Bridgeton pioneer., 1905-11-30
Important Legislation.

ueSlIou ny bu6 NdtiOudi drduRorS ana
upon which they set more store, prob
ably than on the railway rate ques-
tion, is the establishment by Congress
of a parcels post, feature of the pos
tai service of Great Britain that is
most popular and profitable, and which
former Postmaster General John Wan.
amaker strongly recommended for
adoption. by the United States govern
ment. The farmers complain, and
with justice, too, that they are ignored
to large extent by the express COM
panies, discrimination against them
that results in heavy loss through tardy
delivery, as we'll as lack of it is very
many cases. A parcels post, however.
is demanded by other interests than
that of the farmers in fact it is want
ed by the people of every city, town
and township in the country, who
realize that the express companies
facilities are inadequate to say moth
ingsof their costly charges which fire.
quently amount to the full value of
the package. There is no doubt a gov
ernmenJ parcels post would reduce to
some extent the enormous earnings of
the express companies, but there would
still be sufficient business assured them
to repay them handsomely for their
investments. 10 certain extent the
present postal regulations afford the
people opportunity to send by mail
small packages, but the tolls are
heavier than they should be, and it is
felt that in u regular parcels post sys
tenn were adopted by the government
it would result in profit to the latter
and greater accommodation to the peo-
pie. OF course the railway carriers
would benefit largely by such an i'm.
portant service, as they would natur-
ally receive at least a proportionate
part of the sums now paid to the ex-
press companies who use their tracks
and power to transport their cars.
But the mail question is to serve the
people, to give them the best accom-.
mediation possible at reasonable ex-
pense, and to foster good feeling be-
tween town and country. It is time
in this progressive era of promotion of
the public good that Congress should
cease yielding to monopoly in trans
portation, and should acquiesce in the
popular demand rather than to the
behest of private corporations using
other corporations for their aggradize
ment. The railway rate question
affects a much smaller part of the
population than does the parcels post
proposition. and it should have the
early and favorable consideration of
Congress. The farmers have shown
they are earnest in their insistence
upon this important public convent
ence, and it is safe to say a vast ma
jority of the people are with them.
A Broadway hoHi will experiment
with the English custom of leasing
private rathskeIlers to individuals.
Each of the private rathskellers, which
will accommodate eight persons, will
open on a general rathskeller when
the lessee is present. When he is not
there, the leased rathskeller will be
closed by an iron door. None but the
lessee or his guests will be permitted
in the little nook.
1t is common thing in England for
man to have his particular seat, and
tourists have pointed out to them the
places in which celebrities sat and had
their chops and ale. In Germany it is
also common for the patron of beer
garden to have his individual stein.
The experiment. there will combine
both features.
If the customs on the other side are
pursued to the frenzied limit, it will
mean blow at the treating habit,
which is so much abused as to have
become serious matter. Any inno-
vation that discourages the treating
habit would be welcomed by many
moderate drinkers.
New York is to have Mills Hotel
No. 8. 1t will be similar to the two
other hotels started by Mr.. Mills and
will be conducted on the same plan,
but will be much larger. It will be in
the heart of the theatre district, at the
northeast corner Of Thirty.sixth street
and Seventh avenue.
The new hotel will have 1900 rooms
and be fifteen stories high, absolutely
fire.proof. The rooms, with the ex.
ception Of the corner ones, will be six
feet by eight feet six inches. The cor.
ner rooms will be larger. and the
prices will run between 25 and SOcents
a night, with slight extra charge TO,
corner rooms.
The prices Of the meals to be served
will be the same as in Nos. and 2.
l. -sI ho kL1 10