The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-03-10
PARCELS POST PLAN
Will 1t Protect Local Trade on
Rural Mail Routes.
Proposes to Garry Home Town Pack
ages ut Rate With Which Outside
Concerns Cannot Compete.

Concerns Cannot Compete.
That there are two sides to every
question is generally conceded. While
In many communities there is great OPP
position TO the extension of the parcels
post as recommended By Postmaster
General Meyer. the postmaster general
himself takes occasion to present 1.-The
other side" in this statement:
1T dos not seem to be understood
by many of our people that we have
a parcels post at present. The rate Is
1G cents a pound and the limit of
weight four pounds. To illustrate the
incongruitics that exist any indi-
vidual entering the poStoftice in BoS-
ton or in any other city or town IN
the country with two parcels. each
weighing four pounds. can send one
parcel TO New York for Ga cents. while
for the other parcel. which IS addressed
TO some one in foreign land and goes
via New York. he will have to pay 4S
CclItS. IOi Tue ICGNOu tli.'l 'iiN '"sN W
foreign countries is - cents pound.
while the ratio to our owD people
is 1G cents Il pound. Should the pack
ages weigh four and Il quarter pounds
each the one addressed to the friend in
New York would have to be refused b.
the postmaster. while the one addressed
to the person in the foreign land would
be accepted and would be forwarded
to New York and then sent on to its
destination. The parcel for the for
eign country would he received in
most instances even If it weighed as
much rs eleven pounds and was sent
to any one of twenty-five countries.
Therefore assume that our represent
atives in congress will realize that they
cannot afford to stand for policy that
compels our own people to pay 4
cents more on packages TO people llv-
ing in the United States (and even
then permits them to send only four
pounds) than on packages TO residents
of twenty-five foreign lands. for which
they need pay only - cents a pound
and which weigh up to eleven pounds.
1.-TWO interests are opposing the ex-
tension of parcels post in this country
the express companies and the coun-
try retail merchants The latter fear tha t
the mail order house will derive bene-
fit TO their own disadvantage. 1t is in
connection with the country retail mer-
chant that desire to speak especially.
II recommend the establishment or
parcels post on rural routes which
will meet the objections of the small
storekecpers and retailers. This Will
be q boon to our rural population and
to the storekecper, as the latter can
receive his orders by mail or telephone
and dispatch the desired merchandise
by the rural carrier The farmer Will
be saved from hitching up his horse
and losing the time he needs for plant
ing or harvesting his crops, and 1t Will
enable the storekeeper to Increase his
sales and meet the requirements Of
modern trade. II my recommendations
are adopted it will cost 12 cents pound
for the mail order house to send par
cells to the rural delivery patron from
any city postofiice, while for delivery
from the distributing office Of the ru-
raj route or If mailed by a patron Of
any rural route for delivery to pa
tron on the same route or, at the dis
tributing postotfice Of said route the
charge will be but 6 cents for the first
pound and cents for each additional
pound up to eleven pounds or % cents
for package weighing eleven pounds.
In Germany the small storekeeper has
not this advantage in competing with
mail order houses, but lie has adapted
himself to the situation and in many
instances has become the agent In his
town, thus supplying the people with
goods which he could not keep in stock
without a great outlay Of money
4 bill embodylng the suggestions
made by Postmaster General Meyer
has been introduced by Senator Burn
ham of New Hampshire. 1t Is under
stood that this measure also has the
Endorsement Of President Roosevelt.
The bill provides for the establishment
of q domestic rural parcels post at
special rates Of postage for the dellv-
cry of foodstuffs, dry goods, drugs,
books and other merchandise. The rate
OF postage Is to be $ cents for the first
pound and 2 cents for each additional
pound or fraction thereof and on par
cells weighing less than one pound as
follows:
Two ounces or less. ] cent; over two
and under four ounces, cents; over
four and not exceeding eight ounces, 3
cents; over eight and not exceeding
twelve ounces. cents; over twelve
ounces and under one pound. 5 cents.
There are more than $4,000 free rural
delivery routes, giving daily postal
service to over 15,O0O,O00 country people.
MontehetIo ~ Tho Front