The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-30
RATE TO CLOVER
Parcels Post Charges May
Come Down in Six Months.
Hitchcock Says Express Com
panies viii Quit Business.

Washington, Dec. 30-The rates for
the parcels post service, which goes
| into effect at midnight Tuesday, are
higher than they need be after the
service gets to running smoothly, &C
cording to Postmaster General Hitch
cock After six months or year
the postmas ter general believes a gen.
eraI and considerable reduction can be
made
When this reduction is made. Mr..
Hitchcock believes, it will be the first
step toward the government acquisi-
ton of the express service.
My view is that ultimately the gov
eminent should take over the entire
business of the express companies" Mr..
Hitchcock said Il believe also. that 1t
should be done promptly. The express
companies should receive a fair price
gor their business and equipment and
their entire plant should be transferret
to government control. In a measure
it is fortunate that. the government Is
to begin its work as an express carrier
with a limited service, for in that way
we shall be able to establish the foun-
dation of the tremendous task that the
government would be called upon to
perform if it succeeded to the entire
business of the express companies.
Win Reduce Rates.
The establishment of parcels post
is bound to result in a downward re-
companies. 1t is easy to see how this
will be accomplished. They have fed
eral and state taxes to pay, and neces-
sariIy must be conducted at a profit
while the postoffice department in it's
operation of the parcels post will not be
taxed and will not be required to earn
money for the payment of dividends
1t viii be operated at cost If the gov
eminent handled all express business it
could make Iauch lower rates than now
prevail.
You see. in fixing the parcels post
rates, which are to be operative on Jam
uary 1, we were obliged TO apply the law
of averages. Thus, while the parcels post
rate for a long haul viii be extremely
cheap. all things considered. il viii De
propoTtiOuateIy high for short haulS. But
if the entire express business of the coun-
try were under the control of the govern
short hauls that would be lower than
even the lowest rates which, will be put
into effect next Wednesday.
Will Benefit Great Number.
Think of the benefits that will be con-
ferred on people living in remote sections
not touched by the express companies
enough to have postofice will have tie
advantage of this service. We have esti-
mated, after inquiry. that no less than
100000 people who do not have the ad-
vantage of express company service VIII
be reached by the government in its ca
pacity as an express carrier. Take tie
It is ninety miles from a railroad but 1t
has postoffice, and parcels post pack
ages will be carried there
zone of the best features of the parcels
post system will be the tremendous ad-
vantages it will confer on people living III
rural communities. It will bring them in
close touch with stores in the city, whose
goods they will receive at their Doors st
comparatively little, If any extra expense
vantage In the fact that he viii be able
to ship his farm produce in packages up
to eleven pounds at the lowest possible
cost. Everything he brings to the post
office for transmission must be carried,
provided that it is within the limit of size
and weight and does not include any Of
the prohibited articles"