The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1912-08-30
LEWIS ON POSTAL BOARD.

for his study and labor on that subject,
David J. Lewis. of Mary
land, was named as member of the
special commission authorized in the
Postotfice Appropriation Bill to investi.
gate the subject of parcels post, the
Lewis-Geoke postal express" scheme,
and 10 draft full report to Congress
on all phases of the government extend
ing its package transportation functions
Upon this commission will fall the
work of drafting genuine parcels post
legislation and outlining a complete
plan for putting it in operation. The
commission also will probe into the
rates paid by the express companies to
the railroads for hauling packages and
by the government for hauling mail
matter and will confer with the Post
master General regarding making oper-
alive the Lewis Bourne Parcels Post
law passed by this Congress.
Congressman George w. Norris, of
Nebraska, an Independent Republican
and Roosevelt leader in the House. in
short speech praisng Mr.. Lewis. sug-
gested him for a place on the commits
sion. This was followed by the cirCu-
lat on of petition among the members
of Congress requesting Speaker Clark
to appoint Mr.. Lewis. More than one
hundred members of the House of Rep
resentativeS signed the petition.
Seldom has higher tribute been paid
to a member of the House OF Represent
atveS by another member of the oppo-
site political faith than Judge Norris paid
Mr. Lewis in a short address just before
the PostottiCe Appropriations Bill was
agreed to by the House.
~ know that the custom has long
existed that to fill places of this kind
the Speaker should take the commission
from the members of the PostottiCe Com
mitee, said Judge Norris. MIR. Lewis
is not member of that committee.
There are other commissions provided
for where there Is no doubt that by
following the rule the Speaker would not
only follow the preCedents but would
satisfy all of the membership of the
House of Representatives. But we have
III this House, one member, who, upon
the question of parcels post and eX-
press rates, IS perhaps the best expert in
the United States, II not in the world.
He has made a study for Is or 20 years
OF this question. and it seems TO me that
| am not going TO far if | might humbly
suggest to the Speaker-and ! truly be.
heNe that express the sentiment OF
every member of the House of Repre-
sentalives-that when he comes 10 APP
point that commission he appoint as one
member of it, the gentleman from Mary
land, Mr.. David !. Lewis"
The Federal parcels post system, as
agreed upon by the House and Senate
conlerees on the PoStotlice Appropria-
ton Bill, is a compromise between the
Lewis House and the Bourne Senate
Bills
The plan, as now drafted, makes the
following provisions:
Farm and factory products can be
shipped under It,
Packages can be sent collect on de-
livery.
Shippers will be paid for losses sus-
tanned in packages by transportation.
No packages weighing over II pounds
will be accepted.
Rates are s cents for the first pound,
and four cents each for the additional
pounds. For other zones the rates de-
pend upon the number OF zones to be
traverSed The zones are squares
founded upon longitude and latitude.
Many of the most vital OF the Lewis
provisions were incorporated in the COM
promise bill. such as the admission OF
farm and factory products, the collect on
delivery provision for commercial pack
ages. the UNDERWRITING provision for
losses to shippers, and the appojntmel
oil a commission to investigate the gen
eral parcels post subject for report 10
Congress All of these provisions were
excluded from the original Bourne bill.
The Bourne rates, are about % per
cent. higher than the Lewis rates, the
Bourne weight limit OF IA pounds against
the IS pounds in the Lewis Bill, and the
Bourne complicated zone system Against
the Lewis I5o-mile distance plan were
adopted.
"While many vital provisions of my
bill were incorporated in the Conterces'
draft said Mr.. Lewis few DAYS ago,
the bill as framed is no solution at all
for a genuine parcels post. The Bourne
rates, weight limit and zone system are
contrivances to help the express com
pauieS
Many vital features, which | have
tried to impress upon Congress were
put into the bill. There was the pro-
vision for the admission of farm and
factory products There was no pro-
vision for those in the Bourne Bill. To
have excluded these would have been
fatal. The compromise bill does not
admit all matter carried by the express
companies, which is a weakness The
Conferees also accepted the collect on
delivery feature and the provision for
indemnfying shippers from losses.
Without these provisions how could the
parcels post compete with the express
companies, which ship packages collect
on delivery and who. pay for the lost
packages"
Through the commission the Mary
lander expects to smooth out the
wrinkles in the Lewis-Bourne Bill, or
get a report recommending the govern
ment absorption of the express COM
panies If the parcels post plan is not
extended so that the government can
put out of business the express mo-
nopoly
Postmaster General Hitchcock an
nounced recently that he would confer
Immediately with the members of the
Inter State Commerce Commission re-
specting the rates for the parcels post
system authorized by Congress. The
system will be put into operation as soon
as practicable.
Il believe" said Mr.. Hitchcock,
that domestic parcels post will prove
of immense benefit to the people of this
country, and eventually will afford sub
stantial financial support to the Post
office Department.