The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1908-04-02

Post Is
Favored
Merchants Association of New
York Fayors the Burn
ham Senate Bill.
SENDS OUT AN ADDRESS
To the Merchants of the United
States Asking Them to
Favor the Measure.

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 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-Genera Meyer.
called the Burnham Senate Bill 5122
TO provide a rural delivery parcels
post for merchandise and other
articles mailed on rural delivery
routes. and for other purposes
This bill provides:
1. For the establishment of a
special parcels post system on rural
delivery routes for packages original
ing on rural route or at the dis
tributing postofflce for delivery by
rural carriers to patrons thereof.
2. For charge of s cents for the
first pound, and 2 cents for each adj
ditional pound or fraction thereof,
up to II pounds; for ounces or less,
l cent; over 2 ounces and up to
ounces, 2 cents: over a ounces and
up to 8 ounces, 3 cents; over
ounces and up to IL ounces, cents;
over 10 ounces and up to 1 pound,
5 cents.
Under this system local mail par
cells service would be carried on over
each rural delivery route between all
points threon and the local postofIice
serving such route. This service
would be strictly local and the rates
would apply only to parcels original
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 local rates. but pay the
present higher merchandise rate. A
local package weighing II pounds
would therefore be delivered along
the local rural delivery route for 25
cents, while packages coming from a
distanct would be restricted to 4
pounds weight and subject to o
charge of / cent an ounces
There are now 3S.266 rural de-
livery routes in the United States
Over each of these a mail wagon
daily passes. hTe carriers are pro-
hibited by law from carrying any
thing but mail matter OF the various
classes prescribed by law. The
weight Of packages is limited to 4
pounds, upon which :he rate is !
cent an ounce, equal to Ga cents fol
la 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 hut mail matter, the people
along the 1926 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 very
small part of their capacity utilized
1t is reported to us, however, thai
residents along such routes are now
frequently served by the carriers II
violation of law, but only to 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 will promote the
trade of country merchants, by en-
aiding them to make daily deliyerie:
to their local customers at small cost
and will also prove a great conven
fence to farmers and others living ii
the country by making 1t unneces
sary for them to travel to adjacen
towns to obtain small supplies ant
deliver small parcels.
'All merchants and others who ma!
receive this circular are therefore re
specially requested to write to theil
Senators and Congressman and asl
them to support the Burnham Senate
Bill 5122 for a rural delivery parcel.
post for merchandise, etc., mailed or
rural delivery routes.
THE MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION
OF NEW YORK.
By Henry r. Towne, President.
Committee on Postal Affairs:-
Marcus NJ. Marks. Chairman, Abra
ham Bernhard, Charles Eddy, Rober
e. Hotson, e. H. outerbridge, Johr