The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-07-24
IMPROVEMENT.

ala ana News.
IMPROVEMENT.
1t is gratifying to note that the
parcels post advocates are at last
crediting its opponents with a mite of
common sense and reason. II they will
get that idea about express graft out
OF their heads, look into the matter q
little more seriously and consider ey-
cry phase of the question they will
probably yield even more to the iude-
ment of the parcels post opponents
Witness what Senator Bourne now
comes forward with:
II believe the fiat-rate system I'M
scientific, and impracticable as an
plied TO packages such as we expect
10 transport under parcels post. 1t
is unscientihc because 1t disregards
Instance. In the transportation OF
letters, where the individual pieces
are small, distance is of little conse-
quence, but this is not true of nack-
ages of merchandise. 1t is impracti-
cable because the high rate for the
short distance will practically pro-
hibit the use of the service for trans
portation of goods of low value.
Government ownership of express
companies 1 deem unwise and un-
necessary. 1t tends toward paternal-
ism and bureaucracy"
We know that the leaders in the
parcels post agitation are pleased
at the progress Mr.. Bourne is making
but he has yet more to learn. Note
particularly the last sentence In the
first paragraph: "It is impracticable
because the high rate for the short
distance will practically prohibit the
use of the service for transportation
of goods of low value" What is
meant by goods Of low value? From a
standpoint Of weight. and this Is the
proper standpoint to consider in par
cells post discussion, we would con-
slider the manufactured raw ma
terials and farm products, as goods of
low value. Though the mainstay Of
the world. we must consider such ar
ticles as cotton, grain, potaties, cab
bage, fruits, etc, as goods of low
'''NN -h'' i'cui uC says Jlle HdI rate
system practically prohibits the use
Of the service for this class of pro-
ducts. But, as suggested by The Ad-
vertiser several weeks ago, even with
the zone system of parcels post, which
Mr.. Bourne stands for, it will not be
possible for the farmer, in whose in
terest it is largely claimed the bill Is
being pushed. to send his wares to
market; for they will not be able to
spend two cents per pound postage
on two to five cents per pound ar
ticles such as are classed above as
of low value.
Mr.. Bourne himself exposes possibly
the gravest danger into which the par
cells post measure will lead when he
declares in the last paragraph: Coy
eminent ownership of express COM
panies | deem unwise and unneces-
sary. 1t tends toward paternalism
and bureaucracy" If the parcels post
measure will not, in a way. result in
government ownership of the express
companies, we hardly know what else
1t viii result in. The only difference
which we acn see between the govern
ment actually taking over the express
companies and in instituting parcels
post is that by the latter procedure
the government will not pay for what
they take away from the express com
panies. If purchase of express com
panies' business tends toward pattern
allsm and bureaucracy" pray tell us
what would the highway robbery of
1t tend toward?
Don't tell tell us any more abont
Standard Oil smothering competitions
ILL-ADYISED ACTION,
To say that the people of this citv
and county are not only disappointed
put sore over the decision of the
Chicora trustees Friday night would
not be stating fact for they are. To
have received such an unlocked for
olow as was given them Sat
urday morning when the decision
WAS