The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-04-05

cefted eHOft maze Dy tnOSe push
ing the parcels post propaganda to
flood congress with written requests
for the enactment of this legisla-
ton, SO that the aforesaid letters,
Numbering several thousand in the
aggregate should tumble in on
congressman on one and the same
day, or nearly so. The eighteenth
of March seems to have been the
day set apart for this onslaught.
The missives arrived in Washington
on or about the Goth. One member
told me that he had received as
his share some two hundred let
ters., They kept stringing along
for days, and the parcels post mail
was so heavy that he was compelled
to 4 forego his usual custom of re-
plying to. each letter with personal
typewriter answer, but had his
secretary get up form letter,
which he sent ont to each of his
correspondents.
Well, the democrats are in con-
troll aof the house and l presume they
will do as they please about parcels
post legislation. The bill will be
reached about the closing days of
March or the first of April. The
prospects are that the debates will
be exceedingly lively and interest.
ing. There has been dearth OF
congressional debates of the spirit
ed and animated sort, such as
the country has the privilege of
Witnessing. during the strenuous
days when Cannon swayed the
sceptre, and the insurgents clipped
him of his power but the present
situation gives prospect of a return
to the old days of heated discus
sion. IL .,. d.,
In order to clear up some mis-.
understanding as to what the terms
of the present parcels post PROPOSE
ton involve, / will outline briefly
the Legislation on this subject which
will be brought to the attention of
congress. Under the terms of the
bill the rate on merchandise, or
fourth class matter is reduced from
sixteen cents to twelve cents per
pound, except on local parcels posts
where the rate is still lower, as
follows. One cent for each two
ounces or less, two cents for more
than two ounces but not more than
four ounces, three cents for more
than four ounces, but not more
than eight ounces, four cents for
more than eight ounces, but not
more than twelve ounces, five cents
for more than twelve ounces, but
not mere than a pound, and two
cents per pound for each addition
al pound or fraction thereof up to
and including a total Of eleven
pounds. That is a merchant in a
small town or city could send out
into the country by rural carrier a
package of eleven pounds for 25
cents. This rate, however, applies
only from the point where the
route starts and to points on that
route. This is the local parcel
post feature of the bill. That same
package of eleven pounds sent from
New York to the farmer on the
route would pay the government
Another. feature of the bill is
the provision. providing for the ap.
pointment of a commission of six
persons, three Of whom shall be
appointed by the speaker of the
house Of representatives and three
by the president of the senate, the
purpose of the commission being
to make full and complete inquiry
and investigation into the feasibil-
| ity and propriety of the establish.
ment of general parcel post. The
sum of twenty-five thousand dol
lars is appropriated for the pur-
pose of making this investigation.
i *
The opinion seems to prevail that
the house democrats will put
through some sort of a parcel post
bill at this session, but that it will
pass the senate seems very doubt
| full. The democrats are playing
politics and they want the farmer
vote in the coming presidential
election. In this connection it is
asserted that they do not always
play the best politics, for it is
pointed out that whereas they favor
parcel post bill, yet at the same
time they are pushing the Lever
| oleo bill which is far from being pop
ular with the dairymen of the coun-
try. There are some who have been
trying to figure out how the demo
cratic house leaders can reconcile
the two different points of view,
as indicated by their position on
matters affecting the welfare OF
the farmer.
The opponents of general I'M
limited parcel post insist that it
will tend to concentrate business
in the large cities, and be injurious
to rural communities and small
towns and cities; that it is step
in the wrong direction; that it is
class legislation in that it discrimi-
mates against the country merchant
and faVors the great retail mail