Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-08-29
Parcels Post Scheme of Post
master General Will Precip-
itate Fight in Congress
DEALERS AND EXPRESS MEN
RetaiI Interests and Carrying compan-
les Will Combine to Oppose the
Measure-A Said to Be
in Favor Of Plan on Theory 1t Will
Aid Postal System.


be kicked up in congress next winter
over the proposition to establish par
GELS post system. Postmaster General
Never has served notice that he in
tends to recommend a parcels post sys-
tenn but he has not yet made public the
details. He is understood to have the
backing of the president in the matter
and it is expected Mr.. Roosevelt Will
urge it upon congress as step needed
to put the United States postal system
on more efficient and business-like
basis.
Mr.. Meyers proposition had barely
been announced a short time ago.
with the details of his plan yet under
consideration, when strong notes OF
opposition began to be heard. BY the
time congress meets, there Is no
doubt this opposition will be well or
ganized and that if Mr.. Meyer gets
parcels post at the hands OF con-
gress it will be only after fight OF
the most bitter character. The sources
of opposition are chiefly two, the pig
express companies and the small re-
tail dealers over the country. outside
the big cities where the mail order
houses are located. The express COM
panies in particular have been engaged
for wears in fighting the establishment
of a parcels post system and nave al
He'd with themselves the keepers OF
small stores. These retailers thru their
organizations are NOW busy declaring
themselves against the parcels post
and they will be heard from at the.
coming session.
While Mr.. MEYERS plan is not dis
closed it is expected he will favor
comprehensive parcels post system
that will enable the public to send at
low rates thru the mails packages
of books and merchandise not over III
pounds in weight. This system OF
CARRYING parcels by mail presumably
would be applied not merely to rural
delivery but to city delivery as well,
in fact to the mail service generally.
1t would not be surprising. too, II
some sort of zone system were re-
commended. that would afford grad
uated scale OF charges on the basis OF
distance II would not be possible. of
course. to have anything like rigid
distance tariff system but something
of this kind could be roughly approx
mated by dividing the country into
zones or divisions. Unless this ar
rangement is made, 1t seems likely
the government will get the ilong hauls
Of parcels and the express companies
the short hauls. On the other hand,
unless there is one general rate for
all parts Of the country. the system
will be much less simple and work.
able than 1t would be otherwise
In case the opposition becomes too
determined to be overcome, the adj
ministraton may conclude to accept a
measure making five pounds the limit
instead Of ten. This would be but
short step in advance of the present
arrangement. Fourth class matter up
to four pounds can now be mailed at
16 cents pound or l cent an
ounce Nevertheless, there is no
doubt the administration would well
come the passage Of even measure
with the maximum weight five pounds
as AN entering wedge toward further
legislation later on increasing the
limit
The postoffice department has long
favored the parcels post system, but
it has never been possible to get con-
gress to act Back in John Wanna
makers time as postmaster general
he recommended a parcels post sys-
tenn. Wanamaker declared there were
100 reasons for parcels post system
and six reasons against it, that is. the
six big express companies. Senator
Platt. of New York, who Is ever
watchful of express company interests
in the senate, is one of the obstacles
the parcels post plan will have to en-
counter.
Politically, the largest obstacle in
the way Of parcels post legislation is
the fear of the average member Of
congress to antagonize the small mer-
chant. The latter objects to a par
cells post system on the ground that
he will be driven out of business by
the big mail order houses and the
average member of congress we'll I'M
derstands that the merchants and
storekeepers of his section who feels
they are in danger from parcels post
have political influence that it will not