The Washington times., 1912-10-14
FLAT RATE PARCELS
POST SYSTEM AIM
OF POSTAL LEAGUE
Zone Plan Adopted by Con-
gress Meeting With
Opposition.

The parcels post question was, ap-
parently. far from settled when Con-
gress provided last season for the gone
system of parcels post under the Bourne
bill and on the Bourne plan.
While the Postoffice Department is
going ahead preparing to put this sys-
TEN into operation January /, the fact
remains that there is a powerful move
ment on foot for a flat rate system of
parcels post and efforts will be made to
get Congress to legislate in favor Of
that system next winter.
Whether those efforts will meet with
any success cannot be foretold. The
probabilities are they will not, so far
as the short session Of Congress goes.
That session IL not favorable for the
enactment of any important disputed
law. But the agitation OF the subject
in the short session and before the
session opens may result In SO directing
public attention to the question that
legislation will result In the near fu-
turs.
Flat Rate Advocated.
The truth is there is great opposition
to the zone plan Of parcels post among
many Of the believers in a percels post
fsbttH. Ht VI W
the fat rate system IL great.
IT tas been disclosed that there Is
doubt, skepticism and even opposition
with. regard to tho zone system among
some of the officials directly charged
with the administration of the new law.
Representatives of the Postal Progress
League, an organization which favors
the fiat rate system. have been looking
n ha oil Ind
timent for the fiat rate system and will
endeavor to have the subject reopened
when Congress meets. They realize that
1t will be practically out pf the question
to get Congress to put through new
parcels post provision. changing the
zcne system to the fiat rate system, be-
tween the first Monday In December
and the holidays. This would have to
be done II the establishment o: the zone
system were TO be halted and that sys-
tenn. before going into effect. were re-
placed by the fiat rate system.
Commerce Commission Favorable.
Chairman Prouty. OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission, is credited with
being convert to the idea of a Hat
rate up to eleven pounds This Is un-
derstood to be the general attitude of
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
Commissioner Franklin X. Lane gave
utterance to sentiments favorable to
the fiat rate system in the order rela-
tive to express rates issued OH July is
OF this year
The Importance OF the attitude of the
commission on this question is realized
when II is recalled the new parcels
post measure authorizes the reform
or classifications. weight limits, rates
or zones by the Postmaster General,
subject to the consent of the Inter-
state commerce Commission after In
Nestigation." From this II appears the
commission has the power to veto any
change In the rates, zones. or ella ssiti-
Catonr
Hitchcock Against Zone Plan.
Not only Is the commission strongly
inclined to the nat rate system, but so
,s Postmaster General Hitchcock. lie
opposed the zone system when before
the Bourne committee of the Senate last
November. He said so intricate a sys-
TEN could not be carried out except at
very high rate of cost" Moreover,
the Hughes commission doubted the
practicability of the zone system.
Under the circumstances. the Postal
Progress League is no: entirely pcssi-
mistic about the matter OF getting Con-
gress to adopt flat rate parcels post
system. Secretary James l.. Cowles, OF
the Postal Progress League. Is here
and was recently heard by the Inter-
Etate Commerce Commission. 1t was
after that hearing that Chairman
Prouty expressed his personal view on
the question. Mr.. Cowles Ii an enthusi-
ast for the fiat rate system and he is
going to make great campaign to
arouse public sentiment In Its favor be.