Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1912-01-06
The PARCELS POST VERSUS
The COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER


cta !; question now in the public mind Unfortunately this ques
ton has become involved politics. making an
the plain and unvarnisned facts exceedingly ulc INC ~
ca traveller the ubiquitous drummer manfesy concerDeu any
Question dealing with goods wares and merchandise
from the cenes of distributions affecting his employment
The main objects usually advanced in favor of parcels post are
first that will afford relief the carrying monopoly now enjoyed
Inv the EXPRESS companies second will make possible freer ex
change of commodities particularly small amounts over snort us
tnc 1t undoubtedly that there is well founded demand or
this short distance sevc also undoubtedly true that the e
press companies supplying this public demand and on the con-
arv all the lighting the parcels post
exacons and companies have Tree
and full exchange commodities short distances ana the aco
the express companies become notorious ana offensive
that thew have rouny censured and brought DOCK oy CLASS
Of journals naturally friendly them viz the railroad press
However the commerce law as AMENDED all EXPRESS
compes are now the direct and absolute control OF the inter-
state commerce and that body has very recently u 'd
many prevailing rates are 1aeanty UNJUST anu a ~
reduction has already ordered The Interstate commerce
commission has moreover already begun comprehensive nVes
cation of all matters appeann to the express companies
The second argument generally advanced IN favor OF the ce
is that it will furnish competition the companies ana at
tenton called the fact that the Southern Express
which was originally chartered by the legislature OF Georgia mas
charter nnetynine Inc mere act 'nat us
nanv has renewed had right to 90 under the og
of Incorporation certainly does indicate that IS seeking 10 sumo
omnon Surely no sane would seriously consider the sab
of parcels post ground that would furnish COM
non to the express companies The easiest and best Way to regulate
the express companies through the interstate commerce commission
railroad commissions Wouo surely DC oo
attempt express regulation by turning e posoe ~
men into freight carrying with rates the dat rate basis
far below the actual cost of the proceeding would be
like cutting off the nose to spite the lace
The argument usually advanced taVong parcS post a
lit works in Europe would help the country merchant Advocates OF
such theories their ignorance prove onc
svev that thew not they talking about lh Tor the
w GOOD reason that the European countries no such cou
v merchants as the of thousands in America ana al
ford millions of all the convenences OF upoate mercantile
establishments right their DOORS European citizens OUTSIDE the
large cities are deprived this advantage for which the parcels post
system brings poor Even conservative magazine as
the Outlook has asked editoray why the En9Sman send
package weighing pounds end his country to other Tor 70
cents while American mail nothing over pounds and must
nav GA cents The and easily deonsataoe
The ends Engshmans country are thirty ues closer losee
Than the ends of the domnions of your Uncle Samuel
The total the United Kingdom including England reano
and Scotland the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands A
miles or an area square miles less than the combined
of Illinois, Indiana Ohio The total area OF the United States
including Hawai- is 2452 square miles, or thirty tunes
larger than the United Kingdom of Great Britain me parcels
post system Great Britain serves popuauon OF 49oo2 III
country which averages $50 people to the square e Ill e o
States population onehf times larger scattered over
territory thirty larger with average OF about 70 people
the square mile -.
While it true that parcels fairly successful in England
under exceedingly conditions the sheerest folly to assume
that it would work United States under conditions altogether d
eent and totally Under the proposed plan the government
supposed transport the parcels at uniform rate charging the
long haul as haul but the government when it pays for
the hauling mails pays mileage basis circle drawn around
St. Louis include Chicago Kansas City, Memphis LOUISVILLE
Cincinnati and INDIANAPOLIS fairly the territory covered
the parcels post Great Britain and would show the extreme limit
any haul while apply the same system IN ne Oned o "O
mean m charlie the same haul from the Atlantic to the Pal
6 distance Of over 5000 miles haul from ST Louis Chi
cago oneteLh that distance 49,.
The FOREGOING main arguments advanced favor OF the
narces post that they mere appeals 10 the pre-
de Of the masses and appeals cool and calm judgment
The parcels post presented by the present postmaster general
and approved by the president merely scheme to Deneh copa
atvev small class of the OF the great
of the people being kept before the people by pol
ans who desire the of those farmers VINO were
from the fold by the Canadian RECIPROCITY treaty.
memory politicians either consciously or dong
thew can to further the of the mail order concerns which
are seeking business in the great Centers
trade the exnense of the country Thus the parcels
Loot means mpy the country merchant
to the demen of the nations interests Should the parcels post
established on the what there to prevent the
order eonle from establishing branch houses depots of supplies