The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-11-26
B
4 PARCEL POST
POSTMASTER GENERAL MEYER
WILL ASK CONGRESS FOR
NEW LAW.

Ef isQE y - ~
WASHINGTON, Nov. Ex-senator
Pint, OF New York, will be kept busy
defending his constituents, the express
companies, at the coming session OF
congress, Il the recommendations
which are to be made by Postmaster
General Meyer receive the favorable
consideration OF the lawmakers.
It is known that the head of the
postal department will 50 o n record
us favoring u great extension Of the
parcels post system, Not only will he
ask that the system as a, present es-
tablished be largely increased in scope
and efficiency, but he will recommend
that the maximum rate for all parcels
be reduced from 1G cents to u cents
a pound. and that the weight limit be
increased from four to eleven pounds.
The use OF wagons or automobiles for
the delivery OF parcels will be recon.
mcnded for all cities where the free
delivery system has been established,
the report will recommend that a spe.
cial parcels post system with an ex.
tremely low charge for service be es.
tablished in connection with rural
free delivery.
When John Wanamaker was post
master general he declared that there
were six reasons why a parcels most
could not be established in this coun.
try. and name the six leading express
companies as the reasons This on.
position has not, by any means, abat-
ed. and It is known that the big ex-
press companies are already making
plans to defeat any attempt Mt the es-
Enlistment OF n parcels post system.
In these efforts they have the assist
ance not only OF their stockholders.
who have reaped big rewards from
their holdings, and their hired men in
the house and the senate, bit also Of
many thousands OF merchants in the
smaller towns and villages throughout
the country. A press bureau has been
established by the express companies
which is engaged IN sending ont cley.
er'y worded articles for publication In
country newspapers, appealing to mer-
chants to protest against the 'iniqult.
ons attempt of the big mail order
honses TO ruin their business. All OF
this, OF course, Is very disinterested,
despite the fact that the men who pre-
pare this literature" are exceptional.
~ able newspaper men. who receive
large salaries from the express compa.
niles.
That the fears expressed by the
country merchants and their patrons,
Is the unqualified assertion OF Post.
master General Meyer. II the recon.
mendntlons he will submit to congress
are adopted, rural carriers will be re.
qnired to carry parcels to any point
on their route at q rate OF s cents
for the first pound and 9 cents for
each additional pound. or 25 cents for
a package weighing eleven pounds.
BY this means, the storekeeper in the
town or village can receive orders
by mail or telephone and dispatch
merchandise by the rural carriers. As
1t will cost mail order houses IL cents
a pound for milling parcels. their
competition will not be much, If my,
keener than now, and the home mer.
chant who is progressive and willing
to sell goods at n reasonable profit
Will he in a position to greatly enlarge
his trnde by means Of the rural routes.
The postmaster general Is confident
that his proposal will meet with the
approval OF all country merchants
when 1t is fully understood. and that,
instead of opposing it, they will ask
their representatives IN congress to
secure the passage Of such q measure.
Apparently the express companies will
be left to fight the battle for them.
selves. and It remains to be seen
whether the six reasons pointed oat
by Mr.. Wanamaker continue to exer.
else the great influence over congress
that they once did.
Another vital problem which Post
master General Meyer will bring to
the attention of congress Is that OF n
postal savings bank system. He be-
lieves that such q system will not In.
ter'erc in amy way with the prosperity
of private savings banks, but that It