The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-12-07
THE PARCELS POST.

4ne New YORK xHGSPeNGSHE says
"The American people need parcels
post the American people demand a
parcels post the American people
will certainly have a parcels post.
The matter has been talked over long
enough what we must now have is
mere action. The coming session of
Congress cannot safely avoid bringing
this matter to conclusion. There is
/, no reason why our nation should re-
main In the rear of all civilized peo-
pies on this and similar affairs. Our
present mail Accommodations are simply
arranged to debar us frow any privi-
leges not extended to us by express
companies. While the stock of COM
monearriers was trembling below par,
that Df the Adams Express Company
remained at los and that of the Amer
lean Express Company at I75-above
the conditions and contingencies of
financial crisis. This Is precisely
as wewish it might be, and hope that
it always may be, but we see no rea-
son why these powerful companies
shall forbid us those advantages which
will rapidly develop trade, to their
advantage as well as that of the peo-
pie.
''It Is the true policy of the party
in control Washington, as it is of
ali parties, to inaugurate construc
tive program, It is in danger with
the people because it has stood simply
for an overhauling of old and abused
privileges. Public attention should
now be drawn to and centered upon,
not only correctwes in the way of law
suits, fines and imprisonments, but
also upon plans Of development and
measures of progressive character.
Our post Office is emphatically the
property of the people. 1t alone en-
abled US to become united nation,
from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It
brought about INSTRUMENTATION,
that underlies all commerce, as we'll as
manufactures, while large share of
our productive industries as surely
depend upon this marvellous machine
for abolishing time and space. 1t
has already done what cannot be es-
timated In thought and in words. It
has done its best as a carrier of thought
and purpose; it must be allowed to
do great deal better as carrier of
things.
"The economic advantage to the
people will be annually tens of mil
lions. The British post Office carries
parcels not to exceed II pounds and
not more than 8 feet 6 inches In
length but in the United States we
are limited to parcels not exceeding
q pounds in weight. The English
parcel of II pounds is carried for ~
cents but in this country the II pounds
must be subdivided into three smaller
parcels, and these will cost eight times
as much, or $I.76. Registration SER
vice, carrying as high as 700, Is in
Engiand secured for a fee from cents
to "a. The German parcels post car
ries at even lower rates, for the charge
on a 12 pound parcel is only one
fourteenth what it is in the United
States. The charge on parcel sent
from Chicago to Liverpool is one
fifth only Of that which must be paid
on similar parcel sent from Chicago
to St Louis or from Chicago to Mil
waukee.
ITO pay 81 cents on 4-pound
package is practically prohibitive, and
it seems to have been so intended.
The law was arranged, t1nqualifedly,
In the interests of corporations and
not of the people. 1t was an announc-
ment on the part of the Government
that we do not intend to carry parcels
If we can help it. We have so far
been in this sort of business, with the
sign out that we do not like 1t, and
that we shall do only what public SEN
timent forces us to do. That public
sentiment is more pronounced on this
subject we are certain, and we are
quite sure that the American people
will demand reform.
Gas excuses we have heard that a
parcels post would burden the mail
service. The answer is If it pays
there is no burden. In Great Britain
and Germany 1t does pay. 1t facili-
tates the trade of small country stores.
1t brings the people closer together in
their everyday financial affairs, as the
ordinary mail brings them together
in matters intellectual. In our vast
| country this matter is becoming of vi
| tai importance. The apple orchard
| of the Maine farmer is a distinct part
with the olive orchard of the Califor-
MIA producer. Migratory farming
finds the same man planting corn In
Minnesota in summer and cassava in
in January. We cannot afford to
have our lives and our work less close
ly united than steam and electricity
make possible.
"The question Is coming before the
next Congress with most decided
| COuVlCLlOu auQ SGutIASuS OSAAA0 ASs
The common folk will constitute uni
versa1 lobby, and will make their in
fluence felt. Set 1t down to Theodore
Roosevelt that the overweening voice
of an interested lobby has lost its abb
solutism. The people can be heard
far more distinctly than they could be
ten yearsago. But behind this move
ment for postal progress will be ar
efficient Postmaster General, a man
of business methods, as well as fcre'
sight. His predecessors have paved
the way, but they have not been able
to secure the passage off parcels posi-
bill. With Mr.. Meyer, we imagine
will stand the better class of Congress
men, and with the press, we prognos
ticate for him success. The United
States cannot afford any longer to re-
main in the rear of civilized peoples
The bill must pass. We must and we
will have a Parcels Post up.to-date