The San Francisco call., 1899-09-04
THE PARCELS POST SYSTEM.

u y a convention agreed upon between Post
X master General Smith and a special German
IL envov Dr. Mumm Won Schwarzensten, there
will be put into operation between the United States
and Germany on October I postal service by means
of which articles OF merchandise may be exchanged
by mail between the two countries provided they are
put up in packages which do not exceed eleven
pounds in weight The postage rate for parcels going
from the United States to Germany is fixed at -
cents for each pound or fraction OF a pound. The
rate in Germany on parcels for the United States is
fixed at 2 marks 10 pfennigs parcel, whatever its
weight but reduced rate OF mark 90 pfennigs may
be adopted for parcel not exceeding in weight one
kilogram, equivalent two pounds three ounces
There has been in operation for some time par
cells post system between the United States and
eral countries in Central and South America and
with the West India islands, but the convention
extends the system for the first time to a European
country 1t is not improbable similar arrangements
with other nations in Europe will rapidly follow, for
the need OF general parcels post system with the
great commercial countries OF the globe has long been
felt and repeated efforts have been made to accom-
plish it.
The opposition to such an international system for
the transmission OF small parcels has almost
wholly from our own country The Germans proposed
such an arrangement as far back 1885, and France,
Great Britain and other nations have made similar
proposals. but until the convention now agreed upon
with Germany was effected nothing came OF them ex-
cept diplomatic negotiations. The objection on the
part OF our Government was largely due to the hos
tity of American express companies and to the fear
that the interchange OF merchandise by post would
be more to the advantage of Europe than of our own
people We have now, however, built up so large an
export trade to Europe in articles of all kinds it will
he of ADVANTAGE q our merchants and manufaC-
urers to be able to send samples of goods to Euro
pean dealers at small expense and hence the estab
shment of an international post has been urged OF
late with considerable force in all of large cities
1t is foregone conclusion the extension of the
parcels post to Europe will be followed by demand
for the introduction OF the system within the limits
of our own country. If package weighing eleven
pounds can be sent through the mails from San
Francisco to Berlin why not from San Francisco to
Stockton? The requirements for such system in
foreign trade are as nothing in comparison with the
needs of domestic trade
1t is true such system of transmitting small
parcels would to some cut into the business of
express companies but when the Government estab-
shed the postal money order office to equal ex-
tent nterfered with the business OF bankers The
suits Of the money order system however have proved
wholly satisfactory. They have been beneficial to
the public and have injured the bankers enough
to close up single banking institution. 1t hardly
be doubted the results OF cheap parcels post would
be OF a similar nature There is why we
should deprive ourselves of great public conven-
ience simply out of Difference to express companies
The issue is that cannot be avoided and it is safe
to say the convention for parcels post between this
country and Germany will eventually lead to the es-
tablishment of the system throughout the Union,