The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-05-03
Fight ON PARCELS POST,
ANOTHER VEXED QUESTION
CONFRONTS DEMOCRATS.
Shadows of 1912 Presidential Cam
paign Loom Above Battlefield I'm
Lower House.

Washington. April 30.--Now that
the Democrats in the house have dis
cussed o. length the free list bill
passed the reciprocity bill and the re-
apportionment bill, settled the vexed
patronage question and started booms
for several sons, they are to tackle
at an early date another tough prop
osition-one that is generally con-
ceded to be of the hardest kind
that IL. whether they will pass a par
cells post law. either general or linn
ietd.
On the other hand. the sentiment
for the establishment Of q parcels
post is obviously growing; on the
other hand. with the opposiaion to it
bitter. and a presidential campaign
just ahead, there is some hesitancy
on the part Of the Democrats concern
ed over the party fate in 1912 about
taking it up.
II Is plain, however, that the ques-
tion is up to this congress, and that
IL will have to pass on it.
Champ Clark, the speaker. admit
ted this himself recently. Mr..
Clark has not committed himself on
the proposition. though he is con-
vinced the express companies, to use
his own terms. are "gouging" the
public. He is in favor OF the post
office department living up to that re-
Quirement OF the law as to exercis-
Ing monopoly Of the business Of
carrying packets. That the house
VIII pass a parcels post measure il
one Is reported out Of committee is
generally believed. The recent par
cells post convention in Washington
was the strongest gathering of the
kind ever held here.
1t took steps to urge congress to
act in favor Of the system and even
went further and put itself on rec
ord as desiring that the government
take over 'he business OF the express
cOmpAniesg - .e--s-=f.-.--ss-t, 81, -.-...-.-
Congressman Moon of Tennessee
has already appointed the subcommit-
tees OF his committee. Among than is
one on parcels post. 1t consists of
Representative Lloyd of Missouri,
chairman, and Representatives MAYS.
Bell. Gregg. Weeks, Gardner of New
Jersey and Lafean. Representative
Lloyd is chraiman Of the Democratic
congressional committee. Messrs.
Gardner. Weeks and Lafean are the
Republican members.
The sentiment of the subcommittee
and OF the main committee is about
evenly divided for and against the
system.
Mr.. Lloyd, as chairman Of the SUBJ
committee in charge of the question
has large responsibility in the mat
ter.
III no bill is brought out he will be
blamed for it. and 1t will be said that
he was afraied to let the legislation
get through for fear Of political con-
sequences.
But the disposition of a good many
or the Democrats is to take the view
that parcels post legislation is want
ed by the farmers and that it should
be provided. Some of the astute poll
iticians perceive that the enactment
or Canadian reciprocity has hurt
them with the farmers, who can see
nothing to their benefit in it.
Parcels post legislation would be
very popular with the latter and
might counteract any deleterious ef-
fects on the farmer vote from the re-
ciprocity agreement.
This situation makes the parcels
post proposition a very important one
at this time and one that will be well
worth watching.