The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-10-10
PARCEL POST IS
MAKING MONEY
Already More Than Paying Its
Own Way, Il Is Said.
BIG SURPLUS PREDICTED.

while Mail Order Business Is Neees-
sarily an Important Feature, Say
: Postal Officials, Care Is Taken That
Smallest Merchant Shall Have an
Equal Chance.
The new parcel post regulations are
working so well in all the large cities
that the mails are practically as heavy
as during the usual Christmas season.
A large number of parcels are being
mailed for delivery iu the Grst aDd see
ond zones under the reduced postage
rates. Advertising matter constitutes
n large part of the increased weight OF
mails, but the bulk Of it apparently re-
lates to the parcel post or mail order
business of department stores and
merchants.
That the parcel post will more than
pay its own way is beyond question,
according to officials of the postoffice
department in Washington. While
Postmaster General Burleson viii not
predict a surplus for the fiscal year
the department insist that there is no
possible doubt on that point. They go
further and declare that a surplus Of
approximately S10,000,O00 is a certain
ty, due largely to the establishment of
The parcel post.
Wants Real Surplus.
Postmaster General Burleson takes
the conservative position that he wants
TO show surplus that cannot be ex.
planned away by any kind of figuring
He said recently that he had in con-
temptation two further changes in the
parcel post system that would make an
annual surplus certainty. The exact
nature of these changes he would not
indicate
The present surplus is made up large.
ly OF increased postage revenues from
the sale OF fourth class mail matter
between Jan. / and June 30. For that
six months period the revenues from
fourth class matter Appropriated $14,-
100000. For the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1912, the receipts were APP
proximately $12,500O00, or nearly
Bl,5O0,O00 less than for the first six
months of the parcel post system.
The railroads received no compensa-
tion for carrying parcel post matter
between Jan. l and June 80. but they
were paid the usual compensation for
carrying the regular weight OF fourth
class matter. AS all fourth class mat
ter bore parcel post stamps, the rail
roads technically were paid for carry
ing parcel post matter, but We're not
given an increased compensation on ac-
count of the larger volume Of business.
After deducting the amount which
the railroads were paid for carrying
the usual volume OF fourth class mat
tel. and all other charges that can be
properly credited TO the parcel post n
surplus of several million dollars re-
mains. This of course will not be as
large at the end Of the next fiscal year
during which the railroads will be paid
an additional per cent
Saving by Fast Freight.
In addition to the parcel post sur
plus. there was saving of $l.500.00C
during the fiscal year through sending
magazine and periodical mail by fast
freight. Onicials hope to convince
congress that the extension OF this
service should be permitted. When II
is made to cover the entire country, in
stead OF the central and middle west
ern section. as at present. another 81.
b00,000 may be added TO the annua
snving.
The aim of the pOstofiice department
officials is TO make the parcel post {
popular system, according TO ever.
citizen the same treatment. For ex
ample, the great mail order houses o
the large cities have no monopoly o
this system. The small merchant ha
equal rights and privileges, II he i
not getting them officials In Washing
ten would like TO be told of that fact,
In the large cities having many out
lying suburbs the parcel post IL beinl
used quite extensively for delivery pur
Reses, especially since the reduction o
the local and first and second zon
rates. Oficials believe this viii prov
a greater boon to the small merchant
who do not have extensive deliver
xJstems OF their own rather than I
great establishments that have ever
facility OF this kind.
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