The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-07

make some report before that time.
That any measure will get through be-
fore the members leave for the vaca-
lion is not expected. !.
Lower Parcel Postage Likely.
1t is believed to be pretty certain
that this session Will SEQ the enact
nent of a law giving very low postal
rates on merchandise sent over a
rural delivery route, that is. on pack
nges originating on the -o.'-te on which
st IL to be delivered. The demand for
such d law Is very insistent and wide
spread. coming from every section OF
the 4 United states. Probably twenty
members. from both sides OF the House,
who were interviewed to-day, ex-
pressed themselves In favor OF such
law. on the other hand, 1t was i'm
possible to secure an Endorsement of
general parcels post law. such as
most OF the countries of Europe have.
1t was thought some years ago and
until within the past two or three
years. that the country was eagerly
demanding the enactment OF such a
law, and that the influence of the ex-
press companies exerted chiefly
through Senator Thomas c. Plat. of
New York. president of the United
States Express Company, preVehteu
congressional action.
this influence did prevent Congress
giving the country parcels post. it
is certainly not necessary now that the
express companies be blamed in order
TO account for the deliberateness of
Congress for its non-nction. The local
merchants, especially those OF the
country districts. are expressing them
= selves in no uncertain manner against
the enactment of parcels post law.
They claim that 1t would cause coun-
Try people to deal so largely with the
big inall-order houses In the large
ctIes that the local merchants would
be driven out OF business.
on the oti.e. hand. the local mcr-
chants are lighting for the limited
parcels post service on rural routes.
thinking that this would be of much
benefit to them, sncc IT would enable
the housewife To order over the phone
aud get her groceries when the mail
carrier. came along few hours later.
AS stated there Is little doubt of this
rural delivery parcels fpost service
being authorized.
r. r. =. Opposes Parcels Post.
Colonel John S. Harwood. of Rich
mond, chairman of the national legis-
lativc committee of the Travellers Pro-
tective Association. is In Washington
to-day with j. Edgar Jenkins, of Bal
u,
te, and 7. w. Crandall. of st. Louis
chairman of the railroad committee of
the national organizations. They are
opposing the proposition to have a par
cells post but are not lighting the ru-
raj delivery parcels poss. The commit
1eemen saw several influential members
of Congress to-day, including Colonel
Hepburn. chairman of the Committee
m Interstate and Foreign Commerce
fThe national association of the conf
mercial travellers is lighting the par
rels most with much vigor. and Colonel
HARDWOOD has recently got out cir
rular letter in which he denounces the
proposition as being the work of the
catalogue houses
Several of the Virginia members said
to-day they favored the rural parcels
post, but were in doubt concerning their
nttitude on the general law. a sug-
gees ton to Representative Lassiter that
under our present system 1t was cost
lier to send a flve-pound package Of
merchandise from Washington to
Richmond than from Washington to
Berlin elected the reply that this fact
IS not an argument in favor of the
parcels post. 1t is one often relied
upon by the advocates of the general
parcels post law. allowing the trans
mission of no rchandsc through the
mails up to eleven pounds. at the rate
of about ~ cents a pound The en-
nctment CT such law might be hurt
full to the small merchants. but it
would probably be ia. mare hurtful to
The express carrying companies.
bryan Praises Hampton Roads.
Hampton Roads can't III 70. eulosis-
tic mention at the morning session OF
the National Rivers and Harbors Con-
Eress to-day.
A delegate from California had just
spoken. and in the course OF his re-
marks lie paid n beautiful tribute to
the harbor of San Francisco. It's oca-
ton and its qualities as Il haven for
tho storn-tosscd mariner. Mr. George
Bryan of Richmond, made reply as
Follows;
.The gentleman from California has
referred to the harbor OF San Fran
cisco as the Golden Gate, note nc
exception to that. and rejoice with him
In his Very natural pride.
"But with no less pride desire to
refer to another magnificent sheet OF
wa ter-the Chesaneake Bay and the
noble harbnr of Hampton Roads. The
entrance to this bay and harbor is the
galden gate Of our Eastern coast line