The Washington herald., 1911-01-01
PARCELS POST n BOON
TO EUROPEAN NATIONS

There are fourteen bills before Con
. parcels post. The proposals rangs
from an extension Of the fourth-clasa
service to the creation OF practically q
new division Of postal activities along
the lines Of parcels post so familiar tt
Europe. South America, and Australia
Both President Taft and Postmaster
Hitchcock have expressed themselves II
favor of parcels post in much larger
form than the United States enjoys now
and their influence, together with pres
sure from the rural districts particularly
may bring about legislation this term.
n is a subject which has been coming
before Congress on and on for q great
many years. but opposition of one sort
or another has up to date sufhced tc
shqt of legislation. The often expressed
Congressional view has been that people
generally do not seem to have made VI
their minds fully that they want 1t.
The present parcels post rate in the
United States is l6 cents a pound. The
limit of weight is four pounds. But
through postal treaties the parcels posi-
systems Of numerous countries have been
recognized by the United States. What
has really been brought about Is a work
ing agreement whereby there will not be
confusion in the transmission of inter
national mail. So it happens that al
though the rate for fourth-class matter
within the United States is 16 cents per
pound. the rate for mail destined for for
eign delivery is only Il cents a pound.
Precisely twenty-nine foreign countries
enjoy this working agreement with the
United States. And. moreover. II you are
sending parcels abroad you are not him
dered by a four-pound limit. You are
entitled to send up to twenty-four pounds.
Here is some interesting data concern
ing the parcels POST regulations as they
are in vogue elsewhere to-day:
Great Britain-Iimit of weight, eleven
ponds: for first pound. l cent: for each
additional pound. 2 cents.
New Zealand and AuStralia-Limit OF
weight, eleven pounds. For first pound.
1c cents: for each additional pound. s
cents.
Germany-Weight limit, no pounds.
For all parcels conveyed not more than
ten geographic pounds, cents, and 13
cents for greater distances. If parcels
weigh more than eleven pounds, each ad-
ditional two pounds. carried ten miles, l
cent: twenty miles, 8 cents: fifty miles,
5 cents: one hundred miles. cents.
Austria-Limit Of weight, ITO pounds,
except parcels containing gold or silver
COH1 Up " pOuHoS, SiiC iosSo q III
the first ten miles. cents, and for greater
distance, u cents.
France-Limit of weight about twenty
two pounds. The postage rate up to two
pounds is Il cents, delivered at the rail-
way station and II cents If delivered at
tile residence. From seven to eleven
pounds, the rate is is cents for delivery
at the station. and q cents II delivered
at the residence. From eleven to twen-
ty-two pounds. the rate calls for 25-cent
stamp. If delivery is made at the railway
station, and for 30-cent stamp, II deliv-
cry is made at the residence.
Belgium-Limit of weight, 1s2 pounds.
All unwieldy bundles are subjected to an
additional 50 per cent charge. Up to
eleven pounds a 10-cent stamp suficeS,
but if the package goes by express an ex-
ira cents may be paid. Up to twenty
two pounds a package may be mailed on
ordinary trains for Il cents. and on ex-
press trains for % cents. For each addi-
tional twenty-five pounds there is an ad-
ditional charge of cents if carried on
ordinary trains. and 10 cents If carried
on express. The fee for delivery at resi-
dences is cents.
1000, ,OOO, 900 Parcels Annually.
Italy-The weight limit is eleven pounds.
For ordinary parcels. measuring two feet
in any direction. except rolls which may
measure forty inches in length and eight
inches in thickness, a charge Of 20 cents
is imposed. A parcel exceeding two feet
in any direction, but under five feet is
charged additional amounts. II it does
not weigh more than seven pounds 1t is
charged cents; if it exceeds that weight
it is charged 10 cents.
The Netherlands-Weight limit Is
eleven pounds. Measurement must not
exceed forty inches in any direction.
The charge is cents up to two pounds,
s cents up to seven pounds. and 10
cents between seven and eleven pounds.
Chile-The weight limit is eleven
pounds. No package must measure more
than two feet in any direction. Anything
less than seven pounds in weight goes
for 10 cents postage. Over that weight
the charge is II cents.
Cuba-Weight limit. eleven pounds.
Greatest size permitted is three feet six
inches in length, two feet six inches in
width. The rate is 10 cents n pound up
to five pounds. and cents for each ad-
ditional pound.
The extent to which the parcels post
is used abroad is almost beyond the
comprehension of the average American
who has always been accustomed to send