Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-12-20

partment. It was recommended by the
Master of the National Grange that
the regulations be given a fair trial,
and that this phrase of the alcohol
problem be carefully studied by mem
bers of the Order everywhere. Re-
member, it is a much easier matter
to secure changes in the regulations
than in the law. The law is in every
way satisfactory, ignorant critics to
the contrary Notwithstanding AMI il
the regulations are not perfect as the
law they may be made SO. The de-
partment of agriculture has been con-
Quoting experiments to determine the
value of the various byproducts as
alcohol producing materials, also to
determine the value OF alcohol for
light, heat and power, as this should
be local enterprise scattered in diff
ferent sections of our country we be-
lieve the experiment stations should
conduct similar experiments so the
people of each State could arrange to
meet the local conditions. Manufac-
turers are preparing to put on the mar
ket various alcohol using apparatus.
such as lamps, stoves, heaters, and
internal combustion farm engines.
These articles will be ready to be
placed on sale as soon as possible af-
ter the law goes into effect. The mem
bers of the Grange should remember
that every alcohol using devise is
creating a new market for farm pro-
duce, and we should encourage our
local merchants to place these alcohol
using devices on sale at the earliest
possible moment, and thereby aid in
establishing its universal use.
Parcels Post.
The importance of this much needed
law can best be given you in the
words of our worthy National Master:
The evidence submitted to Congress
during the past year has been amply
sufficient to convince every member of
that body that the farmers of the en-
tire country are a unit in their desire
for the early establishment of par
GELS post. In addition to this universal
demand from the country districts
there is a large demand from the cities,
and there can be no question in the
mind of any unprecedented investiga-
tor that large majority of the
American people favor this measure.
Notwithstanding these facts, the OPP
position has been sufficient to deter
Congress from taking any action, and
regret to say that I have no hope of
seeing the early establishment of
parcels post unless a vigorous cam
paign, in which all those in favor of it
are united in a combined effort, is
Waged to secure it. I recommend to
your consideration the advisability of
the Grange taking the initiative in in
augurating such a movement.
In any plan of parcels post endorsed
by the Grange, it is my opinion that
provision should be made for a special
rural parcels delivery at rate very
much lower than the general rate.
When the rural free delivery was first
established many of the rural carriers
found it profitable to add to their Tegu-
lar mail duties the rendering of other
carrier services to the people along
their routes. This unofficial service
increased rapidly, and in many instan-
ces the carriers drove two horses in
stead of one, and had a wagon that
could carry a ton BY departmental
orders-instigated by the Express
Companies it is commonly believed
this special service was suppressed
and carriers forbidden to carry any but
mail matter. The parcels post en-
dorsed by the Grange should provide
for the restoration of this service
along rural routes as a regular part
of the rural postal service.
The active opposition to the estab-
lishment of a parcels post is almost
wholly confined to the Express Com
panies and some of the rural mer-
chants. The opposition of the Express
Companies is purely monopolistic, and
is based upon their desire to perpe-
trate monopoly which enables them
to charge extortionate prices for the
services rendered. If it is true that
the Express Companies can serve the
public cheaper and better than can the
government through a parcels post,
as the opponents of a parcels post
maintain, then this opposition, if the
Express Companies intend to be fair
with the public, is absolutely ground
less. for there is no intent of prohibit
ing the Express Companies from con-
tinuing business. The parcels post,
however, to the extent that it proves
competitive would unquestionably
check the monopoly charges now ex-
acted by the Express Companies, and
compel the adoption of more reason
able rates. It is not to save legiti-
mate business or to enable them to
earn fair returns on the actual capital
invested that the Express Companies
spend large sums of money to prevent
the passage of the parcels post bill,
but to retain a monopoly which en-
abIes them to exploit the people. The
ending of that monopoly alone would
Justify the parcels post.
The opposition Of the rural mer-
chants is of an entirely different type.
It is founded on ignorance of the sub
ject and will disappear as the true
economic drift of z parcels post is real
lied by them Consider for moment
the sorry position the merchant is plac-
ed in by this opposition He claims that
the parcels post will destroy his bust
ness and therefore must be violently
opposed. Consider the childish char
acter of the merchants argument, for
stripped of all sophistry, it is, in effect,