The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-06-12
PARCEL POST
is SURE 70 CONE

Will Pass Bill-Reduce High Cost
OF Living.
Washington, June 9.-Legislation
providing for general parcels post
throughout the United States and it's
possessions, except the Philippine Is
lands, ispracttcally certain to he en-
acted by the present congress, perhaps
before the conclusion of the session
now in progress, is the opinion of
the postmaster general, F. II. Hitch
co~k. He has urged insistently upon
congress the desirability OF domestic
parcels post, because, among other
reasons, he believes 1t will aid sub
stantially in the solution Of the prob
lem Of the high cost Of living. In a
statement today he expressed the
hope that the measure recently intro
duced by Senator Bourne, chairman of
the committee on postoffices and post
roads, might be crystalized into law.
Bourne Bill Is Best.
In the Judgment of the officers of
the postal service the Bourne bill rep
resents the most scientific and busi-
ness-like plan yet devised for a par
cells post. 1t provides for a parcels
service throughout the country, both
on rural routes and city carrier routes.
1t consolidates the third and fourth
classes of mail matter-a reform long
advocated by the postoffice depart
ment-and raises the weight limit of
parcels 20 IL pounds, which is the
limit Of the international parcels post.
The rate to be charged for articles
carried in the rural route service and
city carrier service is cents for the
fist fraction Of pound, and l cent
for each additional pound or fraction
of pound. For the general parcels
post service, which covers all mail,
transportation other than local by
rural and city carriers, graduated
rates would be established, based on
distance.
Six zones of distance would be es-
tablished. The first would have a
radical distance of so miles from the
point of mailing; the second would in
clude the area lying between so and
200 miles; the third that between 200
and 500 miles the fourth that be-
tween 500 and 1000 miles; the fifth
that between 1000 and 1000 miles,
and the sixth distances beyond 1000
miles. The rate for delivery within
the first zone is cents for the first
pound or fraction of a pound and 9
cents for each additional pound or
fraction of pound. The rates would
increase for each additional zone until,
in the sixth, they reach a maximum
OF IL cents a pound, the rate now
charged in the international parcels
post. The rate on the consolidated
third and fourth class matter Is fixed
at l cent an ounce for not more than
four ounces. Distinctive parcels post
stamps will be provided.
Hitchcock FavOrs Bill.
In formal report forwarded today
to the senate postoffice committee, the
postmaster general strongly urges
the passage of the Bourne measure.
Concerning the general advantages of
comprehensive parcels post service,
he says:
The enactment of the proposed
parcels post bill will aid materially In
solving the high cost of living rrcb.
lem, because it will bring the pro
duccrs and the consumers into closer
proximity. The rural route sci ice
will enable the farmer to send to town
each morning the fresh products of
| his truck farm and garden, and at the
same time obtain quickly the small
articles he desires to purchase from
| city stores. This will mean not only
a great saving, but will stimulate a
larger and more varied production
OF bringing more closely together IN
their commercial and social relations
the people of the country and city.
"The local system of parcels post
delivery by city letter carrier will
meet the demand for a cheaper and
more ready exchange of small wares
of all kinds in the larger towns and in
cities.
"Under the zone plan the schedule
of rates is based solely on the actual
cost of the service performed. where
as the fiat rate system, to make the
service self-supporting, must be based
on the average general distance that
mail has to be carried. So long as