The Somerset reporter., 1907-12-26
The Grange and Parcel Post

The Grange and Parcel Post
In his annual report, delivered at
the meeting of the State Grange in
Lewiston last week, State Master OBJ
idiah Gardner has this to say regard
ing the parcel post and postal saw
ings banks: -
PARCELS POST.
The movement to secure this much
needed service has received powerful
support by the Enforcement Of Hon.
George Van Meyer, postmaster gem
eral of the United States; his plan
and that of the Grange differing only
in degree, that the Grange has en-
dorsed his plan. He is using all his
great influence to arouse public in
terest in its support. He proposes,
with the help of the Grange, to secure
the enactment of the necessary legis
lation this session of Congress II pos
sible. With this powerful assistance
all the Grange needs to do is to ag
gressively assist with it's tremendous
influence, when success will be as
sured and the people everywhere
will receive the benefit to which they
are so clearly entitled through this
service.
Who opposes this movement?
Some Congressman who have been
asked this question have replied in
effect that nobody wants 1t but the
mail order houses. Perhaps they
have not been kept as well informed
by constituents as they have been by
the express companies. Certain it is
that the express companies are real
iZing the most inordinate profits on
account of their monopoly of the
parcel carrying business, and the av-
erage farmer cannot understand why
the government, of which they are
part, should not get in line with the
other civilized nations of the earth
and carry parcels up to a certain
weight limit at reasonable rate, and
thus relieve the farmers from the ex-
cessive charges of express companies.
1t is an undenied and indisputable
fact that we furnish a lower rate of
postage on parcels to foreigners thau
to our own people. Authentic infor-
nation from the postoffice depart
ment shows that parcels may be sent
from the United States to 81 differ rent
foreign counties, and from these
countries to points i'll the United
States at the rate of twelve cents per
pound. In six of these countries the
weight of parcels is limited to four
pounds and six ounces; in all others
the limit is eleven pounds. The Par
GELS Post proposition receives its
strongest opposition from the wealthy
express companies, whose business it
would undoubtedly injure. But why
should the people be held up and re-
quired to pay tribute to these giant
monopolies to their own detriment?
Their stock holders have in most in
stances acquired sufficient wealth to
enable them to retire. Last summer
the Adams Express Company was re-
ported to have distributed to it's stock
holders its surplus of $24, 900, 900, In
dividends. AS there are $12, 100000 in
stock outstanding, this distribution
amounts to 200 per cent in interest
In 1898 a 100 per cent dividend was
declared, and it is said that during
late years the company has been pay
these distributions of surplus. Is it
! any wonder that the four powerful
express companies, said TO be under
one management, put up strong and
determined fight against anything
that is going to cut into their profits?
We hear the same argument against
parcels post that was advanced
against rural delivery of mail. We
were told that rural mail delivery
would bankrupt the government, ruin
the country merchants, and disor-
ganize and disrupt the business inter-
ests of the country generally. The
/ passage of the law met the strongest
opposition and it required united and
determined effort on the part of the
farmers to secure its passage; yet no
action of any department of the gov
/ eminent has been 80 beneficient as
the rural delivery of mail. 1t is a SER
vice that farmers would not dispense
with for four times it's cost, as through
this service they send and receive
twice the amount of mail they did,
they are better informed on the great
questions of the day and current
events, and keep all the time in closer
touch with the world; and Uncle Sam
does not yet seem to manifest any in
dications of going into bankruptcy on
account Of rural mail delivery. And
the Grange did it.
1--WE believe that all the arguments
against Parcels Post would prove its
fallacies, and are untenable as were
those advanced against rural delivery
of mail, and it is up to the Order of
Patrons of Husbandry to unitedly
work for the accomplishment of this
most beneficient movement that they
may receive the benefits that will
come to them, and for which they
have been helping to pay through all
the years past, in the delivery of
mail to the business men and city
residents. / ask that you give this
important matter the consideration
it deserves at this session. Now is
the time for you to act.
POSTAL SAVINGS BANKS.
One of the recommendations which
the postm aster general will make to
Congress, one which the grange has
advocated for years, will be the es-
tablishment of postal savings banks
enabling the people remote from
savings banks to d posit even the
smallest amount at their postoffice,
receiving therefore the guarantee of
the government for iJssafety, as there
will be no fear of the deposits being
scaled down, or that the bank officers
will speculate with the money, but
that as long as the American flag flies
the money will be safe and as long
as the government is borrowing capt.
tai to build canals and for other great
enterprises, it can as consistently
borrow of all the people as of a select