The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1912-05-01
Mr.. Speer on Parcels Post.

AHis bpOOi Ou diOCio lOots
In his speech favoring an establishment
OF the parcels post, made Oh the floor of
the House of Representatives last Thurs
day, Hon. Peter M. Speer referred to the
strange anomaly in the rural service that
has transportation lines between the cities
and the country districts, and yet will
not permit the carriers to carry articles.
Mr.. Speer said:
"While the rural carrier comes to the
farmers door with the daily mail, and
while the farmer may want some little
article of merchandise brought to him,
which he may need, yet that rural carrier
is not permitted to bring it. He goes on
with his wagon empty. The farmers
themselves have built, as we all know,
what we call farmers telephone lines, so
that they are now not only in commune
cation with each other in that quick way,
but also with the towns and with the
stores at which they deal. They can
phone to their store for anything they
may need, but how is it to be brought to
them? The country storekeepers in the
small towns can not afford to send those
articles out. The farmer, if he needs the
article, will have to quit his work and
spend half day in going for it. II he
needs plowpoint, If he finds that some
body is coming TO visit him tomorrow
and he wants few pounds of tea, there
is no way that it can be brought to him,
and yet this rural carrier is going to pass
the door and could easily bring whatever
article is needed and deposit it there, if
permitted to do so by our laws.
"When this rural service was begun the
carrier was permitted TO bring these
little articles, but it is not permitted now.
That is part of the rural service which
would be beneficial to the country people,
and in like way similar service TO that
would be beneficial, l believe, over the
entire conntry. Why is 1t we can not
have 1t?
at is strange thing that we should
boast that we are the most civilized, the
most advanced of all nations, and that we
have the freest government of any in the
world. and yet have not this parcels-po
system, while every ether civilized ma
ton in the world has it, and many of
those that can not claim to be more than
half civilized. They have it even China,
and 1t is successful there. Why is 1t we
can not have it here2 The people are de-
manding it, the Post Office Department is
in favor of it, and have been advocating
it for years, and yet it is impossible to get
this legislation through"
In these remarks Mr.. Speer voiced the
wonder of many people throughout the
country, who cannot understand why
with expensive facilities for transporting
articles, they are not utilized. Mr.. Speer
then referred to the opposition OF the ex-
press companies to the system, and the
argument that the parcel-post would hurt
local merchants. He said he had no
sympathy with any one who is not will
ing to buy his goods at home, and be-
loved that the parcels.post "wil be of
great benefit TO the local merchanta.
think it will help them to hold the trade
of their communities, because their pat
rons who deal with them can call them
up on the phone and have articles sent
out, and in that way, by being able to
convenience their customers, it will en-
able them to hold their trade. And, moro
than that, by having the general parcel
post system they can easily supply what
their patrons need. They can send and
get it for you, and in that way they can
hold your trade and prevent your going
TO the larger towns to do your business.
Now, his is not entirely theory. 1t is
something that has been demonstrated,
as | understand, in practice where the
parcels post has been 10 use."