Evening journal., 1910-05-16
MONDAY, MAY I6. 1910
PARCELS POST.

~ HEY are having so hard time at Washing
i ton with progressive legislation that there
is no inclination to take up matters outside OF
the Taft program. The postal savings bank bill
which is a part Of the national platform. has not
yet been passed and until that is done, there will
probably be no serious agitation of the parcels
post system. And yet this is not a subject that
is to be permitted to drop. Before many years
we shall have parcels post system ike that of
other nations, but the question may be asked,
why cannot we have it at once?
The answer is that legislation at Washington
is practically controlled by the trusts and the
rich men. When we have a change in the yont
of view of our voters when they believe that it
is unwse to commit their national affairs into
the hands OF attoufeys for sp,cial interests, we
shall have the parcels post and othe, things
The paIcels post would Interfere with the
express Companies and that is one good reason
why Hiany of our statesmen in Washington arc
NOT desirous of taking up the matter But de-
spite their indifference, something is heard OF
the subject now and then.
The parcels post system has been such a sue
cess in Europe that the arguments heard here
against it are considered amusing.
One of the best things telling what the parcels
post does is the report of Consul General Skinner
at Hamburg, who has informed our government
OF the operation OF the system in Germany.
"In all European countries" he says, parcels
have been handled by post for so long time
that arguments for against this service,
such as one hears in the United States are ever
raised. If it should be proposed in Germany to
abolish the parcels post Ga most unthinkabe
proposition) loud complaint would, no doubt be
heard Immediately from the people of the small
towns and the farming population who ship to
the cities their butter, eggs, vegetables and
flowers to actual consumers. thus competing
directly with the retail provisioning establish
ments of every city. Thousands of Hamburg
families probably receive their daily pat of fresh
butter from the parcels postman, whose existence
renders it possible for the farmer in Mecklen-
burg to visit the city once year for finding GUS
toners. returning to his home with the know
ledge that his trade will be served just as con-
scentiousy as though he were located III the
heart OF Hamburg
The enormous proportions to which the par
cells post has grown in Germany is shown by the
statistics furnished by Consul General Skinner.
In the year 1907, I3,Izo,ooo parcels were carried
having a total value of $4,000, 100000, in addi-
ton to 22S,ooo,ooo parcels of which no value was
declared by the shippers. How long Germany
Aas enjoyed the benefits OF the parcels post SER
rice is unknown, but mention is found of such a
y A1Rtem as early as 1882.
he rates charged by the German government
he shipment of parcels within its own terri
and to Austria, which have been effective
c 1873, vary according to length of the haul.
rance an unvarying rate Is charged whether
parcel be transported one mile or 900 miles.
hin the limits of Germany and Austria the
Charged for transporting parcel not exceed
lSos (II.o2 pounds) in weight distance
75 kIometers zoo miles,, which constitutes
bne l. is * pfennigs (ooSo). Above the dis
Ance named the rate for the first kilos is 50
fennigs (SoIIo). When parcels exceed lilos
weight the original charge for the first Silos
|1ncreases for each additional l1ilo according to
graduated scale, the maximum additional
81 charge being so pfennigs or II.o cents kilo for
distances in excess of III3 kilometers or 6o1. 5S
miles.