The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-12
Merchants and Business Men
 Anxious for Change
J. s IS NOT UP TO DATE
In Great Britain a Package Can be Sent Through the Mails Weigh ing as Much as 2 Pounds
 at 2 Cts. Pound.
BY wATTERsoN sTEALEY.

Washington, January 11.-(Special)- The agitation among merchants and bus mess men throughout the United States for the addition of a domestic parcels post to the present system is decidedly on the increase. Hardly day passes that the head of the postoffice department does not receive letters asking for in- formation upon the subject and inquir- ing why this country's citizens do not have the same facilities as the foreigner receives in his country. Postmaster Gen eral Payne says the parcel post system of Great Britain would not work well in this country, owing to the distances and great area He adds that we already possess a parcel post system limited to four pounds. The system referred to by the postmaster general, however, Is a very poor system by comparison. It means that packages weighing up to four pounds can be sent through the United States mails. Under the system to send a six-pound package from Washington to New York it Is necessary to divide IL in two parts and then each of the pack ages is charged for at the rate Of sixteen cents per pound, or ninety-six cents TOT the whole parcel, which is about double
 
 from London to Persia.
 Several Recommendations Made.
 The third assistant postmaster general has made several recommendations upon this matter, which would add if adopted, considerably to the efficiency of the ser vice. but his scheme is not regarded with much favor by the general mass or those interested in a parcel post.
 MT. Madden's plan involves the consoh datlon of the third and fourth classes or mail matter at a postage rate of l cent for each two ounces or fraction thereof. Under the present rates of postage third class matter is charged for at the rate of cents per pound and fourth-clasS mat ter at Is cents per pound. Ever since his appointment MT Madden has worked in- dustriously to bring our postal service up to date in respect to domestic parcel postage, and has made to the head of the department many valuable recommenda- tions which would tend to bring relief. No action has been taken by the depart ment upon MT. Madden's recommenda- tion, notwithstanding the fact that the United States is the only large country which has refused to negotiate parcels post convention. Even such backward countries as Russia and Persia have adopted the system, while small countries such as Siam and even the Balkan States have used it so long and so successfully that it would seem quite impossible to present any argument against its adop- tion in the United States.
 Was Merely an Experiment.
 The parcels-post convention with Ger many, which was put into operation sev- eral years ago, was in the nature of an experiment. In recent report the post master general says that the average weight of parcels sent from this country tc % U a average weight of parcels sent from the United States to all countries only slight ly exceeds 3h pounds Ine domestic pos tai service of this country does not per- init the introduction of parcels heavier than four pounds in weight; therefore, in view of the fact that four pounds as a limit of weight will fairly meet the re- qurements of this country, the second as- sistant postmaster general recommends the tender of parcels-post conventions with England, France. Italy and other European countries, similar to that now in force between this country and Ger many, with the exception that the weight parcels be limited to four pounds and that six months notice be given to Germany of the desire of this country to modify the existing convention so as to reduce the weight of parcels from eleven to four pounds
 System In Great Britain.
 Under the system in vogue in Great Britain, one can send almost anything of moderate weight by the parcel-post at a charge, which. when compared with sending packages in the United States. seems ridiculously small. The charge for one pound from any point in the United Kingdom to another is six cents. For two pounds the rate Is eight cents, and an additional two cents Is charged for every additional pound up to nine pounds Eleven pounds is the limit of weight, and the charges for package of that weight Is twenty-five cents. The parcel must not be more than 31s feet long, and its combined length and girt must not ex- ceed six feet
 This system permits an enormous vari- ety of things to be sent through the mails. and the system is accordingly a great boon to the big stores of London Dublin, Cork and Glasgow.
 Naturally the express companies are the great stumbling block to the enact ment of legislation of parcels-post character, as it would seriously curtail their lucrative receipts.