Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-01-22
Monday, January 22, 1906.
The Postal Rate on Merchandise.


While the United States postal SER
vice has made many reforms and i'm
provements in recent years there is one
matter, namely the postage rate on
general merchandise, or the parcels
post as it is sometimes called, in which
it lags behind the rest of the civilized
world. While the rate Of postage on
letters has been decreased from three
cents 10 two within a generation and
have been vastly extended and improv-
ed the postage on general merchandise
has actually been increased until it is
now 100 percent higher than it was 80
years ago. Until 1874 we had cheap
and convenient parcels post system, but
the division Of merchandise into two
classes, known as the third and fourth.
has made it among the poorest in tho
world. For these reasons the Postal
Progress League asks that the follow
ing resolution he passed by business
and social organizations throughout the
country and forwarded to the chairman
of the Senate and House committees
on post Offices and post roads,
Resolved. That House Resolution
4,5i9, providing for the consolidation OF
third and fourth-class mail matter at
the tEird-claSs rate-one cent Tor Two
ounccs-;iS recommended by the post
office department should be immediate
" enacted into law.
For II years legislation similar to
that proposed has been demanded by
the post office department.. and Post
master General Cortelyou, who urges
the consolidation says that the reduc-
ed rates on four-pound parcels "would
afford a great opportunity for distrib-
uting light packages to multitude of
places not reached by express compan-
bursc the government for actual cost
of carriage" The changes since lSI4-
changes that bear heavily against the
public interest-are best seen by COM
parison of rates. In 1874 the rate on
all merchandise was eight cents pei
pound. Now, while the eight-cent rate
applies to printed books. printed cards
advertisements on ordinary paper, anC
to potatoes. peas. beans etc, for plant
ing, the sixtecn-ccnt rate apples tC
blank books and blank cards. TO adj
yertiscment on blotting paper, and IL
potatoes, peas, beans etc. for food.
Comparison of our rates with those
Of the Postal Union and foreign coun-
tries is interesting. The Universal Pos
tai Union book post rate is eight cents
per pound around the world. The Unit
ed States general merchandise rate
from Augusta to Gardiner for instance
is 16 cents per pound. Coming to the
parcels post conventions, the foreign
weight limit in the Western hemi-
sphere is II pounds and in the Eastern
nemisphere four pounds and six ounces
and the rate is II cents per pound.
The domestic weight limit is -four
no;,uds in both hemisphcres and the
rate is 1G cents per pound. The
weight limit on general merchadise
in the British colonial post is II pounds
and in the United States domestic post
four hounds The rate under the former
ON a single package weighing IL pounds
Is ~ cents. but anyone wishing to send
identical Merchandise through our do
nestle post would have to do it up in
three packages and put $1..6 worth OF
stamps on the lot. The difference be-
tween the merchandise post of France
and this country is even more striking
In France, ~ pounds can be sent in a
single package for Is cents. Here. the
same goods would require six parcels
and S.52 in stamps. Moreover foreign
countries insure merchandise packages
while we do not.
Castro, the Trouble. Maker.