Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-08-04
SEES PARCELS POST
N DISTANT FUTURE
MEMBER OF CONGRESS URGES
CAUTION IN FORMULATING
MEASURE.
HASTILY ORGANIZED SYSTEM
MIGHT COST MILLIONS
Conditions Hero and in Europe at
Wide Variance-Excessive Express
Rate Charges Have Created Public
Sentiment in Favor Of Cheaper Par.
eel Delivery.
Especial Correspondence.


Washington. Aug. 4-Recognizins
that the popular demand for a parcels
post sooner or later promises to be-
come Irresistible. members of congress
having to do with postal affairs are
moving for thorough investigation or
the system In Europe with view or
avoiding dangers that might threaten
if the experiences of other countries
were not studied in advance. Presi-
dent Taft has committed himsef 10
the parcels post idea and even mas
promised to urge. in his next annuai
message, that the system be instituted.
Some of the business men OF congress.
however. are hoping that the president
will not let his enthusiasm outrun his
judgment in this matter and will not
encourage immediate legislation until
1t can be learned what the system
would be likely to cost. Said one OF
the leading business men Of the house
today discussing this matter:
II am convinced that the parcels
post is bound to come. The people
are demanding that the postoffice de-
partment shall be made more usefu'
and they believe that the government
has surrendered too much to the ex-
press companies and should give the
people cheaper parcel transportation.
This idea is all right and l am in
sympa thy with it, but we must proceed
cautiously or we are In danger OF 90
ing unbusinesslike things. The postal
savings bank system was started right.
The government began slowly and
gathered Information from all parts OF
the world before 1T framed its own
at
authorized. at the outset and the de-
partment could calculate almost to
cent what the system would cost The
tentative experiment with these forty
eight Offices convinced the department
that the system could and should be
extended and it now will be only
matter of time when every community
in the United States that wants. or at
least needs. a postal bank will have
one.
Europe No Criterion.
1--WE know nothing whatever about
the parcels post. 1t has been sue
cess in Europe but the system there is
so closely identified with government
subsidies and ownership of railroads
and other institutions unknown In this
country that it is Impossible for US to
tell what European governments pay
for their parcels post. If we should
start in hastily we might easily fnd
that we had incurred an extra expense
Of from $50 100000 to s100,0O0.0OO a
year. The need OF trustworthy statis-
tics is all the more important because
when we once start on the parcels
post we can not stop. We must keep
on going as we started. The postal
bank system has some heXibility and
we could make administrative changes
in that with comparative ease. once
the parcels post were instituted. we
could no more do away with II than we
now can with the rural free delivery.
What would YOU propose?" was
asked.
81 think it is the opinion at the
capitol that one or more competent
men should be sent to Europe to study
and report upon the foreign systems.
Unless this is done congress would be
working more blindly even than 1t is
now on the tariff. and that is saying a
good deal. With this information in
hand we will be prepared to go ahead
and frame up a system. II 1t can be
demonstrated that the government can
operate one at reasonable cost and
save money to the people over the
present express charges This is not
a move of it's enemies for delaying the
parcels post but It is simply a business
precaution and is commended by every
instinct of good business sense"