The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-07
INCREASED WEIGHT
OF PARCEL POST IS
GRANTED BY ORDER
Commerce Commission Ap-
proves BurlesOn's Recon-
mendation for Changes
Elective January |

Washington, December 6.-Postmas-
ter General Burleson's proposal to in
crease the weight of parcel post from
20 pounds to so pounds in certain
classes, to admit books to the parcel
post and to reduce rates in the third.
fourth, fifth and sixth zones was APP
proved by the interstate commerce COM
mission today.
The maximum weight of parcels to
all zones beyond the second was in
creased from IL to 20 pounds.
The commissions consent to the
proposed changes was transmitted in
three letters from Chairman Clark to
Postmaster General Burleson. The ap-
proved changes in rates and weights
to be in effect January l, 1914, follow:
To reduce the rates for the third
zone from cents for the first pound
and cents for each additional pound
to cents for the first pound and 2
cents for each additional pound.
To reduce the rates for the fourth
zone from cents for the first pound
and cents for each additional pound
to cents for the first pound and A
cents for each additional pound.
To reduce the rates for the fifth zone
from cents for the first pound and 7
cents for each additional pound to 8
| cents for the first pound and cents
for each additional pound
To reduce the rates for the sixth zone
| from 10 cents for the first pound and 8
cents for each additional pound to 9
cents for the first pound and cents
for each additional pound.
Revenue Will Not Be Less
ut seems obvious" says the commits
sion, that the service to the public
will be prompted by these changes pro-
vided the revenue from the service is
not less than the cost thereof. Your ex-
periences and statistics seem to show
clearly that the revenue will not be
less than the cost of the service
We can conceive of no opposition
| to the increased weights and reduced
rates proposed except from the car
| riers that transport the mails. We have
heard some objections from them on
| the ground that the increased weight
should not be permitted until provision
for additional compensation to the car
riers has been made"
General, with the consent of the COM
| mission that the rate of postage on
parcels containing books weighing 8
ounces or less shall be l cent for each
two ounces or factional part thereof
and on those weighing in excess of s
ounces the zone parcel post rates shall
apply"
| This is to be effective March 1, 1914
! Serious objections to the proposed
change in the rates on books and cata-
| logs were made chiefly by mailers of
| heavy catalogs, but the commission says
1t feels that the changes are in the in
terest of the public generally.
Admits Gold Shipments
| Consent also was also given by the
| commission to admission of shipments of
gold, gold bullion and gold dust in Alaska
and to and from Alaska in packages
weighing not more than II pounds. The
rate of postage fixed is 2 cents an ounce
or fraction thereof for all distances
THE Postmaster General issued an or
| der effective August 10, last increasing
the weight limit in the first and second
zones from II to 20 pounds and materially
| reducing the rates of postage for these
zones, and stated at that time that this
| step was In the nature of an expert
ment," said a statement issued tonight
| by the postoffice department. After these
| changes had been in operation for some
| time a record was kept of the number
of parcels handled in a large number of
representative postoffices throughout the
| United States and the reports received
| from these offices show that the changes
| in the service have been greatly appre-
ciated by the public. The number OF
parcels handled in the first and second
zones since these changes became effec-
tive show an increase of approximately
| 16 per cent. The average weight limit has
also increased from 1.02 to IL pounds
per parcel and notwithstanding the great
reduction in rates in the first and second
zones. the average postage has increased
per parcel from IT cents to 10 cents"
The statement says of the change re-
lating to books that it has strongly
been urged by circulating libraries,
schools. colleges and publishers ever since
the establishment of the parcel post serv-
ice as the present restrictive weight limit
and rates on books are prohibtive to a
great extent except in the case of cata-
logs and that at was not deemed adj
visable to place the order changing the
/ classification of books in effect on jan
| uary l as it was desired to give at least
three months notice to firms whose cat.
| alogs were now being printed"
|
Sixteen l. w. w. Arrested