The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-10
Bill Likely t Be Passed
at This Session Of
Congress.
IT MAY REDUCE
COST OF LIVING
Postmaster-General Hitchcock In
sistent in Urging Establishment
of System on Ground That 1t
Will Prove Wonderful
Stimulus to Business Of
the Country.


providing for genero, parcels post
throughout the United States and its
possessions. except the Philippine Is
lands. is practically CERTAIN to be en-
acted by the present Congress. per-
laps before the conclusion OF the ses-
sion now in progress; IN the opinion
OF Postmaster-G General Hitchcock. He
has urged insistently upon Congress
the desirability of domestic parcels
post. because among. other reasons.
nc believes it will aid substantially in
the solution of the problem Of tho
high cost Of living. In statement to-
day. ne expressed the hope that the
measure recently introduced by SEN
ator Bourne. chairman % the Commit
tee on Post-ofices ana Pos,-Roads.
might be crystallized into law.
In the judgment of the officers Of
the postal service. the Bourne bill
represents the most scientific and bust
h.sslike plan yet devised FOR a parcels
post II provides for parcels SER
vice throughout the country. both on
rural routes and city carrier routes.
/! consolidates the third and fourth
classes of mail matter reform long
advocated by the Poet-Oftice Depart
parcels to eleven poun0s. which is the
/ init OF the international parcels post
The rate to be charged for articles
carried in the rural route service ami
city carrier service Is cents for the
first pound or fraction of a pound. and
1 cent fov each addiuoal pound, or
fraction OF pound.
Six Zones EatnbIishcd.
For the general pracels post SER
vice, which covers all mail transpor-
tation other than local delivery by
rural or city carriers, graduated rates
would be established based on dis
tarce. Six zones OF distance would
be esta blished. The first would have
radial distance of 90 miles from tho
point OF mailing; the second would in
clude tie area lying between 80 and
200 miles: the third that between zoo
and 500 miles; the fourth that be-
tween 500 and 1000 miles; the NTH
that between 1000 and 1000 miles.
and the sixth distances beyond 1000
miles The rate for delivery within
the first zone is 6 cents for the first
pound or fraction Of pound, and
2 cents for each additional pound or
fraction OF pound. The rates would
Increase for each additional zone UNI
Ill in the sixth, they reach maximum
OF /: cents a pound. the rate now
charged in the international parcels
post The rate on the consolidated
third and fourth class mail matter is
fixed at cent an ounce for not more
than four ounces. Distinctive par
cells post stamps Will be provided
In formal report forwarded to-day
to the Senate Post-Oflce Committee
ostmnster-General Hitchcock strong
ly urges the passage of the Bourne
measure. Concerning the general ad-
vanta6es OF q comprehensive parcels
post service. he says:
The enactment Of the proposed par
cells post bill will aid materially IN
solving the high cost OF living prob
lem because it will bring the producer
and the consumer into closer proxi-
nifty Tho rural route service Will en-
able the farmer to send to town each
morning the fresh products of his
truck farm or garden. and at the same
time obtain quickly the small articles
he ddsfres 10 purchase from city
stores. This will mean not only a
great saving. but will stimulate a
larger and more varied production and
trade. 1t Will have tho effect Of
bringing more closely together in Their
commercial and social relations the
people of tho country and the city.
The local system OF parcel post do
livery by city letter carriers Will meet
the demands for cheaper and more
ready exchange Of small wares OF all
kinds III the larger towns and n cities.
Bnscd on Actual Cost
Under the zone plan. the schedule
of RATES is based solely upon ih, actual
cost of the service performed. whereas
the HAT rate system 10 make the SER
VICE self-suppo'rtirs must he basil on
the average ga moral distance tho mail
has to be carried SO long as the
we:ght is negll-15ia, IS in TN" case OF
icttGrs. postal cards and small pack <
at7es. the Fat rate is feasible. but when
larger parcels. weighing as much as
eleven pounds. are TO be carried thu
rates should he graduated to meet in
a more accurate manner the cost OF
TRANSPORTATION for diffcn.md distances
Under the Hat ir'1 plan. 1t would he
Impossible to nav; he competition OF
private caltts.i; Tor th''se carryrs
would take thc short hauls and pave
the long hauls for this government
The bill retains a tat rats, however
for parcels up to four ounces
Under the law and carefully grad
uated scale of postal rates fixed fol
the several zones buying and selling
by mail order will be Increased. Will,
the production of all classes OF mer
chandisc and the growing of farm anC
garden products Will be greatly slim
ulated.
The bill will be beneficial to al
classes except those common carrier:
engaged in the tran spor;ation of SINAI,
wares. II is probable that such car.
riers will soon divert their bushes.
to the carriage OF lhrger freight. theil
proper function.
1.-THE chief opposition to the pro
posed parcels post has come from tn,
country merchant. but, Instead of hurt
ing him. as he now fears, 1t vii
eventually help him., for no will un
doubtedly profit by the general bust
ness stimulus arAatad BIZ tho measure