Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-01-04
Proposition to Merge the Third
and Fourth Glass Matter
Generally Approved
EXPRESS COMPANIES OBJECT
At Cents Pound the Government
Would Do Greatly Increased Bus
iness-Mieht Result in Enormous
Enlargement of the Scope Of the
Postal Department Service.

Washington, Jan. A compromise
has been submitted to the postal conn
mittees of congress on the long stand
ing proposal to consolidate third and
fourth class matters. and that is to
merge the two wherever the parcel
weighs less than one pound, but to
leave the existing difference IN rates on
NIL parcels weighing between one and
four pounds, the present merchandise
limit. AT first sight this would seem
like needless complication, but prac-
tically it would simplify matters.
The trouble with the present rate of
IL cents a pound on merchandise and
8 cents a pound on printed matter
other than printed publications, is that
the two, classes are constantly overlap
ping, especially in the small parcels
Is a card showing samples of paint
third or fourth class? AS a printed
card it would go as third class; as
samples of paint 1t would go as fourth
The department has ordinarily att
tempted to compromise reasonably, but
this Is not always easy to do.
Express People Opposed.
For many years the heads od' the
postoff1ce department have recon-
mended the consolidation Of the third
and fourth class rates but the express
companies are too heavily entrer ehed
In the senate to make this a feasible
Legislative project. There is, now-
ever, 6. deep seated opposition to
"a evfo mott nc
that direction 1t is obvious that at
8 cents a pound instead Of 16 the
government would doa greatly inc cas-
ed business in carrying merchandise.
Who is going to move 1t? Mus. the
carriers be provided with wagons as
are those who patrol the rural dis
tricts? A general wagon service would
| mean an enormous enlargement tf the
scope and cost of THE postal establish
ment.
Merger of Rates.
The department accordingly sug-
gests for the consideration of congress
that a merger of fourth and third-class
rates might to advantage be me de on
small parcels 1t is there that nearly
all the confusing complications now.
come. One pound packages would not
greatly weigh down the carriers nor
their diversion be q serious blow to
| the express companies.
Still the larger probabilities are that
congress will do nothing on this sub
tect. Senator Frye's description OF
Major Martin Maginnis of Montana as
the man who had had the most GER
| tificates to the senate and the feWest
seats" of anybody he had ever known,
| finds a parallel in this recomrlenda-
ton for the consolidation of the third
and fourth class postal rates. 1t has
had the most Endorsements and the
| fewest votes Of any measures presented
| in a long time.
Rural Mail Project.
| The attitude of the government
towards the parcel-carrying business
is brought acutely to the front by the
rural delivery establishment. The
wagons need to be filled, and the pub
Tic will find ways to do it. The recon-
mendation of the postmaster general
| that parcels weighing not more than
| five rounds be conveyed on the route
| from the initial office at cents !
pound or from one patron of TIE route
| to another. seems simple enough. 1t is,
however, not without its complications.
If would presumably lead the shops OF
the towns which were the initial points
of the delivery route, to send out guam
titles OF goods to the scattered points
to which 1t does not pay them TO run
a regular service. Many Of these post
offices lack facilities Tor including o.
large parcel distributing business.
probably the plan will be tried expert
mentally before 1t. is everywhere au :
thorized to get some idea OF how gen
erauv ii meets public needs.