Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-01-07
Parcel Post Evolution.

ADVANCED POSITION TAKEN BY POST
NASTER-GENERAL MEYER-HIs IDEAS
CLEARLY OUTLINED FOR INCREASING
THE EFFICIENCY OF THE SERVICE.
The movement to secure parcel post
has received new impetus this fall. II
is safe 10 assume that during this SEES
sion tangible effort will be made toward
securing rational and just reforms in our
postal systems. Allusion has been
made in the news columns of New Eng
land Homestead TO the energetic sup-
port given the parcel post proposition by
Postmaster-General Meyer, and further
interesting testimony and comment are
now available on this subject so impor-
tant to agricultural classes. 1t was in
dorsed last month at the meeting of the
national grange at Hartford. Oppo-
sition to parcel post comes chiefly from
two sources, the big express companies,
whose selfish interests in the matter are
well known; also from country retail
merchants, who honestly fear that the
adoption of low rate would greatly in
jure them, while benefiting the mail
order houses.
In it's issue of December IA this jour
nal presented the opinion of some big
men on the latter phase of the question.
Generally they believed parcel post
service would benefit rather than injure
the business of the country merchant.
rNpH ATREAny nome
The postmaster-general has been car
rying on campaign of education, bring
ing to the public his reasons for ad-
vocating the establishment of a parcel
post on rural routes of such form as to
meet the objections of the small store
keepers and retailers, whose side OF the
case is certainly worth consideration
and generous treatment. He has spoken
freely and intelligently on this subject,
recently before the New England post
masters association at Boston and else
where. His addresses have been pecu-
liarly pertinent, because they have en-
deayored to deal with the matter of dis
competition for country
retail merchants. The postmaster
general has prepared for us the follow
ing interesting statement OF his position.
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL ON POSTAL
PROGRESS.
NY propositions are: l, reduction
from 10 cents to II cents pound on the
general parcel post and an increase in
the weight limit from to IL pounds.
Twelve cents is the rate that has been in
use for years on parcels shipped from
any city or town in the United States,
when addressed to the people of 30 for
eign countries with which We have
postal conventions.
2. For the establishment of parcel
post on rural routes for packages orig
mating on and addressed to patrons of
the same route, the rate to be cents
for the first pound and 2 cents for each
additional pound up to IL pounds.
We have established at present nearly
IS 900 rural routes which are serving
about three and one-half million families
and their help; these are in operation in
every state and territory of the union.
The residents of city or large town
have every facility for obtaining their
The same is not true
with reference to tho farmer. There
fore, it will be great benefit to him to
have the opportunities which parcel
post, such as | propose, would offer on
our rural routes. 1t will allow the
farmer, whose time is fully occupied
and who cannot hitch up his horse at
moments notice and travel 20 or 20
miles, to order his supplies by telephone
or postal card. The supplies will then
be brought to him by the man who goes
by his door every day and at price
which will be fair recompense to the
government.
This will mean increased business for
the country merchant, which increased
business will mean larger orders for the
jobber or wholesale dealer, while the in
crease in cancellations will augment the
salary of the fourth-class postmaster,
who is frequently country merchant.
HELP IMPROVE ROADS.
Ii will have another effect; the i'm
prOvement of the roads. You cannot
improve the roads without benetiting
the farmers and you cannot benefit the
farmers of this country without benefit
ing the nation. The merits of the prop
ositiou are very far-reaching and the
of such service would
not in any way be tax upon the gov
ernment, but would increase the postal
revenue and tend in time TO make the
rural service self-supporting, while aid
ing our people who live in distant parts
of the country who have not at all times
the opportunity for getting the necessi-
ties of life.
The extension of the parcel post SER
vice has excited the interest of the peO-
pie and is meeting with their approba-
ton, especially in the rural districts.
1t is, however, being opposed from self
ish motives in some instances, and in
other instances the criticisms are mani
festly not made from the standpoint of
the public interest.
SOME ADDED POINTS IN HIS BOSTON
ADDRESS.
In speaking to the postmasters' asso-
citation at Boston, Mr.. Meyer said that
he was also considering the advisability
of recommending the local parcel post
delivery at city free delivery postoffices.
But in order to install such system, it
will be necessary to obtain from con-
gress a special appropriation to acquire
wagons and automobiles to do the re-
quired hauling. There is parcel post
existing in the United States to-day, but
at the rate of l6 cents pound, and
limit of four pounds. The object of his
recommendation to congress will be to
get a decrease that will meet the rates
charged for parcels sent by post to other
countries.
In calling attention to the incongrui-
ties that now exist, one may enter the
postofice at Boston or any other point in
the country with two parcels, each
weighing four pounds; can send one par
eel to New York for 81 cents, while for
the other parcel, which is addressed to
someone in foreign land, and goes via
New York, one will have to pay As cents
for the reason that the rate to foreign
countries is Il cents a pound, while the
rate to our own people is 16 cents a
pound. Should the packages weigh
4 1-2 pounds, the one addressed to the
friend in New York would have to be re-
fused by the postmaster, while the one
addressed to the person in the foreign
land, and which would be accepted,
would be forwarded to New York and
then on to its destination; perhaps to
any one of 22 foreign cOuntries.-New
Engalnd Homestead.