The citizen., 1913-05-30
CONGRESSMAN LEWIS CALLS
FOR SWEEPING CHANGES
FOR PARCELS POST.


post system which if put into operation
by the Postofiice Departme mt would drive
the express companies out of business
within six months, it is said, will be re-
commended TO Postmaster General Bur-
leron and the National Parcel Post Com
paAy by Representative David J. Lewis
of Maryland.
Mr. Lewis recommendations are in
corporated in a 2s,ooo.word brief, in
which he advocates that immediate steps
be taken to reconstruct the present sys-
TEN SO that it may become a popular
transportation conduit for the retail pack
age. The brief is intended by Mr. Lewis
to form basis for the Postmaster Cen
erals appeal to the Interstate Commerce
Commission for changes in operative
methods of the new postal system.
In brief Mr. Lewis recommendations
are:
Increase the weight limit from II
pounds to 100 pounds on all packages to
be collected and delivered.
Have no weight limit on packages
which are delivered and which are called
for at postal terminals.
Establish a simple system of zones,
with 100 miles to each zone.
Establish a rate about 20 per cent. the
cost of services. e., a rate of three
cents for the first pound, plus half a cent
for each additional pound in the first
zone, and for subsequent zones an addi-
tlonal half per cent per-pound for each
additional zone of 100 miles; no charge
to exceed II cents per pound.
Restore the old fourth-class rates and
establish a supplemental parcel or ex-
press fourth-class, admitting express mat
ter generally, with proper exceptions, to
which zone rates shall apply.
Reform the packing regulations so that
articles carried by express may be car
ried in containers when necessary. Re
form the insurance and c. O. d. rates so
that an article may be insured according
to its value.
Establish fast-freight parcel post ser
vice, by which space in freight cars on
the fast freight lines can be bought and
used for the carrying of big parcels.
One of the most sweeping recommend
ations OF Mr.. Lewis is that of the rates.
He has Investigated the cost of postal
transportation and finds that half a cent a
pound will carry package 25o miles.
The rate of three cents for the first pound
he proposed is arbitrary, and the halt
cent for each additional pound and for
every 100 pounds will reduce the present
rates more than onehalf.
AS an Illustration a II-pound package
within 100 miles of Baltimore under the
psesent system costs 40 cents; by express
ii costs 40 cents. Under the new Lewis
rates it would cost cents. Within 200
miles of Baltimore the present rate is 81
cents; by express, IS; proposed new
rates, IA cents A market basket weigh
ing so pounds within 100 miles of Balti-
more would cost IS cents; by express, "a
cents.
The Marvlander has abandoned his
original policy of advocating the Gov
ernment purchase of the express com
panieS. His idea now is that by a recon.
struction of the parcel post system the
Government can absorb the express
business by competition without the ne
Cessity of making a large outlay for their
acquisition. Mr.. Lewis has held recently
a number of interviews with Postmaster
General Burleson. Under the Parcel
Post act the Postmaster General is given
authority to make sweeping changes in
the system with the approval of the In
ter State Commerce Commission.
Mr. Lewis lays stress upon the neces
Sity of transportation conduit which will
receive the shipment of farm produce at
the farm and convey it direct to the city
consumer. He cites an Illustration OF the
price of food necessities on the farm and
in the city Taking number of articles
he estimates the aggregate price on the
farm at sass and the cost to the con-
sumer S5.75.
''When the article leaves the farm, its
ultimate consumer being unknown il goes
into commerce instead of to him. is con-
verted INTO wholesale or commercial
forms, only at last to reach the consumer
as the third or fourth buyer at double
cost" declares Mr.. Lewis. THE addi
tional price is the payment, not neces-
Sarlly large, which the consumer must
paw to commerce for its troublesome
process. If our manufacturers had to Sc |
cure coal as fourth buyers instead of first |
buyers, the accumulated price would
bring many of their industries TO stop.
But they buy in wholesale quantities, ac-
cording to their needs, direct from the
mine and have the railway conduit to
ship such wholesale purchases direct to
the factory. If the consumer had like
conduit for his retail purchase direct
from the farm to the kitchen he could
phone or write the farmer and have the
articles sent him direct al their first price.
Mr.. Lewis holds that the present parcel
post rates are too high to develop this
marketing system. He declares that with
a rate of about 2S cents for the delivery
Of a 5o.pound basket of farm products
new trucking industry would be develop
ed that would go long way toward re-
ducng the high cost of living.
"All but the very largest cities can be
supplied with farm products grown with
in the area OF the first zone, " declares
Mr.. Lewis. From the second zone OF
200 miles, covering T2s 900 square miles,
at cent pound, every city. except pos
sibly New York and Boston, could be
supplied"
Our present parcel post does not pro-
duce the results expected because II IS
not permitted to do so, because OF restric-
tions upon its free operation, which can
be administratIveIy removed. The re-
strictons upon the parcel post which pre-
/ vent its achieving its great function are:
THE weight limit, II pounds, which
prohibits 1t from moving worthwhile
market basket or normal shipment.
"The pound rate, which. except on the
first pound, are prohbitively high and
many times as high as the cost of the
service. Even on the local and rural
routes the pound rates are twice as high
as the cost of service"
Divorce Court.
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