Gloucester County Democrat., 1912-05-16
new PARCELS POST Law,
, PARCELS POST BILL PASSED,
Congress Makes Appropriation Pho.
yiding For Adoption OF This Sys-
tenn ON Rural Routes.

The great Post Office Appropria-
tion bill, carrying two hundred and
sixty million dollars, passed Congress
last week. Congressman futile, of
New Jersey, had large share in
framing this measure, and was par
ticularly active and influential in
having the section providing for a
system of parcels post on rural free
delivery routes incorporated. This
section provides that packages shall
be carried on rural routes at rates
varying according to the weight of
the package, eleven pounds being fix
ed as the maximum. For the first
pound a rate of five cents is fixed,
with one cent additional TO reach ad-
ditional pound up to eleven pounds,
making that charge Is cents. 1t also
provides for the creation of a COM
mission to be composed of three SEN
ators and three representatives, who
are directed to investigate and report
upon the feasibility of a general ex-
tension of the system of parcels post
This will be the most important Com
mission authorized by Congress in
years, and out of the multitude of
lawyers in Congress it will not be
surprising if Congressman Tuttle is
named as the business and eastern
representative on this Commission.
Another important proposition in
corporated in the post Office appro-
priation bill was the amendment that
the Federal Government will pay for
the use of State and municipal roads
over which rural mails are carried.
This was designed for the purpose
of having the Federal Government
aid in the building of good roads. 1t
divides state and municipal highways
over which mails are carried into
classes and provides for the payment
by the Federal Government of a rate
for the use of the roads according to
the condition and length of each
road.
Estimates as to the annual expendi-
tures range from $1,000,000 to $1S,-
100000 The Committee on Agricul-
ture, which considered this PROPOSE
ton, estimated it would involve an
expenditure of $5,000,000 the first
year, gradually increasing until there
will be an annual outlay of $1S,000,-
900 at the end of five years.
For the highest class of improved
roads tile Federal Government is to
pay at the rate of $25 mile a year.
In the second class are roads COM
posed of burnt clay, in proper COM
bination, with sand and clay, sand and
rock, or rock and gravel, and the
rental for this class is fixed at $40 a
mile year The third class includes
the ordinary dirt roads and for these
the compensation shall be SIS mile
a year.
1t is also provided that every news
paper or periodical circulating
through the mail shall publish the
name of it's responsible editor, pub
Usher and owner.
A fourth provision strikes from the
postal rules and regulations what is
known as the gag order, prohibiting
department employees from joining
labor unions. This provision is dras-
tic. 1t prohibits removal or reduc-
tion in ranks of any employee who as
sociates with amy organization form
ed to improve conditions or to obtain
increased compensation; further, that
removals from the service shall not
be made without first submitting to
the person sought to be removed a
statement in writing outlining the
charges made against him or the rea-
sons assigned for his separation from
the service.