The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1912-12-27

lE22ll-t-t-t--llAl - - ~ - +
now furnished with scales Of limited
capacity makes 1t necessary for the
postmaster general to make this very
large purchase of scales capable of
taking care OF the parcel post BUSH
ness. 1t is understood that this will
be the largest single order ever placed
for scales.
Rate on Seeds Not Affected.
1t should be said that the act of
congress which puts parcel post plan
into operation does not in any way
affect the postage rate on seeds, cut
tings, bulbs, roots, scions and plants
as fixed by section 4S2 of the postal
laws and regulations.
The classification of articles mail
able as well as the weight limit, the
rates of postage, zone or zones and
other conditions of AVAILABILITY under
the act of congress. il the postmaster
general shall find on experience "that
they or any of them are such as to
prevent the shipment Of articles de-
sirable, or shall permanently render
the cost of the service greater than
the receipts of the revenue therefrom,
he is hereby authorized. subject to the
consent of the interstate commerce
commission after investigation, to re
form from time to time such classif-
cation, weight limit, rates, zone or
zones or conditions, in order to pro-
mote the service to the public or to
insure the receipt of revenue from
such service adequate to pay the cost
thereof"
Through many years different mem
bers of the house and senate have
been interested in promoting parcel
post legislation. Among the men most
active in securing the legislation
which soon is to go into effect as
law are Senator Jonathan Bourne OF
Oregon. Representatives David j
Lewis of Maryland and William Sui
ger OF New York, who has just been
elected governor of that state.
To ascertain conditions surrounding
the establishment of the parcel post
py5tSlu III pldSSS diAStlhS WiuSiy IL
size, climate and industries, Postmas
ter General Hitchcock recently sum
moned to Washington. to confer with
the special parcel post committee. the
postmasters of five typical offices
They are William H. Davis, Pittsburg
Pa: Daniel T. Gerow. Jacksonville
Fla; M. H. Joster. Wilmington. Del;
=. NJ. G. Quimby. Suffolk. Va. ant
Henry N. Bradley. Charlestown. w
Va.
Confer With Postmasters.
The postmasters of the five larges
offices in the country have already
appeared before the committee, 81
Pittsburg was represented as being 1
large first class office. though smaller
than any of the greater five. and al
being the center of a tremendous man
ufaeturing area. The postmaster o
Pittsburg reported that the board o
trade of that city has a special parce
| post committee, working towarl
bringing the consumer and produce
nearer to each other by the new sys
| tenn He also said that many OF TIL
merchants are planning to have thei
/ city deliveries made by parcel post.
Wilmington, Del. represented
large farming and manufacturing dis
| trict, with its mail connections clos
| with Philadelphia, one OF the larges
offices. Jacksonville is the largest Of
| flee in Florida. and the outlet for al
| the mail of the state. 1t Is peculia
in having special increase of fore
in winter. the tourist season. and tn
postmaster said that it was expecte
that travellers would use the parce
post extensively in sending home fiv
and ten-pound packages of fruit.
Suffolk. Va. and Charlestown, v
Va, are both very small second elias
offices, one in the tide-water distric
with large truck interests; the othe
far inland In an orchard country. wit
diversified farm products. The pos
masters of both offices reported greg
interest In the parcel post. and sal
that they had continual Inquiries r,
garding its scope.
From these postmasters the con
mittee was able to CLEAN gres
amount of valuable information
which. added to that gained from ii
recent hearings in Maryland. puts
; ; in a position to plan the details of II
service to the greatest advantage I
! the producing farmer.
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Give Him Time.