Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-06-21
"A PLEA FOR PARCELS POST.
Cheaper Living Cost Will Result,
Hitchcock Says.


hopeful that the Parcels Post Bill re-
Gently introduced by Senator Bourne
will become law before the adjourn
ment Of Congress The bill is the re-
suit of joint efforts Of the POstcffice
Department and the Senate commit
tee.
In the Judgment of the Officers of
the postal service it represents the
most scientific and buSineSs-hke plan
vet devised for a parcels post Hitch
cock has submitted a formal report
to the Senate recomme ending the pas
sage of the measure. In comment
ing on the bill he pointed out its
principal features, saying:
1T is believed that the enactment
of the proposed Parcels Post Bill will
materially aid in solving the high
cost of living problem, because it viii
bring the producer and consumer in
to closer proximity The rural route
service will enable the farmer to sen
: to the town each morning the fresh
products Of his truck farm or gar
den and at the same time obtain
quickly the small articles he desires
tC. buy from the city stores. This
will mean not only a great saving
but will stimulate larger and more
varied production and trade. 1t will
have the effect of bringing more
closely together in their commercial
and social relations the people of the
country and of the city.
"The local system of parcels post
; delivery by city letter carrier will
meet the demand for a cheaper and
more ready exchange of small wares
of all kinds in the larger towns and
in cities.
The bill will be beneficial to all
classes except those common carriers
engaged i'm the transportation Of
small wares. 1t is probable that such
carriers will soon divert their bust
ness to the carriage of larger freight,
their proper function.
Much opposition to the proposed
parcels post has come from the coun-
try merchant, but instead of hurting
him, as he now fears, it will event
uafly help him. He will undoubtedly
profit by the general business stimu-
lus created by the measure.
"The bill provides for a general
parcels post system throughout the
United States and its territories and
Possessions excepting the Philippine
Islands. 1t also provides for a spe-
cial parcels post on rural routes and
in the letter carrier systems of cities
and towns. 1t conSolidates the third
and fourth classes of mail matter, a
reform long advocated by the depart
ment, and raises the weight limit to
eleven pounds, which is the limit fer
the international parcels post.
Articles as large as seventy-two
inches in combined length and girth
will be carried provided they are not
perishabIe within the period required
for delivery and are not calculated to
do damage in transit
The rate to be charged for articles
carried in the rural route service and
city carrier service will be five cents
for the first pound or fraction of a
pound and one cent for each addition
al pound or fraction of a pound. The
rate applies to matter mailed at a
poStOffice from which a rural route
starts for delivery on such route, or
mailed at any point on such route
. for delivery elsewhere on the route
or at the office from which the routle
starts or on any other rural route
starting from the same office. 1t
applies also to matter mailed at a
city carrier office or at any point
Within its delivery limits, for dehv-
cry in the same city by letter car
riers or mailed at any office for To-
cal delivery.
For the general parcels post SER
vice, which covers all mail tranSpor-
tation other than local delivery in
the rural route and city carrier SER
vices, graduated rates are provided
based on distance. Six zones of dis
lance are provided by the bill, the
first having radial distance of fifty |
miles from the point of mailing. The
second includes the area lying be-
tween fifty and two hundred miles.
the third between two hundred and
five hundred miles, the fourth that
between five hundred miles and one
thousand miles, the fifth that be-
tween one thousand and two thous-
and miles, and THE sixth distance be-
Sond two thousand miles.
The rates for delivery within the
first zone is six cents for the first
pound or fraction of pound and two