Semi-weekly herald., 1912-09-23
A NEW PARCELS POST.

ment in August, passed almost uhahi-
mously an amendment (section 81 to
the postoffice appropriation bill tpub-
lie No. 1850 providing for three kinds
of parcels post, two of which are to
have a weight limit of eleven pounds,
and one weight limit of four ounces,
at different rates, to become opera
tive Jan. /, 1913.
The present parcels weight limit
of four pounds is thus extended to
eleven pounds, and conforms with that
of several foreign countries. Fourth
class mail matter is to embrace all
other matter, including farm and fac
tory products, not now embraced in
either the first, second or third class,
not exceeding eleven pounds, nor
larger in size than seventy-two inches
in length and girth combined, and
not likely to injure in form or kind
the person Of any postal employee or
damage the mail equipment or other
mail matter and not of a character
perishable within period reasonably
required for transportation and de-
livery.
The postal rate of this class is to
vary in amount according TO the dis
tance the parcel is to go. This, we
believe, will be the most vexatious
and annoying feature of the new plan,
and contrary to the purpose of our
general postal usage, that is, one
rate regardless of the distance ira
versed. The country outside of the
Philippine islands is to be divided up
into units of area thirty miles square,
which forms so-called "postal" cen
ter, and postal maps or plans are to
be put up everywhere showing the
location of these numerous centers.
The immediate place where the send
ing party happens to live is called
Zone No. /, and within a radial dis
tance from the center of this zone
of fifty miles package weighing one
pound or fraction of pound can be
sent for cents and cents for each
excess pound or fraction Of same.
Zone No. 2 includes radial area
of $50 miles from the center of Zone
No. /, with a rate of cents for the
first pound or fraction of same and a
cents for each additional pound.
Zone No. includes radial area
of 300 miles beyond the center area
of No. /, with rate of cents for
the first pound or fraction of the
same and cents for each additional
pound or fraction thereof.
Zone No. includes radial area
of 800 miles from the center area of
Zone No. l., with rate of cents
for the first pound or fraction thereof
and cents for each additional pound
or fraction of same.
Zone No. 5 includes radial area
of 1000 miles from the center area
of Zone No. /, with rate of 9 cents
pound or fraction thereof and 7
cents for each additional pound or
fraction of the same.
Zone No. 6 includes radial area of
1,400 miles from the center area of
Zone No. J., with a rate of 10 cents
for pound or fraction thereof and
cents for each additional pound or
fraction of same.
Zone No. includes radial area of
/ 800 miles from the center area of
Zone No with rate of II cents for
the first pound or fraction thereof
and 10 cents for each additional pound
or fraction of same.
Zone No. 8 includes all territory
from the center of area of Zone No.
beyond the 1900 miles of Zone No. z
and any portion of the United States,
District of Columbia, Philippine is
lsrds, and United States territories
at rate of IL cents pound or frac-
tion of pound and ~ cents for each
additional pound or fraction thereof.
An appropriation of S750,000 was
rlade to defray the cost of special
equipment, maps, stamps, directories,
etc, and the postmaster general is
given authority to increase or de-
crease the rates subject to the ap-
proval and consent of the interstate
commerce commission after investiga-
tions to insure sufficient revenue to
adequately pay the cost of the serv-
ice.
Tie postmaster general is also au-
thorised to provide indemnifcation of
shippers, for shipment injured or lost,
by insurance or otherwise, and when
desired for the collection on delivery
of the postage and price of the arti-
Gle, sent, and to fix the necessary
charges. -
There is provided also a rural free
delivery and local parcel post for de-
livery on route from one person to
another or to the central postoffice
limited to weight of eleven pounds
for a single parcel with rate of 8
cents for the first pound or fraction
thereof and cent for each addition
al pound or fraction of same.
The third kind of parcels post is
unrestricted as to territotry limits,
and IL general in its operation, but
the weight limit is four ounces, and
tba vako es nank var o,,p,o 49, f~oo