The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-12-19
POST TO
Be AIRED BY THE
PRESENT CONGRESS
Champions of the Movement
Think that Some Definite
Action Will Be Taken for
Establishment.
Continued from Page One.)

and the postoffice or postoffices on
each route, as follows: On parcels
up to one twenty-fourth Of cubic foot,
or by IL inches in dimensions and up
to ! pound in weight, cent: on larg-
er parcels up to one-half a cubic foot,
or 9 by IL by IL inches in dimensions
and up to IL pounds In weight, s
cents; or larger parcels up cubic
foot, 8 by IL by "a inches in dimen-
sions and up to 25 pounds in weight,
10 cents. No parcels shall be over
q feet In length. and in no case shall
carrier be obliged to transport a load
Of over 500 pounds.
Sec. 4.--That on all unregistered
prepaid mail matter without declared
value an indemnity up to $40 shall be
paid by the Postoffice Department for
such actual loss or damage as may
occur through the fault of the postal
service, and this without extra charge.
Certificates OF posting shall be pro-
vided on demand.
On registered parcels of declared
value, and on which the fee for regis
tration. insurance, and postage has
been duly prepaid. the Postoffice De-
partment shall pay the full value Of
any direct loss or damage that may
occur through the fault Of the postal
service. The fees for insurance and
registration shall be as follows: For
insurance and registration up to $50.
10 cents: for each additional; $50, 2
cents. No claim for compensation will
be admitted II 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hereby repealed.
Sec. 6.-That this act shall take ef-
feet six months from and after the
date OF approval thereof.
A General system.
or course this is not in accordance
with the recommendation OF President,
rural sections. while Mr.. Suffers bill
provides for general system.
Some parcels post enthusiasts op-
pose even the Suizer bill on the ground
that Section should have the same
rates as Section Sin other words,
that the merchandise rate should only
be cent pound. This they claim,
IL the only way that Uncle Sam can
hope to compete with the express COM
panies.
They argue that II the bill is made a
law as 1t stands. Uncle Sam will get
all the long hauls. where losses are
incurred. while the express companies
will get the advantage OF the short
hauls as they will be able to quote
cheaper rates. In support. of their
statement they cite. make the follow
ing example:
Suppose merchant In New York
City desires to ship q ten pound par
Gel to Buffalo. The rate by parcels
post would be 70 cents, while the ex.
press company would carry 1t for so
cents. OF course. the express COM
pany would get the business. But sup
pose he wishes to ship 1t to seattle,
Washington. The express company's
rate would be sails. while Uncle Sam
would carry II for the same price, 70
cents. and OF course, would get the
business. AS the greatest percentage
Of hauls are on an average OF 40 miles
the express companies. OF course,
would get all the profit.
Can BE Overcome.
Other supporters OF the movement
say that this difficulty can be over
come by the government taking steps.
TO prevent the express companies from
handling packages under the IL pound
limit. At the last session Of congress,
Representative Murdoch Of Kansas. in
troduced resolution calling upon the
Postmaster.G General for Information
whether the Government had taken
steps to protect its monopoly In car
rying the mail against the incursions
Of the express companies.
The resolution declared that under
existing laws. the Government has a
monopoly for carrying all letters and
packages. The law specifically de.
clares for letters and packets
According to Mr.. Murdoch packets"
cover most OF the packages handled
by the express companies. although
the postoffice officials construe II to
mean packets Of letters" in accord.
ance with an opinion given by Attor-
Mr.. Murdoch declared that the Mac
veagh opinion was not founded on law
or fact.
Nothing definite came OF the resolu.
ton. but the matter will be taken up
In the near future. and every effort
will be made to have congress look
into II.
Frederick G. Beach, editor of the
Scientific American and President of
the. Postal Progress League. seems to
be greatly pleased with the progress
that is being made.
Parcels post legislation is bound
to come and come soon." he said in
an interview with representative of
the International News Service. All
the leading nations In the world have
IL. and II has proven not only great
time and money saver to the mer-
chants, but II is also a great source of
revenue to the government.
In Germany the government will
carry packages up to 10 pounds for
one-third Of cent q pound. while un-
der our present laws. the government
charges the prohibitive rate of Is
cents a pound. for merchandise. and
refuses to take anything over four
pounds. Think OF our rural free de-