The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-07-31
PARCEL POST SYSTEM
MATTER WILL BE BROUGHT BE.
FORE CONGRESS.
Proposed System as Outlined in Bill
Which Was Favorably Considered
by Many Congressman.

by Many Congressman.
The Washington correspondent of
The News and Courier says in ques-
tion of what Congress, at its next
session, will do towards providing
for rural delivery parcels post sys-
tenn is of great Importance to the
merchant. the rural mail carrier and
the patron Of the free route alike.
That something will be done towards
effecting such a law Is now firmly
believed. The officials of the post
office department are carefully go
ing over a bill that was introduced
in the last Congress, marking certain
unfavorable features and substitut-
ing others, that it is thought will
prove more satisfactory. When the
next session begins recommendations
will be made for the adoption of such
system in the interest Of the mer-
chants and the people along the
rural routes generally.
Just what the new law is likely
to be may be seen from careful in
spection of the most favorable bill
that Congress had under considera-
ton last winter, as follows:
The Postmaster General is au-
thorized, under such regulations as
he may prescribe, to establish do
nestle rural parcel post at special
rates Of postage, for the delivery on
rural delivery routes of foodstuffs
Including groceries, provisions,
meats, fruits and vegetables,) dry
goods, drugs, books and other mer-
chandise, unless the same shall be
unmailable under this Act or any
other Act as herebby amended.
| Section @. That such special
rates of postage on such parcels OF
merchandise shall be five-cents for
the first pound and two cents Tot
each additional pound or fractional
part thereof, and on parcels weigh
| ing less than one pound, as follows:
Two ounces or less, one cent, over
two ounces and not exceeding four
ounces, two cents; over four ounces
and not exceeding eight ounces, three
cents; over eight ounces and not ex-
fourth class matter, except within
and over twelve ounces, and not ex-
ceeding one pound, FIVE cents; pro-
vided, that such postage shall be
prepaid by ordinary postage stamps
affixed to such parcels by the post
master or rural carrier receiving it;
prvided further, that the establish
ment Of such rural parcel post and
special postage rates shall not In
any wise affect the mailing of or post
age rate on packages Of third and
fourthclass matter, except within
the limitations stated; and, provid-
ed furher, that nothing herein con-
tanned shall be taken as authorizing
the acceptance or delivery at the
special rates Of postage herein pro-
vided of any parcel offered by any
person acting as agent or representa-
tive, upon commission or otherwise,
for any person or company not resi-
dent on such rural delivery route;
and, provided further, that only such
parcels shall be received for delivery
at the special rates of postage herein
provided as are offered by bona fde
merchants or dealers whose regular
places of business are on rural de-
livery routes covered by this Act, in
the ordinary and regular course OF
their business, and by residents on
such routes in their individual capa-
city.
Section 8. That parcels covered
by said special postage and deliverable
by said rural parcel post under this
Act shall not exceed eleven pounds
in weight, three feet six inches In
length, or six feet in length and
girth combined, and such parcels
shall conform to the postal laws and
regulations concerning mailability,
except as they are notified by this
Act and regulations promulgated IN
pursuance thereof.
Section 4. That perishable arti-
cles of food, submitted for mailing
under said rural delivery parcel
post, shall. not be accepted by post
masters or rural delivery carriers
more than three hours before the
departure Of the mail, and then on
ly at risk of the sender, and the
postmaster or rural carrier shall
stamp or note on any such parcels
the time OF acceptance and Of trans
initial, and the words, cat the send
ers risk"
Section S. That the provisions OF
this Act shall apply only to parcels
mailed on and addressed to rural de-
livery routes, as follows:
(1.) From the postoffice or sta
ton from which one or more rural
delivery routes emanate to any in
termediate postoffice or to any pat
ron on any of said routes emanating
from said postoffice or station, and
supplied by rural carrier.
CO. From any intermediate post
office on any rural delivery route to
the postoffice or station from which
said route emanates or to any in
termediate postoffice or to any patron
on that or any other rural route en-
anating from said postoftice or sta
ton, and supplied by rural carrier
CD From any patron on any
| rural delivery route to the pOStOftice