The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-12-02
HITCHCOCK TO URGE THE PAR
! GELS POST
viii Ask Congress to Initiate Limited
Service on Rural Mail Routes.

viii Ask Congress to Initiate Limited
Service on Rural Mail Routes.
With the flattering and encouraging
assurance that the postofice depart
ment will be on self. sustaining basis
in the next fiscal year, determined
movement will be inaugurated this
winter for the establishment of par
cells post system. Postmaster General
Hitchcock, who has been strong for it
in the past, will renew his recommen-
dation in his forthcoming annual re-
port. 1t is proposed to initiate the sys'
tenn with q limited service on rural
mail routes.
1t is announced that the complica-
tions that have delayed the work Of
organization for the installation Of the
postal savings bank system now have
been practically removed, 30 that
actual operations soon will be started in
the Offices designated for the prelimi-
nary test. After these operations are
started it is expected extension of the
service will be a matter of speedy ac-
complishment The postmaster gener-
al argues that as soon as the postal
bank system is thoroughly organized
the postoffice department shoulc be
prepared to establish throughout the
country general parcels post. In
other words one is the complement of
the other.
UP TO ELEVEN POUNDS
In statement made today it is an
nounced that the postmaster general
hopes, as a preliminary step in the de-
velopment of such service, that con.
gress will authorize the delivery on
rural routes of parcels weighing as
high as eleven pounds, which is the
weight limit for the international par
cells post. This form of service" it is
declared, "can be conduced with little,
if any, additional expense to the gov
ernment. 1t will not require the ap.
pointment of more carriers, for those
already employed have the necessary
equipment in the way of horses and
wagons to distribute the parcel as well
as the ordinary mail. Rarely is the
latter Of sufficient volume to take up
more than small portion of the mail
space in the carriers wagon. A rural
parcels post of the kind proposed, if
successfully conducted, would probably
lead to more general system"
The postmaster general believes, how
ever, that before the parcel service is
extended to the whole country definite
information Should be obtained as to
the nature and volume of the business
to be handled. He accordingly urges
that in conjunction with the expert
ment on rural routes further inquiry
be authorized by congress in order
that the department may be in better
position to develop the system on con.
servative lines. He recommends that q
special appropriation for the inquiry be
granted at the coming session.
| BUSINESS MEN FAVOR IT
That business men throughout the
J country will join in a movement for
speedy action in the parcels post mat
ter is indicated by the impetus already
given to it in some of the larger cities
A few days ago representatives of New
York department stores came out in
force with expressions of hope that the
agitation of the subject would be pro.
ductiye of action by congress at the
coming session. All the merchants
whose views were asked were emphatic
in urging the need of the parcels post.
1t has been pointed out that foreign
countries are years ahead of us in this
respect, while treaties enable citizens
of the United States to send heavy
packages abroad by mail more cheaply
than they can ship the same packages
between Chicago and New York bv ex
press That the powerful express com
panies have been the chief foes of this
postal reform in America has been re-
called by many merchants and other
shippers of small packages, who have
remarked upon the helplessness of the
mercantile community when transpor
tation is tied up, as, for instance, by an
express strike.
| EXPRESS COMPANY ExToRTIoNs
An important element for considera-
tion, also, is the recent crusade against
the alleged extortionate charges of the
express companies. The action taken
with regard to express rates in Illinois
has been followed by a concerted move
to have the interstate commerce com
mission give attention to the interstate
phase of the express question, and there
are to be important hearings in the
matter in the near future. Public dis.
satisfaction with the express companies
has led to radical suggestions in the
line of remedy for existing evils,
among them being that the govern.
ment assume in their entirety the
| functions now performed by private