Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-12-21

struction OF national waterway from
IDckport to the mouth of the Illinois
river ID conjunction with the develop
lment OF water power by that state be-
tween Lockport and Utica"
Urges Parcel Post.
In advocating the establishment OF
PARCELS post system, the president
says:
steps should be taken Immediately
for the establishment OF a rural parcel
post. In the estimates of appropriations
needed for the maintenance Of the pos
tai service for the ensuing fiscal year
an item Of $4,000 has been inserted
to cover the preliminary expense Of es-
'tablishing a parcel post on rural mail
routes, as we'll as to cover an investi-
CATION having for Its object the Anal
establishment Of general parcel post
on all railway and steamboat transpor-
tation routes. The department believes
that after the initial expenses of es-
tablishing the system are betrayed and
the parcel post Is in full operation on
the rural routes 1t will not only bring
in sufficient revenue to meet Its cost.
but also a surplus that can be utilized
in paying the expenses of parcel post
in the city delivery service.
1T is hoped that congress will author
ize the immediate establishment OF q
limited parcel post on such rural routes
as may be selected, providing for the
delivery along the routes Of parcels
not exceeding eleven pounds, which is
the weight limit for the international
parced post, or at the postoffice from
which such route emanates, or any
other route emanating from the same
office. Such preliminary service Will
prepare the way for the more thorough
and comprehensive inquiry contem-
plated in asking for the appropriation
mentioned, enable the department to
gain definite information concerning
the practical operation of general
system, and at the same time extend
the benefit Of the service to a class OF
people who, above all others, are spec
tally in need of it.
"The suggestion that we have gem
eral parcel post has awakened great
opposition on the part of some who
think that it will have the effect to de-
stroy the business OF the country store
keeper. Instead OF doing this, I think
the change will greatly increase bust
ness for the benefit of all. The reduc-
ton in the cost Of living it will bring
about ought to make it's coming cer-
tain.
Elimination Of Office From Politics.
81 wish to renew again my recon-
mendation that all the local Offices
turnout the country. including collec-
tors Of interna! revenue, collectors OF
customs, postmasters of all four class
es. immigration commissioners and
marshals, should be by law covered in
to the classified service, the necessity
for confirmation by the senate be re-
moved, and the president and the
others, whose time Is now taken up IN
distributing this patronage under the
custom that has prevailed since the
beginning of the government in accord
ance with the recommendation from
the senators and congressman OF the
majority party should be relieved from
this burden. am confident that such
a change would greatly reduce the cost
Of administering the government. and
that 1t would add greatly to its Ell
cheney. It would takes away the power
to use the patronage of the govern
ment for political purposes. When Of
ficers are recommended by senators
and congressman from political mo-
tives and from political services rem
dered, 1t is impossible to expect that
while in office the appointees will not
regard their tenure as, more or less de-
pendent upon continued political SER
vice for their patrons, and no regula-
| tions, however stiff or rigid, will pre-
vent this, because such regulations, fr
view OF the method and motive for Sc
lection, are plainly inconsistent and
deemed hardly worthy Of respect"