Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-15
Author Of Present Law Would Cut
Of the MiddIeman's Profit
on Farm Products.
CONSUMER TO BE BENEFITED
Money Spent in Transportation
and Made by Wholesaler and
Retailer Would Be Saved.
Rv HUGH s. MILLER.

WASHINGTON, June 14-Reform
bf the parcel post which will have the
effect OF placing the consumer in la
mediate touch with the producer. and
which will materially reduce the cost
OF living IS advocated by Representa-
tive David Lewis. Of Maryland. who
Is conceded to be first among the ex-
perts in Congress.
II was Representative Lewis who
drafted the bill on which the present
parcel post system IS based. with
the exception OF minor changes, the
plan he originally drew up is the one
now in effect
Mr.. Lewis has submitted his plan
70 Postmaster General Burleson and
60 Congress, and an effort viii be
made TO get action on It at this SEES
rfon OF Congress.
Would Raise Weight.
These are a few Of the reforms he
proposes:
Raising the weight limit to 100
pounds
Taking of the weight limit on
shipments delivered 20 the rail-
way terminal by the consipuor
and collected from Il by the con-
signee.
A zone system Of 100 miles TO
each zone, including the local
zone.
A rate Of II cent per pound
for each such zone, plus the In
itial charge OF cents, arbitrary
for the first pound.
An Improvement OF elassfiea-
tions 70 include books and other
articles now prohibited.
The effect OF this. according 10 Mr.
lewis, would be 10 allow farm and
standardized products 20 be marketed
direct TO the consumer az the follow
ing rates:
One.half cent 9 pound in the
first zone, which would mean
anywhere in an area of 20, 106,240
acres.
One cent a pound in the second
zone, embracing an additional
area Of 6O,31s,72o.
One and one half cents q pound
in the third zone, embracing an
additional area Of fO0,53i 200
acres.
Receive Supplies by Post.
In other words, a person living In
The city could write a postcard 20 a
farmer 100 miles away and order
from him n consignment Of butter
eggs, lettuce or any other farm prod
net. The farmer could collect the
fresh laid eggs the freshly made but
ter and the freshly gathered lettuce,
and take them TO the postofilCe in the
early evening,
The next morning the man in the
city would wake 10 the pOstmau e
a rH#H B.
they were packed. the articles he had
ordered day or so before Accord
ing 20 the sCa.v Of charges proposed
by Mr.. Lewis, he would pay 3 cents
for the first pound. and an additional
charge Of 1-2 cent a pound for the
shipment. For a six pound shipment
therefore, he would pay the magnif-
cert total of cents
This stands interesting comparison
with prcies actually paid under the
present system for food products
brought from the country. Mr. Lewis
made an investigation recently. Co
find out how much the consumer paid
over and above the price received by
the producer.
He found for instance. that for a
package OF three pounds Of butter the
farmer received p cents. The whole
saler charged the retailer IS cents for
the buIter, Along came the consumer.
who in this case was Mr. Lewis. and
he paid $l05 for the three pounds Of
butter.
BIG Saving Apparent
II the new parcel post had been in
erect at the time-thp system that rs
proposed by Mr. Lewis-he would
have paid - &C for the butter plus
= trans portatior ~rarEe OF 4 1-2 cents.
or total Of 1912 cents. on this
small order alone the customer would
have saved % 1-2 cents
Farm products are usually pro
duced In retail form" says Afr Lewis.
'but there is now no direct system
Of transportation TO carry them d.