New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-30
Representative Lewis Proposes
Leasing Fast Freight Cars
for Long Hauls.
SEES SAVING AND PROFIT
Predicts Enormous Reduction
Over Express Rates and
Penny Postage for
Letters.
From The Tribune Bureau

Washington, Dec. 9.-Plans for the eN-
tension Of the parcels post system To per-
nit the sending OF one hundred pound
packages have been mapped out by Rep
resentative David j. Lewis. of Maryland
who will urge his scheme under the VIII
son administration.
The plans involve the establishment OF a
secondary or fast freight parcels post an
enlargement of the classification so as to
include everything shipped by private eN-
press companies, working scheme for
collect on delivery a door to-door delivery
and a graduating Of the rates 10 the
actual cost OF conducting the business.
To establish the fast freight or sec
ondary parcels post Mr.. Lewis would nave
the government lease cars or space lIs
cars attached to the fast freight trains
maintained by railroads between large
cities. Packages for this service woulo po
assembled at large shipping points, SUCH
as New York, for transportation 10 Snlt
cago and San Francisco and otner points
West, and vice versa Mr.. Lewis SAID TO-
day he intends 10 lay his plans De1ofs
President Wilson and his Postmaster Cen
eraL He says II is possible that under inc
present parcels post legislation the Post-
master General has the power to establish
the proposed extension without furtneN
authority from Congress.
Big Saving to the Public.
Mr.. Lewis. further outlining lis Plan,
said:
We have IN the United states workinS
conditions for a fast freight parcels posi-
or express service. on all trunk lines y
fast freight service obtains, running ON
regular schedule The rates for 10O-pound'
packages are about one-fourth 10 one
eighth the express rates. The express
charge from New York TO Pacific Coast
points is sl3 80 a hundred pounds. inc
fast freight rates, first class, are IS a
hundred pounds and 81 81 sixth class.
The Postmaster General, awaiting him-
self OF the authority vested In MIN oy me
parcels post law, can lease cars OF Space
In cars on these fast freight5 betweeg
big shipping points like New YORK anh
Western cities. Shipments below on9
pound or carload lots at feasible points
and loaded in these cars leased oy the
government for the transportation OK hs
parcels.
can be shipped from New York TO san
Francisco for so cents. The government
would be able 10 handle most OF these
shipments in carload lots and get the car
load rate from the railroads. which is
about 40 per cent lower than the fast
freight 1OO-pound shipping rate
II is not eXtrayagant 10 hope by BUY
ing this transportation from the rail-
roads III wholesale quantities and re-
failing Il 70 the small shipper ~ J 90
pound rates. with the cost OF collection
and delivery added, the Postal Depart
ment in a couple of years would make
between S25. 1000. 600 and s50.0O0,O0V pront
i'm its fast freight parcels post when
would pave the way for penny postage
for letters.
When the shipments originate or are
destined on a branch Of the railway OF
the trunk lines they can be carried by
the express train parcels post To the
trunk line assembling point
The Germans and Belgians have real
lied that a large part OF the traffic. re-
quiring less CELEBRITY than express trains.
might be moved at rates AZ One-half
those charged by the passenger tram
express Accordingly they have OK
tended To the business men this fast
freight express service, which moves
fast enough for the purposes Of large
part Of the traffic and at rates One-halr
the fast express rates.
The effect of this fast freight parcels
pest would he to establish a cheap trans
portaticn service for small packages be-
tween the two coasts, Mr.. Lewis de-
gI