Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-15

THE Postmaster General following the AUTHORIZE
of the law, has prepared for in the parcel post
system series of twelve special postage stamps, which
have size and design different from stamps used in
other branches of the service These stamps
intended give pictures of practically phase of
the work of carrying parcels by mail and of all the in
dustries and products influenced by the new system
There three of dcs gns. The first illustrates
the modern methods of transporting mail, stamp
showing the mail railway mail train, another an
ocean mail steamship a third stamp of the auto
mobiles now used in the postal service, and-a fact
significant of what postal authorities think will be done
in the future-a fourth shows the despatch of mail on
aerOpane.
The second series illustrates the four great classes of
postal employees work in their different environ
ments These classes postoiCe clerks, railway mail
clerks, city letter carriers and rural delivery carriers
The third series offers four industrial scenes illustrating
the principal of the products that to be
transported most extensively through the medium of
the parcel post.
These stamps have been sent to the sixty thousand
postoffces of the country, and by January every
office will have enough of them to meet the demands
of the publc's business. 1t will be necessary to
these special stamps the ordinary kind are taboo
the parcel post Although the scheme goes into effect
after one of the widespread investigations of
itions here and abroad ample opportunity gwen by
the law change every feature of the plan from top to
bottom if it is found that the business and habits of the
American people make it necessary to devate further
from the customs of other countries The law provides
that if the Postmaster General shall find on experience
and after investigation that the classification of articles
the weight limit the rates of postage the distance OF
any zones and other conditions should be
changed order to promote the service he is author
zed subject to the consent of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, to reform from time to time any OF the
conditions named.
The law also provides for the indemnicaton of ship
pers for shipments injured lost by insurance other
wise, and for the collection delivery of the postage
and price of any article shipped, upon the payment OF
such charges may be necessary to pay the cost of
such additional service. 1t is probable, however, that
action the c. o. ID. and insurance features OF the
parcel post will be deferred until months after
the first Of January 1t is the belief of the Postmaster
General that he will be better able to provide good
vice these respects after period of experience the
transportation of parcels under the parcel post law
Apparently in order that hardship shall be i'm
posed upon contractors for carrying the mails the
law makes provision for the reimbursement of the
pensation of star route and wagon contractors
If it should appear that result OF the parcel post
system the weight of the mail handled by them has
been increased materially Furthermore, order that
the joint committee of Congress that is continue in
vesgating the subject may not be handicapped in its
inquiries Congress has appropriated twenty-five thou
sand dollars to pay its expenses.
MANY people have asked this question, "Why should
A'A we have parcel post when we have an efficient
service by the express companies:
If you send pound package fifty miles by parcel
post, it will cost seventeen cents, and by
the rates in effect twenty-five cents If YOU
send the package hundred and fifty miles, the
parcel post cost will be cents and the
cost thrtyve cents If you send it six hundred miles,
the parcel post rate will be thrtytwO cents and the
express rate fifty cents Coming down to the long haul
if YOU send it eighteen hundred miles, the parcel post
will cost cents and the express cost will
be SEVENTY five. Finally, YOU send it eighteen
hundred miles, it will by parcel post sixty cents
and by express at least eighty cents.
OF course. for the larger packages the longer
nauls, the parcel post rate is little higher than the
express rate but the average package five pounds
less this makes comparatively little difference the
beneficial action of the law. Moreover, in considering
the convenience of every individual in the country, it
must be remembered that the express companies
only two hundred and fty-eigt thousand miles through
out the country while the general mail routes on all