The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-19
Taft and Hitchcock Favor ES-
 tabIishing the System
CONGRESS WILL TAKE T UP
Two Bius to EstabIish Parcels Post system Are Before Congress and It's Opponents Will Fight
 It Very Hard

parcels post will be one of the most important subjects that the present Congress will have to deal with. and the champions of this movement feel confident that some definite steps will he taken toward the establishment of this system before Congress adjourns reXt March.
 The fact that both President Taft in his annual message. and Postmaster General Hitchcock in his annual report, have recommended the rural parcels post, has greatly strengthened their hopes. and they believe that If once system is established for the rural Gistricts 1t will only be a short time
 before 1t is made general.
 James L. Crowles. founder and sec retary of the Postal Progress league, says that a vigorous campaign will be made this year in Washington to bring about the enactment of some parcels post legislation.
 Should we fail," he continued, i've shall urge the President to call a spe- cial session of the Sixty second Con- gress to take up this matter.
 Every effort is being made by the members of our league throughout the country to bring about the election of senators pledged to parcels post sys- tenn. We feel confident that a majority cf the House members are in favor of such legislation. and now Is our time to make sure of the Senate.
 "A mass meeting is to be held in Cooper Union, New York, on December
 70, which will be addressed by num-
 her of prominent business men, and
 this will be followed by our annual
 convention in February.
 At present there are two bills be-
 fore Congress providing for a parcels post system--the Bennett bill and the 1 Sulzer bill. Our league favors 4he Sulzer bill, because 1t specifics the
 limit on packages. If this bill is made a law 1t will save the people of the now paying to the express companies | in excessive rates, and convert the an-
 nual deficit of the postoffice depart
 ment into a handsome profit" Opposition Is Strong | Although the sentiment in the House seems generally favorable to the par
 celsapost, there is a strong factor op-
 posed to it. This is the House commit
 tee on postofrices and postroads Representative Weeks of Massachu- setts, the chairman of this body, has ex- pressed himself very forcibly as opposed to any legislation of this kind. and he apparently has the support of the majori- | ty of the committee. With the end of the present session, however, ten of these lose their seats In the House, and there will be new committee with new chairman when the Sixty-second Congress opens.
 The arguments for and against a par. cels post are many and have been reit-
 erated time and again, and it is safe tc
 say that they will be presented in ampli. fled form at this session.
 Representative Sulzers bill is as foi- lows:
 SuIzer's Postal Bill Be 1t enacted, etc., That the common weight limit of the domestic postal ser vice of the United States Is hereby in- creased to il pounds, the common limit of the Universal Postal Union, and that in the general business of the postoffice the 1 cent an ounce rate on general mer- chandise--fourth-cla mail matter-be and Is hereby, reduced to the third-class rate. cent for each ounces or fraction thereof.
 Sec g. That the rate on local letters | or sealed parcels posted for delivery with | In the free-delivery services Is hereby de- | ternined at cents on parcels up to 1
 ounces. 1 cent on each additional
 ounces; at non-delivery offices, l cent for
 each ounces.
 Sec B. That all mail matter collected an6 delivered within the different rural robses of the United States is hereby de- termined to be in one class, with rates
 door to door, between the different houses
 and places of business, and the postofficc or postoffices on each route, as follows On parcels up to one twenty-fourth of g cubic foot, or 1 by 12 inches in dimen-
 sions and up to one pound in weight, cent; on larger parcels up to one-half oi
 cubic foot, or by 12 by 12 inches In di-
 mensions and up to Il pounds in weight , cents on larger parcels up to 1 cubic foot, by 12 by 24 inches in dimensions and up to 25 pounds in weight, 10 cents No parcels shall be over feet in length and in no case shall carrier be obliged to transport load of over 800 pounds. "Sec 4. That on all unregistered prepaid mail matter without declared value ar | indemnity up to $10 shall be paid by the | post office department for such actual loss | or damage as may occur through the | fault of the postal service. and this with l out extra charge. Certificates of posting shall be provided on demand. On registered parcels of declared value and on which the fee for registration. in-
 surance and postage has been duly pre- | paid. the postoffice department shall pay | the full value of any direct loss or dam l age that may occur through the fault oi | the postal service The fees for insurance | and registration shall be as follows: For registration and insurance up to $50. Il cents; for each additional $50, cents
 No claim for compensation will be admit | ted if not presented within one year after the parcel Is posted.
 | Sec 5. That all acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act are hereby re-
 peaed.
 Sec. G. That this act shall take effec
 six months from and after the date o
 approval thereof.
 Taft's Recommendations
 Of course this is not in accordanc,
 with the recommendation of the PresI
 dent, as he suggests only parcels pos
 Tor rural sections. while MT. Sulzer's bil provides for a general system. | Some parcels post enthusiasts oppos. l | <r<~p5urvwrwrunw~ x<wy ,e