New-York tribune., 1912-06-10
PARCELS POST TO COME
WITH PRESENT CONGRESS.
Hitchcock Says Legislation Is
Certain-Perhaps Before End
of Present Session.
COMMENOS BOURNE BILL
In Report to Senate Committee
He Urges It's Passage
Would Reduce Cost
of Living.

Washington. June 9-Legislation provid-
Ing for general parcels post throughout
the United States and It's possessions cX-
cept the Philippine Islands. is practically
certain 10 he enacted 10y the present Con
Rress. perhaps before the end of the ses-
sion now IN progress. I'm the opinion of
Postmaster General Hitchcock. lie has
urged insistently upon Congress the do
sirability of domestic parcels post be
cause among other reasons he believes It
will aid substantially IN tho solution Of the
problem of the high cost Of living.
In statement to-day he expressed the
hope that the measure recently introduced
by Senator Bourne. chairman Of tie com
rittee on Post Ofices and Pos, KoIds
might be made into law
In the judgment Of Tho officers "f thc
postal service, The Bourne bill represents
the most scientific and businesslike plan
yet devised for parcels post. II provides
for parcels service throughout the coun-
try. both on rural and city carrier routes
It consolidates the third and fourth classes
of mail mattera reform long advocated
nv the postof1ce Department-and raises
the weight limit Of parcels 20 eleven
pounds. which is the limit Of the interns-
3ional parcels posts.
The rate 70 he charged for articles car
tied IN the rural route service and city
carrier service is five cents for the first
pound or fraction of pound and one cent
for each additional pound or fraction OF Il
pound. For the general parcels post ser
vice. which covers all mail transportation
other than local delivery by rural or city
.t carriers. graduated rates would bc estah-
lished. based on distance.
Would Establish Six Zones.
Cd. Six zones Of distance would be estab-
Nshed. The first would have radial dis
tance Of fifty miles from the point Of mail
ang: the second would include the area lyins
between fifty and two hundred miles me
shird, that between two hundred and i'e
hundred miles. the fourth, that between
I'VE hundred and one thousand miles; the
ffth. that between one thousand and t"o
thousand miles, and the sixth distances be-
yond two thousand miles.
The rate for delivery within the first
zone is cents for the first pound or frac-
lion Of pound and . cents for each addi-
iional pound or fraction of Il pound The
rates would increase for each additional
zone until. in the sixth. they reach maxi
,pum of 70 cents pound, the rate now
charged in the international parcels post
The rate on the consolidated third ana
fourth class mail matter is fixed at one
cent an ounce for not more than iour
ounces Distinctive parcels post stamps
will be provided
I'm a formal report forwarded to-day to
the senate Postofice Committee, Postmaster
General Hitchcock strongly urged the pas
sage OF the Bourne measure. Concerning the
general advantages Of n comprehensive par
GELS post service he says
The enactment Of the proposed parcels
most bill will aid materially in solving IN
high cost of living problem. because 1t viii
hiring tho producer and the consumer into
closer proximity. The rural route service
will enable the farmer 70 send TO the to"h
each morning the fresh products of his
truck farm or garden. and at the same
fine obtain quickly the small articles ne
desires TO purchase from city stores TINS
will mean not only great saving. oul
will stimulate a larger and more varied
production ard trade 1t will have the ef
feet Of bringing more closely together n
their commercial and social stations the
people Of the country and OF the CITY
Cheap and Ready Exchange.
The local system of parcels post delivery
hv CITY letter carrier will meet the deman'
for a cheaper and more ready exchange
of small wares Of all kinds in tue larger
towns and in cities
Under the zone plan the schedules o
rates are based solely on the actual cos
OF the service performed whertas the ia
ratc system. TO make the service self-sup
portjnc. must be based on the average
general distance the mail has TO be car
red So long as the weight IS negligible
a. in the case of letters, postal cards anC
small packages. the fiat rate is feasible
but when larger parcels. weighing "a muci
rs eleven pounds, are to be carried. th'
rates should be graduated TO meet in ;
more accurate manner the cost of trans
portation for different distances. Under
the fat rate plan It would be Impossible
10 meet the competition Of private carriers
FOR those carriers would take the short
hauls and leave the long hauls for tbs
government. The bill retains a fiat rate
however, for parcels up 10 four ounces
Under the low and carefully GRADUATED
scale of postage rates fixed for the severa
zones buying and selling by mail order
Will be increased. while the production OF