Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-18
CONGRESS KNOWS

American, warns the people of the
United States that unless they secure
the adoption of a parcels post system
as liberal as that in vogue in Germany
we cannot keep pace with the Germans
in their commercial development.
You read everywhere that Germany
is flooding the world with her manu-
factured products" says this English
man. I'm whatever quarter of the
globe you go, except the United States,
you find German manufactures estah-
lished with the retail trade. From
everywhere you hear the cry that tho
German is, in this respect, becoming
supreme. That cry is true, and the
secret of this supremacy lies in the fact
that Germany has evolved the perfect
system of low-rate parcels post. Until
the United States has adopted a similar
system this country cannot hope to
compete with the manufacturers of the
German empire.
why any nation as whole can con-
.tinue to oppose parcels post cannot
understand. From the broadest point
of view-the point of view of an inter-
national post of this sort--it is clear
that the greater the communication be-
tween nations the less danger is there
of International conflicts, and therefore
see no reason why there shouldn't be
great exchange of parcels between
the United Kingdom and the United
States. The trouble is that most busi-
ness men at first glance think this is a
paltry subject and not worthy their
time and attention. They seem to for
get that honely adage: Take care of
the pennies and the pounds will take
care of themselves Why, the English
exports for last year by parcels post
amounted to s20,0OO,000.
But 1t is the example Of Germany
that should be kept before all people
interested In O. parcels post. There, as
rule. the rate is 20 cents for eleven
pounds or fraction thereof, and the
consequence is that vast trainloads Of
parcels are continually pouring out of
A man wishing to send a large sample
piece of cloth to Russia, for example,
will, if it weighs over eleven pounds.
just cut it into eleven-pound strips and
send it in so many separate packages.
You cannot have a successful export
system of parcels post until you first
have successful system within your
own borders. AS we had to meet the
opposition of the railways, so you will
have to meet that Of the express COM
panies, but we got our system because
the people demanded 1t, and if the peo-
pie Of the United States only realize
what It must inevitably mean for their
trade and what an increase it must
make in their wealth they. too, will
demand and secure it."
Mr. Hall possibly may not be aware
of the fact that the American people
desire an extension of the limited par
cells post system established by the
federal government. There is no reason
to doubt that If this question could be
submitted to popular vote today the
majority in favor of the immediate
establishment of system somewhat
along the lines followed by Germany
would be overwhelming.
But, unfortunately, the people have
little to say on this subject The con-
gress, that splendid body of "repre-
sentatives of the people," as Boss Cam
non terms it, does not consult the peo-
pie when it is on the point of taking
action affecting the welfare of the
people as opposed to the perpetuation
of the power of greedy monopoly. The
real rulers in congress, relatively
small clique Of men who think first, last
and all the time of the well-being of
the great combinations of capital at
present on guard, do not propose to
give to the eighty millions of Ameri-
better parcels transportation facilities
mot if they can help it.
Still, there is always the possibility
that, at the critical moment, congress
may come to the conclusion that it can
not help it. Each individual hair OF
the legislative head of the nation be-
fore long may stand on end in fright
over the prospect of being suddenly
shorn. Events have been moving
swiftly in the United States recently,
and none can tell what a few weeks
may bring forth. Every member of
congress, in either house, knows that
the sentiment in favor of the imme-
diate enactment of liberal parcels
post law is practically unanimous.
But there are Platt, Aldrich, Cannon,
Foraker and a few lesser satellites re-
volving around the System" Not
until the "nobodies" in congress kick
over the traces and dare to defy these
junkers shall we have any material re-
lief from the expressions of the express
and railroad companies, in the form of
a law providing for cheap parcels
transportation.
TTTTNKAHTFT