The Washington herald., 1912-06-10
OPTIMISTIC OVER
BOURNE MEASURE
The Postmaster General Talks on
Parcel Post Bills
Advantages.
OPPOSITION FROM MERCHANTS

Hope for the passage Of the parcel post
bill introduced by Senator Bourne. chair
man OF the Senate Committee on Post
offices and Post Roads. was expressed
yesterday by Postmaster General Hitch
cock. The bill represents, officials OF the
Post-ofice Department believe, the most
scientific and busjness-hke plan yet de-
vised for a parcel post, and Postmaster
General Hitchcock pointed out the rsa-
sons he had for believing the measure
should be adopted by Congress.
The Bourne bill provides for a general
parcel post service throughout the United
States and its several Territories and
possessions. excepting the Philippine Is
lands. Mr.. Hitchcock said It also pro-
vides for a special parcel post on rural
routes and in the letter carrier systems
OF cities and towns. II consolidates the
third and fourth classes OF mail matter,
reform long advocated by the depart
ment, and raises the weight limit TO
eleven pounds, which is the limit for the
International parcel post. Articles as
large as seventy-two inches in combined
length and girth will be carried, provided
they are not perishable within the period
required for delivery and are not calcu-
lated to do damage in transit. The rate
to be charged for articles carried In the
rural route service and city carrier serv-
ice win be cents for the first pound or
fraction OF a pound. and 1 cent for each
additional pound or fraction Of pound.
This rate applies to matter mailed at
pOst-office from which a rural route starts
for delivery on such route, or mailed at
any point on such route for delivery else
where on the route or at the office from
which the route starts, or on any other
rural route starting from the same Office.
II applies also 20 matter mailed at city
carrier office, or at any point within It's
delivery limits, for delivery In the same
city by letter carriers, or mailed at any
office for local delivery.
Zones of Distance.
six zones of distance are provided
by the bill. the first having a radial
distance OF fifty and so miles, the third
that between go and 500 miles, the fourth
that between 500 and 1000 miles. the
fifth that between 1000 and 1900 miles,
and the sixth distances beyond 1000
miles The rate for delivery within the
first zone is six cents for the first pound
or fraction OF a pound and two cents
for each additional pound or fraction
OF a pound. The rates increase for each
additional zone until in the sixth zone
they reach a maximum OF twelve cents
a pound, which is the rate now charged
in the international parcel post.
office OF destination from the ONCE of
mailing may be readily determined the
country is divided into units OF area
thirty minutes square, each unit being
identical with a quarter Of the area
formed by the interseCting parallels Of
latitude and meridians OF longitude. Each
CT these units OF area is numbered and
all the postOffiCes in given unit re-
Ceive the same number. A chart show
ing the relation to each pOstoffiCe Of the
units OF area forming the several zones
is prepared for the use OF that Office,
with a key that gives the numbering
OF the pOstOfiCes so that they may be
promptly located in their proper unit
of area and the distance instantly as
certained by reference to the chart.
The bill provides that the rate Of
postage on third-class matter weighing
rot more than four ounces shall be one
cent for each ounce or fraction Of an
ounce. In view Of the consolidation OF
the two classes this rate will apply TO
mail matter formerly belonging to the
fourth class as well as that belonging
tC the third class
Distinctive stamps will be provided
for the payment Of postage on parcel
| post matter in order that an accounting
Of the receipts from that service may
| he more readily kept
Cost Based on Service.
THE local system OF parcel post deIiv-
cry 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.
Under the same plan the schedule Of
rates is based solely on the actual cost
OF the service performed, whereas the
fiat rate system, 10 make the service
self-supportinE. must be based on the
average general distance the mail has
to be carried. So long as the weight is
negligible, as in the case Of letters. postal
cards. and small packages, the fiat rate
| is feasible. but when larger parcels
weighing as much as eleven pounds are
to be carried, the rates should he grad
uated to meet in a more accurate man
ner the cost Of transportation for diff
| ferent distances. Under the fiat rate
! plan II would be impossible to meet the
competition OF private carriers, for those
carriers would take the short hauls and
| leave the long hauls for the government
! The bill retains a fiat rate, however, for
parcels up to four ounces.
The chief opposition to the proposed
parcel post has come from the country
merchant, but instead Of hurting him. as
| he now fears, II will eventually help
him, for he will undoubtedly profit by
the general business stimulus created by
the measure