The Washington times., 1912-05-03
ESTABLISHMENT Of =.
PARCELS POST IS
!. ALMOST ASSURED
New System Will Probably
Be Built Along Distance
I Plan.

Out Of the dust Of discussion in Con-
gress, more especially in the House,
this session, two facts are pretty clearly
apparent, bearing on the parcels post
and the future of the express COM
Ipanies in the United States.
One OF these is that the establishment
iof a parcels post system is seemingly
certain to come eventually. The other
lie that the express companies are 60
ing to be put out of business.
At one time, 1t looked much as IL the
Cooke, bill, whereby the Government
would purchase the express companies,
would be passed by the House. But 1t
will not be. All the indications now are
that the plan for the Government to
take over the express companies Is
g, It was urged that the Government
could condemn the contracts between
the express companies and the esarlE rail-,
shown, are favorable. That is. the rail-
roads agree to haulage for the express
companies at low rates. But II was
House by Congressman Towner Of Iowa
.. and other lawyers that while the con.
tracts could be condemned as legal
proposition a condemned contract ceased
made to appear extremely doubtful
whether such a condemned contract was
of any value. This fact and the asser-
ton that the express companies seeing
parcels post coming, would like nothing
better than to be taken over by the
general government, have put damper
on the movement to purchase the ex-
press companies. 1t is pretty clear
that many Of the members who have
given divers reasons for not wanting the
Government to take over the express
mated by fear that for the Government
TO operate the express companies would
be the beginning Of Government own.
ership of railroads. At the same time
that the Government would get badly
"stung' II 1t took over the express
companies at anything like the values
tha5 Raee 1een MartS Nsusy e1sgeSted
ia. has strongly urged a proposition ir
the House that has substantial support
1t is that the railroads of the country
shall hereafter perform the entire ex.
reasonable rates, and that they shall
be completely under the control of the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
He pointed out in debate that a pack
age started on rural route to some
destination could be stamped with the
amount required to transport 1t, on th'
rural route and Also with the anioun
needed for its hauling as an express
package by the railroads. This plan
Mr.. Martin urged, would obviate Gov
ernn1ent ownership of the express com
paries. .. :
just how the express proposition an,
the parcels post question are going 4
be worked out Is not easy to, tell, bu
Vthe feeling is deep set in Congress tha
,Ther two things must be met. Senate
p Bourne has put into the Senate a par
.Icels post bill, based on a zone. or dis
2 tance system, and this has much sup
II port Many predict a bill Of this sor
VIII eventually go through, though prob
a! ably mot this session. Tsaa.~ "a .4ts.i'..
solution Of ths; bsslnsss. y ~ that t,sI 1 \
attxress Is along sthIs lfneS TO yestablishi Z
parcels post based on a zone or dis
tStance system; and IN this connection t.
require the railroads to do the express
,SbusiIress, Up to eleven pounds or what
y ever limit weight might be established
y the Government would have a monopol!
A0f the business OF carrying parcels
q The operation of this plan, 1t is urged
tE!%ould be greatly to reduce the cost o
~ carrying parcels. Congress is not ye
i In a mood to adopt plan for a genera
= Unlimited system of parcels post where
Z by parcels would be carried for th'
,ss same sums regardless of distance
Though Congressman Sulzer insists thi
.is the true principle. and the plan Il
EsteaHly gaining in favor and will b,
II adopted eventually.