Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-05-04

l
stand the objections of the retail mer-
chants to this. Why do they object
to q farmer telephoning in and asking
them to send out small package OF
some kind Of merchandise. 1t costs
but Is cents at the most. The retailer
lsays the mail order houses will do a
great business and shut them off.
This cannot be, because there will
be high tariff that will not permit
the mail order house to enter into com.
petition with lthe retailer. At the
present time we postmasters should
support with all our influence the
limited rural route parcels posts.
II don't believe the government
, should carry eleven pounds from New
York to San Francisco for the same
price as from Ottumwa to Burlington.
Price zones, rate zones should be es-
tablished.
Opposition to this bill comes either
through ignorance Of conditions or
negligence in Investigating 1t. When
this matter is properly presented, I
cannot see any opposition. The mer-
chants oppose this just as they did the
rural route delivery. They want the
farmers to come to town and purchase
their necessaries. This, believe, is
their only argument against parcels
posts"
- Departs From Topics.
Postofice Inspector Ranger depart
ed somewhat from the topic under dis
cussion, to tell briefly Of the reorgani-
zation of postoffices, as was requested
of him. He took up the superinten-
dent OF mails branch. 1--WE now have
established in some Offices" he said,
superintendent of the mails. This
official has entire charge Of the Office.
All clerks and employees have their
respective departments. When the
superintendent sees one department
being stuck, he goes to another and
takes off a man who is not necessarily
needed there. In this way, all men in
the Office get through at the same
time. We also have less clerks and
greater efficiency"
Postmaster J. G. Campbell Of Belle
vue. declared that over one-half of the
money orders that were issued in his
Office, were sent to the mail order
houses of Chicago. IF this is legitimate
competition" said he they can stand it.
But the goods sent out from these mail
order houses is not as good as the re-
tailers' goods. The trouble is to get
the farmer to see this. Flashy cata-
logues are sent out, but the goods re-
ceived are not like the description or
believe. We postmasters should take
steps to show the farmers wherein
they err in buying from catalogue
houses with the expectation of getting
good stuff
Postmaster A. M. Henderson of Story
City declared that he was for general
parcels post for the reason that it
would extend the weight limit on post
Office packages. He asserted that the
government loses great deal just be-
cause a package weighing over four
pounds cannot be sent through the
mails and that five pound package
costs several times as much by ex-
press.
Postmaster A. L. Risely of Rockwell
City, led the discussion Of THE Cues
ton that is Troubling YOU" touching
on numerous items that are troublous.
No Visiting Now.
Owing to the fact that citizens who
visit the new federal building can not
at this time gain the impression that
they will at the formal opening Of the
building, the superintendent of con-
struction requests that visitors defer
their inspection until Postmaster MINI
ocks announces the formal opening.
Mr.. Nimocks will give every one an
opportunity to view the magnificent
structure when it has been completed,
The progress on the job is somewhat
affected by the many visitors who have
thus far gone through the building, and
the contractors ask that no further OBJ
stacles be put in their way to finish the
task.