Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-30
PARCELS POST BILL
GETS OFFICIAL AID
PosToFFIcE DEPARTMENT WILL
SUPPORT MEASURE
Opposition Of Express Companies and
congressman from Large Cities
Will Be Met-President's
Attitude Unknown

WASHINGTON, Nov 29-It is now very
well understood that the postofflce depart
ment will back a parcels post bill at the
coming session of congress. It is Just as
well understood that the most influential
members Of the two committees ON post
offices and post roads will oppose the
legislation on the ground that 1t would
help the mail-order houses of the large
cities to the great disadvantage of the
merchants in the small cities and towns.
Representative Overstreet, chairman OF
the house committee on posfoffices during
MS recent visit here to attend meeting
of the postal commission, indicated that
under no circumstances will he support o
general parcels post at this time. He
feels confident that such legislation would
tend still further to concentrate the mer-
camille business of the country in The
hands of a few men.
But there are ardent supporters Of tho
parcels post in congress, and with The
administration Behind the proposed legs-
lation one may foresee that an interesting
hight over the question may ensue. For
the purpose of backing up the postmaster
general in his campaign for a parcels
post law, the bureau of manufactures has
asked consuls to report on the working
OF the parcels post in other countries.
There are no carrying companies In
England like the express companies OF the
United States, but the British postoffice
and railroads perform the same kind OF
service. The postofice carries parcels not
exceeding eleven pounds In weight. TIE
Charge is 6 cents for one pound or less.
and a gradual increase up to % cents for
eleven pounds or more than ten. The size
is limited to three feet six inches IN
length, but may be any width, except that
length and girth combined must not ex-
ceed six feet Explosives, dangerous.
filthy and indecent articles are prohibited
The postoff1ce pays $9.T3 compensation f1r
loss of a parcel, except one containing
money or jewelry. But compensation for
every parcel can be secured by registra
ton. Compensation for damage is given
only when the packet is conspicuously
marked Fragile, with care"
The British railways carry on passenger
trains parcels of any size, shape or
weight, the only limitation being that
they must be of such size and weight as
to go into the guards van. The charge
for any distance within the kingdom is 8
cents for two pounds or less and 10 cents
for three pounds. Above that weight the
rate increases gradually UP to twenty-four
pounds, varying with distance and being
higher for goods carried into Scotland.
For each pound above twenty-four the
charge is from " cent to cents, accord
ing to distance. The charges include both
collection and delivery from and to resi-
dences or business places.
Certain enumerated articles of un-
usual value or destructibility are sub
ject to higher charges. dependent on
value, and are limited to twenty-eight
pounds in weight Other enumerated
articles are charged lower than ordi-
nary rates, if carried at owners risk.
The railway parcels arrangement In
cludes the collection and delivery of
passengers baggage. For instance, on
the request of an intending passenger
from Nottingham to London, the rail-
way conveys his trunk from his Not
tingham residence to his London ad
dress for shilling. Compensation for
loss of or damage to parcels, not car
ried at owners risk rates, is made by
the railways
The postoffice gives no special rates
to newspapers or other periodicals.
One who receives newspaper or mag
azine direct from the publisher must
pay the ordinary postage for printed
matter in addition TO the subscription
price. The custom is therefore. to
subscribe through newsdealers These
receive their supplies through the rail-
ways, which charge from to cents
pound dependent on distance up to
12 to 54 cents for forty eight pounds
These charges do not include collection
or delivery. Returned parcels of news
Papers are carried at half rates.
1t looks now as il the fight over the
proposed legislation might line up the
members of congress from the large
cities on one side and the members
from the smaller places and the coun-
try districts on the other. The express
companies are, of course, opposed to
the legislation Postmaster General
Meyer is anxious that the president
shall favor the legislation in his annual
message to congress, but evidently re
does not know at this time whether
the chief executive will come out
strongly for the proposed law.