New-York tribune., 1913-07-26
BATTLE TO Be WAGED
ON PARCEL POST CUTS
BurIeson'S Order Making Re-
duCtiOnS August IS To Be
Opposed in Senate.
FIGHT EXPECTED TO-DAY
Interstate Commerce Commits
sion Sanctions Changes
Still Further Reduc.
tions Predicted.
LErom n Trihunc Bnreau. |

Washington. July 25.-After appearing
before the Senate Postoflice Committee TO
defend his plan TO reduce parcel post
Yates and increase the size limit Of pack
ages the Postmaster General to-day is
sued orders to put the changes into effect
on August Is.
Another meeting Of the Senate Post
Office Committee has been called for to-
morrow. At that time Senator Bryan
uiu urge a favorable report on his bill
10 repeal the authority Of the Post
master General TO make changes of the
nature IN question Senator Bristow will
sunrort this movement Senators Hoke
Smith. Swanson and Chiffon will oppose
II Senator Bryan announced tonight
that n he we're defeated in the commit
tee he would renew the contest on the
floor Of the Senate and would do so in
time TO prevent the Postmaster Generals
order going into effect on August Is.
Senator'S Bryan and Bristow criticised
Mr.. Burleson's action on the ground that
II was taken without an adequate inves-
tigation of the cost OF handling parcel
post matter and that he was without
authority Of law 10 make the changes.
The Postmaster General asserted that
under the new rates the government could
handle the business at a profit and that
he had ample authority.
Mr.. Burleson produced figures to show
that on twenty-pound packages the gov
ernment would make a profit of 10 cents.
Senator Bryan declared there would be
loss Of eight cents
Chairman Clark Of the Interstate Com
uerce Commission, which sanctioned the
changes. expressed the belief that the de-
psrtment should and would extend the
parcel posts until packages weighing up
10 a hundred pounds might be carried
The present orders increase the weight
Init Of packages to twenty pounds ana
reduce the rates for the first and second
zones
The prediction was made by Mr.. Burle-
son that further reductions will be made
as soon as the conditions OF the business
warrant.
The changes. he added, had been under
considers ton since June, but because OF
Wall Street furry he had deferred put
ting them into effect
Although some Of the members of the
Senate committee were opposed 10 the
action Of the Postmaster General 1t was
not indicated at to-day's hearing that
majority OF them are opposed TO the re-
duction in rates and the increase Of the
size Of packages that may be carried, nor
that they believe that he had acted WIN
out authority.
Public hearings will not be held by the
Interstate Commerce Commission upon
the expeGiency Of the changes proposed
BY the Postofice Department in the rates
and zones and weights OF parcel post
matter. I'm a statement issued to-day the
commission says 1t has no jurisdiction
over the compensation paid by the postal
service for hauling the mails.
Ralph Peters. chairman Of the commit
tee on railway mail pay, representing the
railroads OF the country, has issued
statement. in which he says:
The railroad companies are not op-
posed TO the parcel post. Their attitude
Is simply that as common carriers they
are entitled 10 reasonable compensation
for the services they render. Ohder eA-
isting laws the railroads are forced 10
carry the largely increased mails due 10
the parcel post without any regard 70
whether proper payment Is made for the
increased service.
"The position Of the railroad companies
u that Il would be no more than JUST
10 postpone extension Of the parcel post
until their side has been heard. IL Is 10
present it's view Of the case tnat the
committee on railway mail pay has re-
quested conference with the Postmaster