The pioneer express., 1912-12-27

the unit In which his postoffice lies
to the zone of the packages destina.
ttons. the price as has been explained
before, to every postofice in any one
zone being the same. The parcel post
will take nothing but fourth-class mat.
ter. Printed matter is still in the
third-class designation. Therefore
books cannot be sent by the parcel
post system. This the postoffice au.
thorities seem to think is in way
unjust and may work q hardship. It
may be that in the future the law will
be changed so as to include all print.
ed matter. 1t seems to be certain that
an attempt will be. made to bring
about this change as speedily as DOS.
sible.
Postmaster General Hitchcock has
ordered that postmasters be advised
that parcel post packages cannot be
accepted for mailing unless they bear
a distinctive parcel post stamp and
have attached to them the return card
of the sender. A series of distinctive
stamps is now in course of prepare.
tion for this class of mail as required
by the law creating the parcel post
system. Consignments of these
stamps will be ready for shipment to
all postoffices in ample time for the
establishment of the new system on
New Years day.
The postof1ce department has given
instruction to every postmaster in the
country to enlighten his patrons as
much as possible on the general sub.
ject of the parcel post and especially
on the use Of the special stamps and
the necessary attachment of the re-
turn card. The law requires that all
fourth-class matter mailed a.ier Jan
uary 1, 1918, without parcel post
stamps attached shall be treated as
Held for postage" matter. Parcel
post packages will be mailable only
at postofices. branch postoffices. let.
tered and local named stations, and
such numbered stations as may be
designated by the postmasters.
Rate on Seeds Not Affected.
1t should be said that the act of
congress which puts a parcel post plan
into operation does not in. any way
affect the postage rate on seeds, cut
tings, bulbs. roots, scions and plants
as fixed by section 482 Of the postal
laws and regulations.
The classification of articles mail
able as well as the weight limit. the
rates of postage, zone or zones and
other conditions of mailability under
the act, of congress. II the postmaster
general shall find on experience that
they or any Of them are such as to
prevent the shipment Of articles de-
sirable. or shall permanently render
the cost Of the service greater than
the receipts Of the revenue therefrom.
he is hereby authorized, subject to the
consent of the interstate commerce
after Investigation, to re-
form from time to time such classi6-
cation. weight limit, rates. zone or
zones or conditions. in order to pro-
mote the service to the public or to
insure the receipt of revenue from
such service adequate to pay the cost
thereof" Fl,
Through many years different mem.
bers Of the house and senate have
been interested in promoting parcel
post legislation. Among the men most
active in securing the legislation
which soon is to 60 into effect Us
law are Senator Jonathan Bourne of
Oregon. Representatives David u.
Lewis of Maryland and William Sui.
zer OF New York. who has Just been
elected governor Of that state.