The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-05-12


cells post law than for postal savings
bank law 1t is difficult to satisfy the
average citizen why he shall pay 16
cents pound if he desires to send
a package through the mails while
the publisher of a magazine pays only
one cent pound.
All the advocates of the general
parcels post in presenting their case
do not do so in antagonism to the
Foster bill. They concede that even
with the establishment of a general
parcels post there would still be need
of the local rate for parcels limited
to rural free delivery routes and they
agree that every facility should be
given to carriers on these routes to
earn additional money for the Gov
eminent and so reduce the deficit that
this branch of the postal service an
nually incurs.
BY the provision of Congressman
Fosters bill these special rates are
limited to packages carried on those
routes which emanate from the same
postoffices. The purpose of the bill is
therefore to bring the farmers on the
rural routes in closer communication
with the grocer. dry goods merchant,
meat man, drug store and all the
sources of supply on which he de-
ponds. Mr.. Foster appeared before
the committee in support of his bill.
! Appearing before the committee in
support of the general parcels post
( bill We're representatives of merch-
ants associations from all parts of
the country, the National Grange, the
Farmers Educational and Coopera
! tive Union of North America, and
representatives of the Postal Progress
/ League. The greatest opposition came
from representatives of the retail
hardware trade.
The text of the Foster bill follows:
The Foster Bill.
A bill to provide local rates of pos
tage on parcels on rural routes en-
anating from the same postoffice or
station.
Be it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress
assembled, That the local rates of
postage on parcels herein provided
shall apply only to parcels mailed on
and addressed to rural delivery routes,
as follows;
First From the postoffice or sta
ton from which one or more rural
delivery routes emanate to any inter-
mediate post-office or to any patron
on any of said routes emanating from
said postoffice or station and supplied
by rural carrier.
Second. From any intermediate
postoffice on any rural delivery route
to the post office or station from
which said route emanates, or to
any intermediate post office or to
rural delivery route emanating from
said postoffice or station and supplied
by rural carrier.
Third. From any patron on any
rural delivery route to the postoffice
or station from which said route en-
anates, or to any patron or informed
late postoffice on that or any Other
rural delivery rute emanating from
said postoffce or station and supplied
by rural carrier: Provided, That in
all cases where, under this act, it is
proposed to mail parcels for delivery
on rural route emanating from {
branch postoffice or Independent sta
ton, such parcels shall be offered fol
mailing at such branch postoffice OF
station, and not at the postoffice prop
er; and that on such route no par
cells addressed to such postoffice pro
per shall be mailable under this act
Sec. 2. That the following loca
rates of postage are hereby establish
ed for parcels of third and fourth
class matter on rural delivery route:
emanating from the same postoffic,
ounces or less, one cent; on parcels
weighing over two ounces and not eX
ceeding four ounces, two cents; OF
parcels weighing over Tour ounces an,
not exceeding eight ounces, tire,
cents; on parcels weighing owe
eight ounces and not exceeding l.
ounces, four cents; on parcels weigh
ing over IL ounces and not exceeding
one pound, five cents; on parcels
weighing over one pound, five cents
and two cents for each additional
pound or fraction thereof: Provided
that the local rates herein provide,
shall not be treated as increasing an,
existing rate of postage on third-clas
matter
Sec. g. That such parcels shall no
exceed eleven pounds in weight, AM
in size and shape shall conform t.
such regulations as the Postoffice De
partment shall make, and in genera
shall conform to the postal laws an
regulations concerning AVAILABILITY, ex
cept as they are modified by this &C
and regulations promulgated in pur
surance thereof.
Sec. A. That provisions, meats
fruits and vegetables, seeds, cuttings
bulbs, roots, scions, and plants shal
h. sInIN Il