Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-12-26
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1912.

PARCEL POST Plan GIVEN
Country Produce Can Be Ship
ped Direct And Merchants Car
Reach Out In The Same Way
Regulations and instructions gov
erning the use and operations of the
parcels post, which have just beer
announced by Postmaster-Gencra
Hitchcock, provide a governmental
baby express" transportation sys
TEN for the handling of packages o.
merchandise and of farm and factory
products, to he operated in conjunc
ton with the Postotfice Department.
The system will be inaugurated Jan
nary LIST.
Congressman David J. Lewis, OF
Maryland, who was the author OF
many of the vital provisions in the
Parcels Post law, is delighted witt
the regulations. He said they have
been worked out in a sane, business.
like and public spirited way. Posta
experts, including Mr.. Lewis, est.
mate that within the next year TIL"
parcels post system, under these reg
ulations, will add So, OOO,U in
revenue to the postal rccci pts, wipe
out the deficit and pave the way for
penny postage.
1t is estimated that the Govern,
ment's baby express" will take APP
proximately 10 per cent. of the rx-
press monopoly,S revenue and about
2 per cent. of its traffic. The one
great advantage, which has been
worked out, is that the Government
will handle packages, limited to | !
pounds, with only one accounting,
that of postage; whereas the express
monopoly handles its traffic with II
accountings.
The parcels post regulations strike
Il blow for the prohibition cause.
They exclude from the mails all in
toxicants and also firearms and their
parts. This provision was placed IN
the regulations by Robert :. Sharp,
of Tennessee, IA member of the com
mission.
The effect of the regulation will he
felt by the mail-ordcr whisky houses
of Baltimore, which have a large
clientele in the dry" territory Of
Maryland, Virginia and WestNirginia
There was some opposition to this
regulation on the grounds that the
Government licenses the manufacture
of whisky and other intoxicants, but
brands it as contraband in the
operation of its parcels post system
The regulations will give package
transportation system to 2O,NU,mO
more persons in this country than
are now served by the express mon
opoly. Packages will be delivered at
the home of the farmer in the coun-
try by rural mail carriers, while the
city carriers will deliver them at the
door of the city resident. Under the
postoffice act establishing town de-
livery services the package delivery
will also apply to many towns Of
more than l, 900 population.
The regulations do not provide the
COLLECTION delivery service. Assur-
ances have been made that the postal
experts will inaugurate this service
after several months. They want
more time to study the operation of
the parcels post. The law, however,
makes it mandatory upon the Post
office Department to provide a collect
on-delivery system. 1t is pointed out
that 70 per cent. of the express bust
ness is done on a system by which
the consignee pays all charges.
The insurance feature is provided.
A tax of 10 cents per package is as
sesscd on every package, and in con-
sideration thereof the Government
stands to indemnify the sender for
loss up to $50. This charge, it is
understood, will be cut in half.
The regulations are constructed SO
as to develop trade between cities and
towns and their surrounding rural
territory.
Below is given a summary of the
requirements drawn up:
Butter, lard and perishable articles,
such as fish, dressed meats and fowls,
vegetables, fruits, berries, etc, are
received for local and first zone de-
livery only. They must be wrapped
to p rotect other mail matter.