The Washington times., 1907-01-17
PARCELS POST
MEETS DEFEAT
IN CONVENTION
National Board of Trade
in Convention Here Re-
verses Its Action
After Debate.


To put il mildly, the National Board
OF Trade convention, IN session ia his
city. surprised itself when il voted
against any movement in favor OF estab-
Fishing a parcels post in this country.
The action was not taken tih after a
sharp debate, and when the vote
showed that a minority report oppos-
ing the proposition had been adopted.
and the organization had reversed its
former position on this question. there
was almost unutterable disgust among
delegates, who assumed that the body
was definitely committed 10 the policy.
Tie resolutions adopted on this point
follow.
Whereas persistent agitation Ia favor
OF the establishment in this country OF
a carrying system Tor parcels under
the direction OF the Postodice Depart
ment. modelled somewhat upon foreign
lines, Is being urged in many directions.
and
Whereas the National Board ofTTade
recognizes that circumstances in this
country in regard 10 social conditions.
length OF haul, density OF population.
lack OF monopoly OF carriage. improb-
ability OF a zone system. etc. render
an extensive development here Of
a parcels carrying system. such as ex-
lists IN several foreign countries, certain
10 entail a loss upon the Government OF
most serious proportions. amounting 10
many millions OF dollars for equipment
expenses and further involving an
operating deficit OF enormous proper
tons annually. and this whether the
rate be made high or low.
Resolved. That the National Board OF
Traas y opposed 10 any legislation look
~ to the establishment OF a parcels
carrying system in connection with the
Postoftice Department of the country at
this time"
Burrows in Opposition.
c ". Burrows. Of Cleveland. present
ed the report in opposition to parcels
post and led the tight against further
Endorsement OF the innovation Finley
Acker, or Philadelphia. handled the
fight for the advocates OF the parcels
plan. and presented the argument for it
IN an extremely fOrceful paper which
he read 10 the convention.
Mr.. Burrows and others insisted that
try the Government would lose money
by operating q parcels post. even al
very high rates. He didn't think the
country was ready for Il or the post
once service equipped TO handle the
business.
On the other side il was pointed out
that the parcels post was born in the
United States. in 1873. when q mar-
chandise rate OF cents per pound was
made by Congress. The express com
panies met IL and continued competing
Al the new rate, even on the longest
distances-but found means 10 get the
low rate repealed inside a year. Thus
the promising experiment was sIrangled
ia its infancy. IL has never been strong
enough 10 secure trial since.
Mr. Acker's report was a vigorous
document. He pointed out that the
convention was voting Tor l-csnt
letter postage without any thought or
whether II would result in deficit 10
the Government; but when il came 10
parcels post there was tremendous con
Germ about the possibility that the Gov
eminent would lose money. The con-
vention did. in fact. resolve that il
favored I-cent domestic and 2-ceut
foreign letter postage.
Argument Of Aeker.
ut seems an anomalous thing" said
argument before a gathering OF bust
ness men, in favor OF cheap transporta-
ton. We all know that every agency
for facilitating exchange Of commodities
adds 10 the wealth OF the community.
We know when the fruits of Florida and
California rotted on the trees because
they could not be transported We
know that great deposits OF coal and
Ron, now the basis or our greatest in
dustries, were once worthless for lack
or transportation We know that surplus
OF production once had almost no value
because IL could not be taken 20 where il
was needed. Now. We see the wealth
Florida have added TO the community
because they have been given markets,
We know that the prosperity OF every
section or interest adds 10 the pros
peTity or every Other-yet we ind men
seriously opposing a further extension
OF transportation facilities"
Mr.. Acker rscOunted briefly the be-
ginning and the untimely ending of the
parcels post In this country IN 1878
fiVe years before Great Britain took
the same step. He told OF the great
progress the system had made In Other
countries, and showed thar the United
States, BY denying itself such benefits
IS simply refusing 10 keep up with the
worlds march OF progress. He denied
mat there was real danger that the
mail order houses bugabOO would in
JAAN any uA1l8ES1 interest OF IIe Cuuu
trV- lie took zap great mass Of eX-
pressiOns from hardware dealers ant
from stove association Indicating feai
that parcels post would injure theu
business.
do we suppose that stoves are 20
ing 10 be hauled BY mail2' demanded
Mr.. Acker. III is true that big mai
order houses are doing a large business
now. and IL is true. too, that they ar,
doing II chiefly in articles that would
not be affected by a parcels post"
Recently continued Mr.. Acker. "a
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