The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-03-27
Merchants Association of New
York Favors the Burn
ham Senate Bill.
SENDS OUT AN ADDRESS
To the Merchants Of the United
States Asking Them 10
Favor the Measure.

NEW YORK, Mar. 27. (special)-
The Merchants Association of New
York has issued the following address
to merchants throughout the United
States, favoring a rural delivery par
cells post:
The Merchants Association of
New York, which has hitherto been.
and is now, opposed to a general par
cells post in the BELIEF that it would
be very injurious to the country mer-
chant. harmful in Its effect upon the
development of towns. and therefore
against the interests, of the whole
people, now recommends to the sup
port of the merchants of the country
the local parcels post measure en-
dorsed by Postmaster-General Meyer.
called the Burnham Senate Bill 5122
ITO provide a rural delivery parcels
post for merchandise and other
articles mailed on rural delivery
routes, and for other purposes"
This bill provides:
l. For the establishment of
special parcels post system on rural
delivery routes for packages originat-
ing on a rural route or at the dis
tributing postoffiee for delivery by
rural carriers to patrons thereof.
2. For charge Of cents for the
first pound, and cents for each ad-
ditional pound or fraction thereof,
up to IL pounds; for ounces or less,
cent; over ounces and up to 4
ounces, cents; over A ounces and
up to s ounces, cents; over s
ounces and up to - ounces, cents;
over 10 ounces and up to pound,
3 cents.
Under this system a local mail par
cells service would be. carried on over
each rural delivery route between all
points threon and the local postoffice
serving such route. This service
would be strictly local and the rates
would apply only to parcels originat-
ing within the local rural delivery
district and to their transmission
therein. Parcels originating at other
points would not be entitled to the
benefit of the LEGAL rates. but pay the
present higher merchandise rate. Al
local package weighing IL pounds
would therefore be delivered along
the local rural delivery route for 25
cents. while packages coming from a
distanct would be restricted TO A
pounds weight and subject to al
charge of cent an ounce.
There are now 3S.266 rural de-,
livery routes in the United States.
Over each OF these mail wagon
daily passes. hTe carriers are pro-
hibited by law from carrying any
thing but mail matter or the various
classes prescribed by law. The
weight of packages is limited to
pounds, upon which .he rate is /
cent an ounce, equal to 81 cents for
a 4-pound package. The low limit
Of weight and the heavy charge i'm
posed in large measure prevent the
mailing of local packages; and as
the carriers cannot lawfully deliver
anything but mail matter. the people
along the SS.266 rural delivery
routes are prevented from having the
benefits of local package delivery
which they might readily enjoy. by
means OF the mail wagons which daily
pass their doors with only a very
small part of their capacity utilized.
1t is reported to us. however, that
residents along such routes are now
frequently served by the carriers In
violation Of law, but only to a limit
ed degree. and at much higher
charge than this bill provides.
In the opinion OF The Merchants
Association of New York the provis-
ions Of this bill viii promote the
trade OF country merchants, by en-
abling them to make daily deliveries
to their local customers at small cost,
and viii also prove a great conven-
fence to farmers and others living in
the country by making lit unneces-
sary for them to travel to adjacent
towns to obtain small supplies and
deliver small parcels.
All merchants and others who may
receive this circular are therefore re-
spectfully requested to write to their
Senators and Congressman and ask
them to support the Burnham Senate
Bill 5122 for rural delivery parcels
post for merchandise, etc, mailed on