El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-12-17
Sulzer Bill Favored by Pro
gress League, Is Opposed
by Express Company
Interests.


cells post will be one of the most i'm
portant subjects that the present con-
gress viii have to deal with and the
champions of this movement feel con-
, fdent that some definite steps will be
taken toward the establishment of
this system before congress adjourns
next March
The fact that both president Taft,
in his annual message, and postmaster
general Hitchcock in his annual re-
port, have recommended the rural par
GELS post, has greatly strengthened
their hopes, and they believe that if
once system is established for the
rural districts, it will only be a short
time before it is made general.
James l. Cowles. founder and secre-
tary of the Postal Progress league, saws
that vigorous campaign will be made
this year in Washington to bring bout
the enactment of some parcels post
legislation
Should we fail" he continued, I'VE
shall urge the president to call
special session of the sixty-second
congress 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 a parcels post sys-
tenn We feel confident that a majority
Of 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
%, which will be addressed by a num-
Der of prominent business men, and
this will be followed by our annual
convention in February.
Favor SuIzer Bill.
AT present there are two bills be-
fore congress providing for parcels
post systematic Bennett bill and the
Sulzer bill. Our league favors the Sui
Ter bill because it specifies the limit
on packages If this bill is made a law
it will save the people of the country
100000, 600 year that they are now
paying to the express companies in
excessive rates, and convert the annual
deficit of the postoffice department into
a handsome profit"
Although the sentiment in the house
seems generally favorable to the par
GELS post, there is a strong factor op-
posed to it. This is the house COM
mittee of postoffices and post roads.
Representative Weeks, Of Massa-
chusetts, the chairman of this body. has
expressed himself very forcibly as
opposed to any legislation of this kind.
and he apparently has the support of
the majority of the committee. With
the end of the present session how
ever, ten of these lose their seats Ia
the house, and there will be a new
committee with new chairman when
the sixty-second congress opens
The arguments for and against q
parcels post are many, and have been
reiterated time and again, and it is
safe to say that they viii be presented
in amplified form at this session
The SuIzer BILL
Representative Suffers bill provides /!
that the common weight limit of the !
domestic postal service of the United |
States be increased to IL pounds, taa
common limit of the Universal Postal
union. and that in the general bust /
ness Of the postoffice the / cent an /
ounce rate on general merchandise !
fourth class mail matter-be reduced !
to the third class rate. 1 cent for each /
two ounces or fraction thereof: that /
the rate on local letters or sealed par i
GELS posted for delivery within the free I
delivery services be 2 cents on par
GELS up to 4 ounces, 1 cent on each !
additional two ounces: at non-delivery /
offices, ! cent for each two ounces.
1t provides that all mail matter col I
lected and delivered within the differ J
ent rural routes Of the United States
shall be in one class, with rates, door |
TO door, between the different houses
and places of business, and the post
office or postoffices on each route. as
follows: On parcels up to one twenty
inches in dimensions and up to one
pound in weight, 1 cent; on larger
parcels up to One-haf a cubic foot or
six by u by u inches in dimensions
and up to II pounds in weight,
cents; on larger parcels up to one
cubic foot. six by u by d inches in
dimensions and up to % pounds in
weight 10 cents. No parcels shall be !
over six feet in length, and in no case
shall carrier be obliged to transport a
Dad of over 500 pounds.
Section of the bill provides that |
On all unregistered prepaid mail mat
ter without declared value an inderl-
atty up to SO shall be paid by the
0ostoffice department for such actual
oss or damage as may occur through
he fault of the postal service. and
his without extra charge. Certificates
IF posting shall be provided on de-
nand
On registered parcels of declared
7alue, and on which the fee for regis
ration, insurance. and postage has
been duly prepaid. the postoffice de-
'artment shall pay the full value of
my direct loss or damage that may oc-
'ur through the fault of the postal