Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-09-28
Parcels Post.


Remarlxs Of Hon. jonathan Bourne, Jr.,
Of Oregon, IN the United States
Senate, June Esd. 1911.
Mr.. BOURNE said:
Mr.. President: introduce the fol-
lowing bill Is. 287S), and aek that it be
read for the information of the Senate.
It 10 very brief.
Be u enacted By the Senate and House
Of Representatives of the United States of
America IN Congress assembled.
That from and after the passage
of this act no higher postage rate shall
he charged for the transmission Of mail
entirely within the United States or its
possessions than is charged for trans
mission Of mail partly within and partly
without the United States or its posses
slons. The Postmaster General is here
by authorized and required to establish
and enforce rules and regulations which
will give the people Of the United States
rights and privileges IN the use of the
United States mails as liberal as the
rights and privileges the United States
accords to the people of the most fav-
ored nation.
Mr.. President, it may seem strange
to Members of the Senate that there
should be possibility of legislation
giving American citizens privileges in
the United States mails between them
selves equal with those enjoyed By resi-
dents of this country in transaction of
business with residents of foreign
countries. The facts are these: Within
the United States the rate of hostage
an fourth-class matter is 16 cents a
pound, with limit of 4 pounds. The
United States is party to treaty un-
der which residents of 20 foreign coun-
tries may send fourth-class matter
through the United States mails at 10
cents pound. with limit Of II pounds.
In other words, man may send an III
pound package from San Francisco to
Rome, Italy. at IL cents pound. but
1t ne wishes to send the same articles
to New York he must divide them into
packages Of not to exceed 4 pounds
each and pay is cents pound. A Jap
anese residing in New York can send,
an ll-pound package to his friends IN
Tokyo at IL cents. but an American in
New York can send only a 4-pound
package from New York to Washing
ton and must pay l6 cents pound.
Mr. President, the Committee on Post
Offices and Post Roads Of both Senate
and House have under consideration
bills for the establishment Of parcels
post. In my opinion, the specific pro
visions of such q bill should be tixed
only after the most careful investipa-
ton | believe Congress will establish
parcels-post rate Of less than IL cents
pound. and rate very much less than
that for short hauls. But whatever
the ultimate action on the question Of
pArceh post, see no reason for DELAY
In the enactment Of this law. giving
American citizens as favorable postal
facilities 90 this Government extends to
residents Of foreign countries. Especi-
ally q this true when investigation bv
the Post Office Department shows that
the cost of transporting fourth-class
matter y approximately l2 cents 1
pound The passage of this bin win ia
no way conflict with any subsequent
legislation on the subject of parcels
post.
The foregoing suggestions of
Senator Bourne, Of Oregon, who,
IA our judgement, IS perhaps the
brainiest Of the Progressive Re-
pnblicans. are short and to the
point and unanswerable.
Pending the enactment Of
well worked out Parcels Post
Law, one giving the citizens Of the
United States the same rights as
foreigners In the use Of their own
mails, would offer immediate re-
Lief. !