Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1913-12-12
WEIGHT LIMITS
OF PARCELS POST
IN FIRST AND SECOND ZONES
INCREASED FROM TWENTY
TO FIFTY POUNDS.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6--Postmas
ter General Burleson's proposals Il
increase the weight limits of parce
post packages in the first and SECOND
zones from 20 to SO pounds. to admit
books TO. the parcel post and to re-
duce rates in the third fourth, fifth
and sixth zones, was approved today
by the interstate commerce commits
sion.
The maximum weight of parcels to
all zones beyond the second was in
creased from II to 20 pounds
The commissions consent to the
proposed changes was Transmitted in
three letters from Chairman Clark to
Postmaster General Burleson. The
approved changes in rates and
weights to be in effect January Z.
1914, Follows:
To reduce the rates for the third
zone z cents for the first pound and
cents for each additional pound to 6
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 q
cents for each additional pound.
To reduce the rates from the fifth
zone from cents for the first pound
and cents for each additional pound
to cents for the first pound and s
cents for each additional pound.
To reduce the rate for the sixth
zone from 10 cents for the first pound
and cents for each additional pound
to cents for the first pound and 8
cents for each additional pound.
Matter Of Reverence.
at seems obvious; said the com
mission, that the service to the pub
Tic will be promoted by these changes
provided the revenue from the ser
vice is not less than the cost there
of. Your experiences and statistics
seem to show clearly that the revenue
win not be less than the cost Of the
service.
I'VE can conceive no opposition to
the increased weights and REDUCED
rates proposed except from the car
riers that transport the mails. We
have had some objections from them
on the ground that the increased
weight should not be permitted until
provisions for additional compensa-
ton to the carriers has been made"
1t is provided by the postmaster
general, with the consent of the COM
mission, that the rates Of postage on
parcels containing books weighing
eight pounds or less shall be 1 cent
each two ounces or fractional part
thereof, and on those weighing in ex-
cess of eight ounces the zone parcel
rates shall apply"
This is to be in effect March Is.
1914
Rates on Books.
Serious objections to the proposed
changes in the rates on books and
catalogues We're made chiefly by
mailers of heavy catalogues, but the
commission says it feels that the
changes are in the interest of the
public generally.
Consent also was given by the. COM
mission to the admission of ship |
ments of gold, gold. bullion and gold I
dust in Alaska and to and from Alas
ka in packages weighing not more |
than II pounds. The rate of postage
fixed is cents an ounce or fraction /
thereof, for all distances.
The postmaster general issued al I
order, effective Aug Is last, fncreas- (
ing the weieht limit in the first and
and materially reducing the rates of
postage for these TIVE zones. and sta
ted at the time that the step was in
the nature of an experiment" said
the statement issued tonight by the
postoifice department.
After these changes had been in
effect for some time a record was
Kept of packages handled in num-
0f
,es throughout the United States, and
he reports received from these Off
ies show that the changes in the SER
ices had been greatly appreciated
" the public. The number of par
els handled in the first and second
ones since these changes became .
Elective show an increase Of approx
matey 16 per cent The average
Teight has also increased from II to
Z pounds per parcel. and notwith-
tanding the great reduction in rates
n the first and second zones the :
verage package has increased from
z cents a parcel to 10 cents.
The statement says of the change
elating to books that it has strongly J
cen urged by circulating libraries. J
chools. colleges and publishers ever
lnce the establishments of the parcel c
ost service. as the present restrict I
'e weight limit and rates on books O
re prohibitive to a great extent ex- t
ept in the case Of catalogues, that a
was not deemed advisable to place Z
he order changing the classification b
{ books in effect on Jan. 1. as it was
esired to give at least three months q
otice to firms whose catalogues were /
ow being printed a
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