Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-10-30
PARCELS POST
OBJECTIONS or RETAIL MERcH-
ANTS OVERCOME BY POST
MASTER GENERAL

Il
Postmasters' association Sd
Boston
want to draw to the attention Ut
you gentlemen at this time certain
features and Inconsistencies iii con
nection with the parcel post service
ID the first place, it does not seem to /
be understood by many Of our peo-
pie that we have a parcel post at pres
ent. The rate is is cents a pound,
and the limit Of weight 4 pounds. To-
and the limit of weight pounds.
Two interests are opposing the ex-
tension Of parcel post in this country
the express companies and the coun-
try retail merchants. The latter fear
that the mail order houses will derive.
a benefit to their own disadvantage.
at is In connection with the country
retail merchants that desire to
speak especially
propose to recommend the estab-
lishment Of parcel post on rural
routes which will meet the objections
of the small storekeepers and retail
ers. This will be boon to our rur-
al population, and to the storekeeper,
as the latter can receive his orders by.
mail or telephone and dispatch the de-
sired merchandise by the rural car
rier. The farmer will be saved from
hitching up his horse and losing the
time he needs for planting or harvest
ing his crops, and it will enable the
Istorekeeper to increase his sales and
meet the requirements Of modern
trade. If my recommendations are
adopted, at will cost IL cents pound
for the mail order house to send par
cells to the rural delivery patron from
any city postofice. while for delivery
from the distributing Office Of the rural
route, or If mailed by a patron of any
rural route for delivery to a patron
on the same route, or at the distribut-5
ing postofice Of said route, the charge.
will be but cents for the first pound
and 2 cents for each additional pound
up to II pounds, or rs cents for a
package Weighing II pounds. In Ger
many the small storekeeper has not
this advantage in competing with mail
order houses, but he has adapted him
self to the situation, and in many
Idnstances has become the agent in his
town, thus supplying the people with
goods which it is impossible for him
Ito keep in stock without a great out
lay of money. n \. ss.s :.
/ am also considering the advisable
Iity of recommending local parcel
1 post delivery at city freed liVery
Ipostoffices, but in order to install such
a system it will be necessary to OBJ
! tain from congress a special appro-
priation to acquire wagons and auto
mobiles to do the required hauling.
AS already stated, there is a parcel
4 post existing in the United States to
day, but at a rate of 16 cents per
pound and a limit of 4 pounds. The
object of my recomme ndation to con
gress will be to get a decrease thai
will meet the rates charged for par
GELS sent by post to other countries
In other words, a reduction Of cents
a pound, and an increase in weight
which will compare in some meas
lure to that which has been adopted by
ether highly ciyilizer nations. Al
1-pound limit will, however, be fa7
from the maximum established b,
France t22 pounds Germany I'll:
" Ipounds|, and Belgium (132 pounds).
In this connection the following
from the postoffice department Al
washington will be of interest:
Postofice Department. Washington
lid. Ct, October IL, 1907.
The following letter was received
i today by the postmaster general:
s Boston, Mass, CIT. 18th, 1907.
2s 4s66 wilmington Hill Street
Postmaster General George Won r.
Meyer, Washington, D. c.
Dear Sir: had the pleasure Of
hearing your address last Saturday eV
ening at American House, Boston, or
the proposed parcels post measure you
win recommend TO congress.
ss What think of your address is
partly shown from Interview in Bos
ton Herald fsee chipping enclosedl
From being your extreme opponent
am now your strongest possible sup
porter. While prophecy is dangerous
Z predict every state association II
New England ofaetail merchants vii
reconsider their votes Of opposition
and all vote their approval. As ! un
derstood your remarks the railroads