New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-03
PARCELS POST RATIFIED
Postoffice Bill Providing for Ex.
pertinent Passes House. z
APPR0PRIATES s260,ooo 900
All Steel Mail Cars and Federal
Aid for Good Roads Other
Features.
From TIE Tribune Bureau. !


Washington, May 1.-The postoff.ce appro-
priation bill. with its various legislative
features including authorization for the
establishment OF an experimental parcels
post, was finally passed by the House to-
day. BY clever parliamentary ruse Rep
resentative Mann. the min ority leader was
thwarted In his attempt to get 4 record
vote on the parcels post by Offering a SUD-
stitute measure creating a general parcels
post in lieu of the temporary one provided
for in the bill
Many members breathed more easily
when Representative Noon, In charge Of
the bill, engineered the ruse whereby
record vote, in advance Of the campaign.
was avoided on the long agitated parcels
post legislation.
The action Of the House proper to-day
was the final parliamentary step necessary
TO ratify the parcels post provision as
adopted late Tuesday when in COMMITTEES
OF the whole II reached compromise on
this legislation. Under the bill passed to-
day the PostofIice Department is author
ICED to conduct for two years an expert
mental parcels post on strictly rural routes.
Packages weighing not more than eleven
pounds are to be accepted at the postage
rate Of five cents for the first pound and
one cent for each additional pound.
The so-called general parcels post, adopt
ed as a makeshift until a special joint COM
mittee recommends at the next session
real parcels post bill, merely applies the
International postage union rates to domes.
tic packages. Packages weighing not more
than eleven pounds may be accepted at the
rate Of IL cents a pound for trsnsporta-
ton over all mall routes.
Representative Mann purposed 10 offer
q permanent zone system" plan. but
failed TO get recognition to move TO recon-
NIT the bill. Instead the chair recognized
Representative Madden. an opponent OF
parcels post legislation, and Of the Mann
bill. and Mr.. Madden's motion to recon-
nit the bill for other purposes than TO
modify the parcels post section, precluded
the offering Of another recommttal motion
by the minority leader. Mr. Madden was
recognized on the ground that he was "a
member Of the committee"
The Postoffice appropriation bill. carry
Ing approximately .2e0,00o,coo, contains the
following other important legislative pro-
visions, all OF which were approved by the
House.
A committee amendment. requiring the
use OF all-steel cars in the railway mai
service after July J. 1917.
The Shsckeford amendment, providing
for federal aid TO good roads. / his pro
vides that :he general government. shall
pay 10 the states and counties graduated
toll for the use OF Highways over which
rural mails are carried, ranging from $40 10
50 a mile year The estimated annual
expenditure Is from 10000 10 N4crWy.
The Rarnhsrt amendment, redu rlnt al
nowsps pers and periodicals 10 publish g.
regular intervals the names OF their eG-
itors, publishers, owners and stocEhcders.
Trades union spers and publicati MS IN the
interest Of benevolent causes are exempt
Newspapers are also required 90 MARI az
an advertisement" all reading mater TT
witch pay is accepted. ...
The Mann am ndment, providing INA,
postoffices shall NOT remain open ior tNe
delivery OF mail on Sunday.
In postponing tho establishment OF gen
eral parcels post, the House authorizes mo
creation Of Joint committee cf six per
sons, three 10 be appointed by the Speaker
and three by tbs Vice-President, wh'eh
shall report at the beginning OF the next
seysion a general parcels post bill