The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1900-01-24
The Parcels Post.

Is the parcels post system, under Gov
ernment control and supervision, wanted
by the business men of the United
States?
This is one of the most important COM
mercial questions to be considered by the
Fifty-sixth Congress. 1t has several
bearings and can be studied from as
many points of view,
In undertaking TO occupy such a large
business field as is involved in the es-
adjustment of parcels post system for
the whole United States, it must be re-
member ed that there is vast difference
between the area to be covered in this
country and in the United Kingdom,
where such a system is successfully OPP
Grated. There the area involved is only
l20,975 square miles; here it is 1902, 800
square miles-nearly thirty times as
large an al ca as in the United Kingdom.
To establish an even basis of postal rules
for the delivery of packages to all corners
OF the country would be as unjust to bus
mess interests as it would be ridiculous
and absurd. The large centers of popula-
ton would have decided advantage
over the more remote and less thickly
populated sections. The express COM
panies would handle the volume of busi-
ness to trade centers and let the Govern
meut take the long hauls and scattered
deliveries which the express companies
now handle at loss.
Now for consideration of the more
| direct bearing of parcels post system
upon merchants. Is it going to benefit
the wholesale man? Will it be of advan-
tage to the jobber? What gain will it
bring to the manufacturer? What effect
will it have upon the mass Of small mer-
chants whose stores are distributed
throughout every large and small center
of population?
Such establishments as those of John
Wanamaker would find the parcels post
of incalculable value as business ex-
pansionist. These houses now distribute
goods free of charge within 100 miles OF
their stores. Through the agency of a
parcels post they would be enabled to
distribute merchandise free of transpor-
tation charges to every corner of the
country. This would directly interfere
with the local merchant in small cities
and in country towns, where the town
and village stores are an important fac
tor in local prosperity.
If a low rate is made on merchandise
packages, and the weight of these pack
ages enlarged, it will seriously interfere
with the efficiency of our postal service.
to the detriment of tirst-class matter. 1t
will also increase the annual deficit in
this department, and there seems to be
no good reason why the masses should
be taxed for the benefit of few.
A low rate of postage on parcels OF
merchandise would be OF benefit to those
manufacturers who are seeking to trade
direct with consumers; it would b. of
some assistance to wholesalers, jobbers,
and manufacturers in the distribution OF
samples 10 their selling agents; it would
he of material benefit to the large de-
partment stores, but the adoption of such
rate would certainly be injurious to the
interests of the manufacturer who deals
through the trade, to the wholesaler and
to the jobber, and particularly TO the
small retail establishments which are
scattered throughout every corner of the
country.