Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-10-20
MEYER IS SEEKING
TO EXTEND THE
PARCELS POST
POSTMASTER GENERAL
HAS NEW ARGUMENT
Cannon, at Home in DahviIIe,
Struggles With Ambitious
Congressman Who Want to
Get on Good Committees.
Especial Correspondence Morning JOurnal.l

master General meyer, III MS recent
address at the convention Of post
masters. made public the fact that he
would urge upon congress a very ma
terial enlargement of the parcels post
system, he invited a renewal of the
old contest against the great mer-
chant princes and the business men
of the smaller communities who de-
pend upon local trade for their pros
perity. John Wanamaker, n of the
greatest of Americas merchants,
when he was at the head Of the post
office department. e~ndeavored, but
unsuccessfuIly, TO induce congress to
copy the European parcels post sys-
tenn. When the matter was urged
upon congress-. such a hue and cry
went up from the country merchants
that members of congress, especially
members of the lower house, did not
dare support the Wanamaker project.
The argument of the small dealers
is that a parcels post system with low
rates Of postage and a maximum OF
weight in packages that will permit of
generous purchases means the In
crease of the business Of dealers in
large cities at the expense of the home
merchant. whose very existence de-
ponds upon the trade and patronage
of those who reside around him. The
proposition was considered in the light
of an advantage exclusively for the big
dealers. and the parcels post system
projected at hat time vas doomed
to failure.
Much Of the same argument viii
again be advanced, but Postmaster
General Never adds to his scheme a
suggestion hat may soften the objee-
tions Of the country merchant. He
that this parcels post plan
shall be made particularly useful IN
connection with the rural free deliv-
cry service. and II would seem that
such a plan would be Of far greater
advantage to country merchants
among their rural customers than to
the large houses seeking a mail order
business at great distance. Mr.. Meyer
gges m extremely low postage IN
connection with the parcels post sys-
tenn as operated over free rural de-
livery routes. and he believes II TINS
were authorized by congress the mail
order business of the country store
would become ar important adjunct
10 its regular trade. The postmaster
general thinks the rate Of postage on
parcels should be reduced from l6
to 10 cents a pound and the limit OF
weight Increased from -four to eleven
pounds. If the postage, so far as II
related to the business transacted
through rural routes, were made even
less. officials believe the old-time OPP
position would disappear. Whether
this argument is well founded remains
to be seen. Anything that benefited
free rural delivery has appealed to
members of congress from country
districts ever since the service was es-
tablished. but their votes doubtless
viii be controlled by the sentiment
that comes to them from home, and
the scheme TO establish a modern
parcels post after the ideas Of Euro
pear nations ma be as impossible to-
day as it was fifteen years ago.
Annual Fight for Committees.
Uncle Joe" Cannon, who Is assur-
ed Of reelection as speaker Of the
house Of representatives, Is taking
things easy at his home in Danville.
and probably will not take up his
winter residence in Washington un-
til after Thanksgiving. This will car
~ him pretty CLOSE up to the open
ing OF the session. Reports from
Danville, however, show that his mail
is being burdened with applications
from members desiring good commit
tee assignments, and 1t develops that
ono Of the most troublesome matters
the speaker will have to dispose Of
is the West Virginia vacancy on the
committee on rivers and harbors.
For twelve years Blackburn r..
Dovener. who retired with the last
congress. had served on this commit
tee. There are five members OF the
West Virginia delegation, all repub-
Leans. and three Of them are clamor-
ing for this place. Each Of them has
a large water front TO his district
William p. Hubbard. a millionaire
lawyer Of Wheeling. though he has
not yet been sworn In as a member OF
congress. claims the position should
go To him as a matter OF right. He
defeated Dovener, the retiring com
mlttee member. for reelection, and
puts forward the unusual claim that
the committee assignment goes with
the district. James a. Hughes, Of
Huntington. now serving his fourth
term. and Harry c. woodward. Of
Spencer. who has been twice re-elect-
ed. are the other claimants. The lat
ter makes the familiar plea that his
district is close and that he may be
defeated unless he is assured Of this
desirable place.
The West Virginia case IL cited only
as "A sample Of the troubles that be-
set the speaker when he goes 10 make
up his committee list. With Mr.. Can
non at one end OF the line and his
secretary. L. White Busbey. In wash
ington. a lively fire Of correspondence
Is maintained. but Mr.. Cannon has
declared his intention Of keeping
away from the importuning Of anx
ious n ambitious members as long
as possible.
Our Vast swamp Lands.
An interesting pamphlet which has
been issued by the department Of ag-
ricuiture willtopen the eyes OF the
people to the enormous extent Of the
swamp lands 81 the various states
and - ia the value they wnuld attain
u4n~. sEa.. -.sHHaaf.H - rrnrrr treat