
| undoubtedly neccssitate many changes In the pres
ent domestic mail service.
Assistant Postmaster James Gayler, in talking
about this to Tribune reporter. said: I'm speaking
| Of this matter can, of course, use only my own
Judgment, as ! have never heard the Postmaster
General say anything about the subject. In Ger
many the parcels-post does the work OF our ex-
press companies. and valises bicycles. or in fact
almost anything may be forwarded by II to any part
of the Empire As far as Great Britain is concerned
she has parcels-post system. not only with all OF
the large countries Of Europe. but also with Egypt
THE CUSTOMS DIFFICULTY.
THE great trouble think, which would arise 10
prevent the establishment Of such "A system between
the United States and any of the great countries oi
Europe would be the necessity OF making such
large and extensive changes In the customs depart
ment. The mails from these countries are large,
and If a parccls-pOst were established they would
be larger still. The large packages which would be
sure to come in case Of the establishment Of such
.I..l, Ia. fF.f4 ,Hf,Il
customs officials. ana this would neccssitaie "N-
tensive changes in the present systems OF both the
mail and customs departments Whether or not
this difficulty can be overcome and parccls-post
finally established To the convenience OF all can
not say. Postmaster-General Wilson viii probably
take the matter under bis consideration in a few
DAYS and soon the nna outcome may bc more def
nitoy spoken of
At the present dat, the United States has 10
parcels-post with any European country. or with
any country where the mails are large. with the
possible exception Of Mexico The countries with
which such a system is now in operation are the
bahamas Barbados. the United States OF Coiom-
b:a Costa Rica the Danish West indies. the iia-
wsiian I;epubi, British Honduras Jamaica un-
cud.ng the Turks and Caicos islands,. the Lc"ward
Islands Mexico. Salvador. British Guiana tne
Wndwari Islands ana Newfoundiand f4fccs
sent to Mex co. Costa Eca and The Onii'l states
of Colombia must not exceed two iret IA l'nssh,
IN all the other countries the prescribed .inlt Tor
length is three six inches. Thr three countfi's
J II
allow only combined !rnslh ana grin 'i 'N
feet In each case the weight OF th" parcel -
limited 10 eleven pounds. and the cost "l trans
portation IL twelve cents for each parcel not *
cccing one pound. ani twelve cents a'"iuohAi
for every pound or fraction OF a pound above '"''
weight.
post. and tn limit for package * foIr ppnnis.
except IN the of single book or Of second
class mail matter. which includes newspapers anl
periodicals. And in the paicrls post system 'N41'-
Ing with foreign there are these rrstfl'-
tons: ANY articles admissible To tho domestic
mails OF the United States may be- sent by par
itcl from transmission. Publications Wilch Nlpiate
the copyright laws Of the country n destination,
liquids and substances which easily iiqueiy; con-
fections and pastcs live and dead animals. except
dead insects and reptiles, when thoroughly dried.
fruits and vegetables. ana substances "nlch *
hale bad Odor, lottery tickets lottery advertise
ments. or lottery crcuars an obscene or immoral
articles: articles which might In any way damage
or destroy the malls or iniurc tho persons hand
ling them. and opium In parcels for OF from the Kc-
public Of Hawaii
sonal corr espondence must not accompany. be writ
ten on. inclosed with any parcel No parcel may
contain packages addressed 70 persons other man
the person named In the outside address oi the
parcel Itself. a parcel must not be posted IN "A
Ietter-box but be taken into IN" posioiice or
branch station and presented 70 the officer clerk
The postal relations with other countries have
always been most intimate. and Uncle sam IL
Of his postal laws. In tn. parces-pos system the
customs laws OF this and other countries are most
rgidly enforced and "A customs declaTauon must
accompany every parcel, certifying that IN" con
tents Of the parcel are not duiahc according 10 th"
laws OF the country 10 which ~" parcel ls sent.
The parcel must always be 50 inciosed that II may
deemed necessary. The fact that the regulations
In this matter must be so closely 1tt'nie" 20 Is tH"
system between the United States and the great
Powers of Europe.