The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-20

citizen should resent your statement 70 fha
enect tina all OF Us who oppose an enlarge
prompted By selfish motives The cOmmer-
oial Interests Of this country oppose this meas
AMI because 1t 10 based upon an unsound busi-
ness principle, and because any enlargement
o. ,e our - present parcel: post system based on
many and only help few.
No class Of your citizens have done more
for Richmond than Its merchants and manu-
facturers, and all they ask now in conn-c.
ton with this legislation 10 that 1t be referred
to commission who will thoroughly investi.
while the great majority OF people who favor
a further enlargement OF our present parcels
expect the government to do service for them
at lower rate than they are now paying.
In other words they expect the sovernmcn.
to give them something for nothing. and yet
We who oppose this legislation are told that
we are selfish and that these people who are
clammering for an enlargement of our present
parcels post system are unselfsh
1t is true that the rates charged by the
press companies are exorbitant and nooouy
merchants and not the farmers have suffered
most at the hands Of the express companies,
to investigate the exorbitant charges Of the
express companies at the earnest request OF
the commercial interest Of this country. which
shows that they arc not interested, you state.
In the exorbitant charges of the express
panies. but that they are interested In having
these charge reduced. and the government
has the power and authority to regulate tn.
charges OF all transportation companies doing
an interstate business / feel confident that
their rates will he regulated, and that We will
get relief in this way rather than through any
enlargement OF our present parcels pos, sys-
ton.
1t is unfortunate that you should attempt
to criticise the Credit Mems Association Of
your city, made up OF Richmond's brightest
and most successful business men, because OF
their actions In regard to this matter without
having given the matter more thought than
your editorial would indicate that you have
given 1t.
The proposition to transport merchandise In
large quantities at fiat rate regardless OF
knowledge Of the science OF practice OF trans
portation you could not defend an enlargement
Of our present parcels post system sn nas sing
Your city, like other Southern cities. has
lance.
prospered and shown wonderful growth in
the past ten years, due entirely to the fact
that Richmond Is selling more merchandise to
the consumers Of the South. that 1t is becom-
ing greater distributing center, but II you
take from Richmond and our other Southern
cities the advantage which they now enjoy due
bv giving the mall order houses Of the North
and West the privilege of sending merchan-
disc from New York or Chicago to the mer-
chants or consumers OF the South at the same
rate as will be charged the Richmond mer-
chant Or manufacturer for sending the same
size package to Petersburg. you will ind that
both the dollars and population will go to our
already congested cities OF the North and
Middle West and that our southern cities VII,
cease 10 RToW, tHdl Jul "" he
be depopuIated, and our rural districts will
merely represent an outlying territory tributary
to the large cities Of the North and West
! regret exceedingly that will be unable to
discuss this matter further at this time but
II you will give the same space which
YOU use T will be very glad inde cd to discuss
this matter more fully in the columns OF your
paper and / think ! will have no trouble IN
conyinctng Your readers that any enlargement
1T our present parcels post system would be
a detriment to the South, and that you are not
representing the South's best interest when you
advocate such legislation.
! Thanking you for giving my letter the Same
a mount OF publicity that you gave your edi-
'oAA"' 49, NORMAN II. JOHNSON
Ivrchhurg Va March Is. 1912